![]() William Renshaw won most titles this year | |
Details | |
---|---|
Duration | 19 April – 10 November |
Tournaments | 73 (Amateur) |
Categories | Important (5 ) National (2) Provincial/Regional/State (6) County (6) Local/other (54) |
Achievements (singles) | |
Most titles | ![]() |
Most finals | ![]() |
← 1880 1882 → |
The 1881 men's tennis season [1] [2] incorporates 73 tournaments staged in Australia, Canada, Great Britain and Ireland, and the United States. The 1881 Wimbledon Championships was won by William Renshaw. This year also saw the inaugural and important 1881 U.S. National Championships held at Newport Casino which Richard Sears won. This was also the year that the United States National Lawn Tennis Association, [3] which is the world's first national tennis association, was founded. Renshaw then went on to win two other big tournaments of the year, namely, the Irish Lawn Tennis Championships and Princes Club Championships, whilst Richard Taswell Richardson won the prestigious Northern Championships. [4]
The season began in April in Cheltenham, England, and ended in November in Melbourne, Australia.
Notes 1: Challenge round: the final round of a tournament, in which the winner of a single-elimination phase faces the previous year's champion, who plays only that one match. The challenge round was used in the early history of tennis (from 1877 through 1921), [5] in some tournaments, not all.
Notes 2:Tournaments in italics were events that were staged only onetime
Key
Important. [6] [7] [8] [9] |
National |
Provincial/State/Regional |
County |
Local |
No events
Date | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semifinalist | Quarterfinalist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
4 April. [10] | North Northamptonshire LTC Tournament (First Meeting) Drayton Park Kettering Northamptonshire ? Singles Doubles | ![]() ? | ![]() | ||
19–23 April. [11] | Cheltenham Covered Court Championships Imperial Winter Gardens Cheltenham, England Wood (i) Singles - Doubles | ![]() 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 8-6 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() def | ![]() ![]() | ||||
![]() ![]() def | ![]() ![]() | ||||
Date | Tournament | Winner | All Comers' Finalist | Semifinalist | Quarterfinalist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
23–29 May | Irish Lawn Tennis Championships [12] Dublin, Ireland Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | ![]() 1-6 6-4 6-3 6-1 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Challenge round![]() | |||||
![]() ![]() 6-4, 7-5 | ![]() ![]() | ||||
31 May. [a] [13] | St.George's Hill Tournament St. George's Hill LTC Weybridge, Surrey, England Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 3 sets to 0 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Date | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semifinalist | Quarter finalist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
June. [14] | Oxford University Champion Tournament Norham Gardens, Oxford, Great Britain Grass Singles – Doubles | ![]() 6-4, 8-6, 6-2 | ![]() | ||
30 May–4 June. [b] [15] | Cambridge University Tournament Cambridge University LTC Cambridge, England Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | ![]() ? | ![]() | ![]() ? ![]() ? | ![]() ? ![]() Bye ![]() ? ![]() ? |
1–5 June | West of England Championships [4] Bath, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | ![]() 5-6 6-5 6-3 | ![]() | ![]() Bye ![]() | ![]() ![]() |
5-10 June | Worcester Park Challenge Cup. Worcester, Worcestershire, England Grass | ![]() ? | ![]() | ||
6–12 June | Waterloo Tournament [16] Liverpool, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | ![]() 6-0 6-0 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
6–12 June | Princes Club Championships [17] London, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | ![]() 7-5 4-6 6-0 6-3 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
6–12 June | Essex Championships [18] Brentwood, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | ![]() 6-0 6-4 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() 6-3 6-1 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
16–18 June. [19] [20] | Liverpool Cricket Club Lawn Tennis Tournament Liverpool Cricket Club Aigburth, Liverpool, England Grass Singles | ![]() 6-0, 6-0 | ![]() | ||
20–26 June | Northern Championships [21] ![]() Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | ![]() 6-1 6-1 6-0 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Challenge round![]() | |||||
Date | Tournament | Winner | All comers' finalist | Semifinalist | Quarterfinalist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
26 June–1 July. [22] | Rochester Open The Paddock King's School, Rochester, Kent, England Grass Singles | ![]() 6-3,6-3,6-4 | ![]() | ||
2–13 July | Wimbledon Championship [23] London, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 6–0, 6–1, 6–1 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Challenge round![]() | |||||
11–17 July | Scottish Championships [24] Edinburgh, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 6-1 6-5 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
12 July. [26] [27] | Championship of the Esher LTC. Esher Lawn Tennis Club Esher, Surrey, England Grass | ![]() 6-5, 6-5, 6-1 | ![]() | ||
12 July. | Bedfordshire LTC Tournament North Beds Lawn Tennis Club Blunhem House, Fairfield, Bedfordshire, England Grass | ![]() ? | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
16 July. [28] | Woodford Parish Championship County Cricket Ground Woodford Parish, England Grass Singles | ![]() 2 sets to 0 | ![]() R.C. Ball | ? | |
15-16 July. [29] | Staffordshire County Cricket Club Lawn Tennis Tournament. Lichfield, Great Britain Grass Singles | ![]() 6-4, 2-6, 6-5 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
17–20 July [30] | Alliance LTC Championship Crouch End Hill, Crouch End, London, England Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() ? | ? | ||
20-23 July. [31] | North Northamptonshire LTC Tournament (Second Meeting) Grafton Underwood North Northamptonshire ? Singles Doubles | ![]() ? | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Challenge round![]() | |||||
18–24 July | Canadian Championships [32] Toronto, Canada Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 6–2, 6–2 | ![]() | ? | |
18–24 July | Edgbaston Open Tournament Edgbaston, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 6-3 6-1 6-4 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
25–30 July | London Athletic Club Tournament Fulham, London, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 6-1 4-6 6-2 6-3 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
30 July. | Harrow Lawn Tennis Club Tournament. Harrow Lawn Tennis Club Harrow, Middlesex, England Grass | ![]() 2 sets to 1 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
25–30 July | Norwich Open Tournament. Chapelfield Gardens Norwich, Norfolk England ? | ![]() 6-2 6-4 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
25–31 July | Dundalk Tournament [33] Dundalk, Ireland Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() def. | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() |
Date | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semifinalist | Quarter finalist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
August. [34] | Tivyside LTC Tournament Tivyside Lawn Tennis Club Newcastle Emlyn, Carmarthenshire, Wales Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() ? | |||
August | Hexham Tournament Hexham, Northumberland, England Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 6-0, 6-0, 6-2 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
August | Hampstead Cricket Club Tennis Tournament Hampstead, Middlesex, England Outdoor Hard Singles | ![]() 3 sets to 1 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() |
2–4 August. [35] | Cirencester Park Lawn Tennis Tournament Earl Bathurst Estate Cirencester Park Cirencester, Gloucestershire, England Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | ![]() ? | ![]() | ||
4 August. | North Northamptonshire LTC Tournament Drayton Park Lowick, Northamptonshire Grass Singles Doubles | ![]() ? | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | { |
1–6 August | Darlington Open Tournament Darlington, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 6-0 4-6 6-2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() 9-7, 6-3 | ![]() ![]() | ||||
1–7 August | South of Ireland Championships Limerick, Ireland Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 0-6 6-3 7-5 8-6 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
2-6 August. | County Kildare Closed Tournament Naas Military Barracks Naas, County Kildare, Ireland Grass - | ![]() ? | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
2-6 August | County Kildare Championship [36] Naas, Ireland Outdoor Grass Grass Singles - Doubles | ![]() 6-1 6-1 6-5 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() |
2–7 August | Waterford Tournament Waterford, Ireland Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 6-2 6-3 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
2–8 August. [37] | Orange Invitation Mountain Station, Montrose South Orange, New Jersey, US Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | ![]() 7-5 6-2 6-3 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
8–10 August | Downshire Lawn Tennis Tournament Downshire Archery and Lawn Tennis Club Cliftonville Cricket Club Ground, Belfast, Great Britain Outdoor Grass | ![]() 5-2,5-1 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() 5-1 5-0 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
9–12 August | Exmouth Open [38] Exmouth, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 6-3 1-6 6-4 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() 2-6, 7-5, 7-5 | ![]() ![]() | ||||
9–12 August | Teignmouth and Shaldon Tournament [38] Teignmouth, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 5-6 6-1 6-0 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
8–13 August | North of Ireland Championships Belfast, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 2-1 (sets) | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
13 August. [39] | Langley Marish Tournament Langley Marish LTC Langley Marish, Berkshire, England Grass | ![]() 6-5, 3-6, 6-3 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
13 Aug. [40] | Gloucestershire Lawn Tennis Tournament Montpellier Gardens Cheltenham, Great Britain Outdoor Grass/Asphalt Singles - Doubles | ![]() 6-1 6-1 | ![]() w.o. | ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
14–15 August. [c] [41] | Maidstone Lawn Tennis Tournament Maidstone Athletic Ground Maidstone, England Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() w.o. | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
15-16 August. [42] | Penzance LTC Tournament Penzance LTC Penzance, Cornwall, England Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | ![]() 6-5 6-5 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
18-19 August. [44] | Rochford Hundred Club Lawn Tennis Tournament Rochford Hundred Club Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England. Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | ![]() 6-3, 4-6, 6-5 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
15–20 August | Devonshire Park Championships [45] Eastbourne, Great Britain Grass | ![]() 2 sets to 0 | ![]() | ![]() William C. Taylor | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
22-26 August | Westgate-on-Sea Tournament Westgate-on-Sea, Kent, England Outdoor Asphalt Singles | ![]() ? | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
26–30 August. [46] | South Wales Championships Tenby LTC Tenby, Carmarthenshire, Wales Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 6-2, 6-5, 9-7 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
29 August-4 September | Victoria Park Lawn Tennis Tournament [38] Exeter, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 6-3 7-5 | ![]() | ![]() ? ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
29-30 August [47] | Abbot's Court Hoo Tournament Hoo St Werburgh, Rochester, Kent, England Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 6-3 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
30-31 August. [48] | Holt Lawn Tennis Club Tournament Holt LTC Holt, Norfolk, England Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | ![]() 2 sets to 1 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
31 August. [49] | Gore Court Championships Sittingbourne, Gore Court Archery and LTC Gore Court, Sittingbourne, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 5-4 6-1 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
31 July–1 August. [50] | Rochester Open Paddock Lawn Tennis Club Rochester, Kent, England Grass Singles | ![]() 6-1 6-2 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | |
31 August - 3 September | U.S. National Championships [51] Newport Casino, Newport, Rhode Island, United States Outdoor Grass Singles Doubles | ![]() 6-0 6-3 6-2 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() 6-5 6-4 6-5 | ![]() ![]() | ||||
Date | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semifinalist | Quarterfinalist | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
September. | Skipton Tournament Craven Lawn Tennis Club (f.1879)? Gargrave, Skipton, North Yorkshire, England Outdoor Grass | ![]() ? | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||
September. | West Somerset Archery and Lawn Tennis Tournament West Somerset Lawn Tennis Club Taunton, Somerset, England Outdoor Grass | ![]() 2 sets to 0 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||
30 Aug–3 Sept. [52] [53] | Aldershot Division Open Lawn Tennis Tournament Aldershot Divisional LTC Aldershot Garrison, Hampshire, England Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 6–4, 1–6, 6–5 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ||
29 August-4 Sept | Victoria Park Lawn Tennis Tournament Victoria Park Exeter, Devon, England Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 6-3 7-5 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||
5–6 September. [54] | Vale of Clwyd CLTC Open Tournament Vale of Clwyd LTC Ruthin, Vale of Clwyd, Wales Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 5-2 5-4 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||
5–9 September. | South of England Championships Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club, Eastbourne, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | ![]() 6-4 6-2 6-0 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||
13–17 September. [d] | Torquay Lawn Tennis Tournament [55] Winter Gardens Torquay, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() ? | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||
![]() ![]() 6-2 6-4 | ![]() ![]() | ||||||
![]() ![]() 6-2 6-4 | ![]() ![]() | ||||||
15–17 September. [e] | Saint Leonards-on-Sea Lawn Tennis Tournament [56] St Leonards-on-Sea, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 6-3 6-5 6-5 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ||
19 September. | White Rose Lawn Tennis Tournament Gentleman's Cricket Ground York, Yorkshire, England Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 6-4 6-5 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ||
19–24 September. [f] | East Gloucestershire Championships Cheltenham, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 6–0, 6–1, 6–1 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | ||
Challenge round![]() | |||||||
24-25 September. [57] | Truro LTC Open Tournament Truro, Cricket Club Truro, Cornwall, England Grass | ![]() ? | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||
26 September-2 October. [58] | Bournemouth Lawn Tennis Club Tournament (later Hampshire Championships) Bournemouth, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | ![]() 6-2 6-3 6-0 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||
Date | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semifinalist | Quarterfinalist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
3–10 October | Armagh ALTC Tournament [59] Armagh, Northern Ireland Outdoor Hard Singles | ![]() 2-0 (sets) | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Challenge round![]() | |||||
3–10 October. [60] | Brighton Lawn Tennis Club Tournament Brighton Lawn Tennis Club Queen's Park, Brighton, East Sussex, England Grass | ![]() 6-1, 6-4, 7-5 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
4–10 October | Sussex County Lawn Tennis Tournament Brighton, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | ![]() 2-6 6-2 6-0 6-1 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() 6-3, 6-1 | ![]() ![]() | ||||
26–28 October. [61] | St. George's Cricket Club Tournament St. George's Cricket Club New York, United States Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | ![]() 7-5 6-2 6-3 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Date | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semifinalist | Quarterfinalist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
4–10 November | Victorian Championships [62] Melbourne Cricket Ground Melbourne, Australia Outdoor Hard Singles - Doubles | ![]() 6-4 4-6 6-1 6-1 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
No events
Note: important tournaments are written in bold