Richard Dudley Sears was an American tennis player, who won the US National Championships singles in its first seven years, from 1881 to 1887, and the doubles for six years from 1882 to 1887, after which he retired from tennis.
The Welsh Covered Court Championships its original name also called Welsh Covered Court Lawn Tennis Championships was a tennis event held from 1893 through 1955 in Wales, United Kingdom.
The French Covered Court Championships its original name also known as the French Covered Court Open Championships and the French Indoors was a tennis event held from 1895 through 1971 in Paris, France and Lyon, France.
The inaugural 1877 Men's tennis tour composed of 3 tournaments for the first edition pre-open era tour. Before the birth of Open Era (tennis), most tournaments were reserved for amateur athletes. In 1874 the British Major Walter Clopton Wingfield he patent the House of London Crafts the invention of a new game, which consists of a shaped field hourglass, divided in the middle by a net suspended. The game was packaged in a box containing some balls, four paddles, the network and the signs to mark the field. The game was based on the rules of the old real tennis and, at the suggestion of Arthur Balfour, was called lawn-tennis. The official date of birth of the court would be February 23, 1874. In 1877 all were amateur tournaments, among them was the first 1877 Wimbledon Championship, the inaugural event was held from the 9 to 19 July and saw as the inaugural winner Spencer Gore, the tournament would remain for a period of 35 years the sole major tennis tournament in the world until the International Lawn Tennis Federation introduces its three World championship series events in 1913 that continue until 1923, when the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association only agrees to join the ILTF on the basis of two compromises: the title 'World Championships' would be abolished and wording would be 'for ever in the English language'. Wimbledon would still retain its prestigious and historical status, and become one of the four Grand Slam tennis events from 1924
The 1878 Men's tennis tour was composed of the second annual pre-open era tour. It now incorporated 12 tournaments staged in Great Britain and Ireland the Wimbledon championships was won by challenger Patrick Francis Hadow defeating the defending champion Spencer Gore.
The 1879 Men's tennis tour was composed of the third annual pre-open era tour and incorporated 26 tournaments. The 1879 Wimbledon Championships was won by John Hartley defending champion Patrick Francis Hadow, defending champion could not participate in the Challenge Round. This year saw the inaugural Irish Championships that in its early stages of development was considered as important that of the Wimbledon Championships the event was won by Vere St. Leger Goold who defeated in Charles David Barry in the final by Charles David Barry 8–6, 8–6. Important this year was the staging of six hard court tournaments some of which included the Dublin University Championships the East Gloucestershire Championships held in Cheltenham Great Britain, Nice Tennis Tournament in Nice, France and the first tournament to be held outside of Europe in Australia with the Victorian Championships.
The 1880 Men's tennis tour was the 4th amateur tennis tour held that year. It now incorporated 41 tournaments staged in Australia, Great Britain and Ireland and the United States. The 1880 Wimbledon Championships was won by John Hartley against Herbert Lawford, in the Challenge Round.
The 1881 Men's tennis tour was composed of the fifth annual pre-open era tour now incorporated 42 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, which is the world's first national tennis association, was founded. Renshaw then won two other big tournaments of the year, the Irish Lawn Tennis Championships and Princes Club Championships, whilst Richard Taswell Richardson won the prestigious Northern Championships.
The 1882 Men's tennis tour was composed of the sixth annual pre-open era tour and now incorporated 53 events. The Wimbledon Championships and Irish Championships was won by William Renshaw, the U.S. National Championships was won by Richard Sears collecting his second title other big winners were Richard Taswell Richardson picking up the Northern Lawn Tennis Championships and Ernest Renshaw winning the Princes Club Championships, The title leader this season was Robert W. Braddell winning 4 tournaments from 6 finals.
The 1883 Men's tennis tour was the seventh annual tennis tour, consisting of 52 tournaments. The Wimbledon Championships was won by William Renshaw for the third consecutive year, while Richard Sears continued his dominance at the U.S. National Championships also winning a third successive title. Other big winners this season were Ernest Renshaw, picking up the Irish Championships, Herbert Wilberforce winning the Northern Lawn Tennis Championships in Manchester, and Herbert Lawford collecting his second and final title at the Princes Club Championships. The title leader this season was Charles Walder Grinstead winning 5 tournaments from 6 finals.
Thomas (Tom) Chaytor was an Irish tennis player. He was Irish Lawn tennis Championships finalist in 1894 losing to Joshua Pim. He was a semi finalist at the 1894 Wimbledon Championships in the men's singles event and a quarter finalist in the men's doubles event. He won seven career titles out of fifteen finals.
The Waterford Annual Lawn Tennis Tournament was a men's tennis tournament was played on outdoor grass courts in Waterford, Ireland from 1880 through 1979.
The 1884 Men's tennis tour was the eighth annual tennis tour, consisting of 61 tournaments it began in April in Nuwara Eliya, Ceylon and ended in December in Melbourne, Australia.
The Waterloo Tournament also known as the Waterloo LTC Tournament was a men's and women's grass court tennis tournament held in Waterloo, Liverpool, Lancashire, Great Britain from 1881 to 1897.
The Essex Championships was a combined men's and women's grass court tennis tournament last held at Frinton Lawn Tennis Club, Frinton-on-Sea, Essex, Great Britain from 1881 to 1973.
The South of Ireland Open Tennis Championship originally called the South of Ireland Championships first established in 1876 or 1877 and also known as the Limerick Cup is a grass court tennis tournament that features both men's and women's competitions that is currently an official tour event of Tennis Ireland. It is held at the Limerick Lawn Tennis Club in Limerick, County Limerick, Ireland. The championships is the world's second oldest surviving tennis tournament after Wimbledon but the only event to have been staged continuously for the last 141 years.
The 1885 Men's tennis tour was the ninth annual tennis tour, consisting of 54 tournaments it began at the beginning of the year in London, England and ended 12 October in New Haven, Connecticut, United States.
The County Kildare Open Tennis Championship originally known as the County Kildare Tennis Tournament (1879-1880) then County Kildare Championship is grass court tennis tournament held initially at Naas, County Kildare, in Ireland, established on 2 August 1881.
The 1886 Men's tennis tour was composed of the tenth annual pre-open era tour incorporating 86 tournaments. The tour began in March in Auckland, New Zealand and ended in December in Napier, New Zealand.
The 1887 Men's tennis tour was composed of the eleventh annual pre-open era tour incorporating 126 tournaments.
Richard Manders
Arthur Davies Tuckey