1881 women's tennis season

The 1881 Women's tennis season was a tennis circuit composed of 39 national, regional, county, and regular tournaments. The season began in April in Cheltenham, England, and ended in October in Queen's Park, Brighton, England.

1881 Women's tennis season
Details
Duration19 April – 8 October
Edition6th
Tournaments39 (Amateur)
CategoriesImportant (1)
National (0)
Provincial/Regional/State (3)
County (5)
Regular (24)
Achievements (singles)
Most tournament titlesEngland Gertrude Gibbs (3)
Most tournament finalsEngland Gertrude Gibbs (3)
1880
1882

Season summary

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Prior to the creation of the International Lawn Tennis Federation and the establishment of its world championship events in 1913 the Wimbledon Championships, the U.S. National Championships, the Irish Lawn Tennis Championships and the Northern Championships were considered by players and historians as the four most important tennis tournaments to win.[1][2][3]

This year for women there would be a tennis circuit of sorts starting to form.[4] 1881 also sees the first indoor tournament for women the Cheltenham Covered Court Championships organised by the Cheltenham Lawn Tennis Club and played on wood courts at the Imperial Winter Gardens, Cheltenham, England.[5]

At the only major event to feature women's competition the Irish Championships[6] in Dublin the women's singles and doubles events were not held, but a mixed doubles event was staged won by Ireland's Mary Abercrombie and England's William Renshaw. In terms of draw size the Exmouth Open was the largest as far as women competitors were concerned with 26 in the main singles draw.

In May 1881 the first national tennis association is formed that being the United States Lawn Tennis Association.[7] At the first official U.S. National Championships there was no women's events and it would be eight years before there would be.[8] In Australia the University of Sydney Lawn Tennis Club formed in 1881 and officially incorporated in 1885, was the only venue in the country following admission of women undergraduates to have active players.[9]

At the 1881 Wimbledon Championships the world's first major tennis tournament, it still remained an all men's event, no women's events were staged. On 26 November 1881 indoor tennis was played inside the 7th Regiment Armory in New York City on with twelve courts for the use of women.[10] In 1913 the International Lawn Tennis Federation was created, that consisted of national member associations. The ILTF through its associated members then became responsible for supervising women's tour events.

Season results

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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),[11] in some tournaments not all.

X Indicates challenge round final * Indicates doubles ** mixed doubles

This year 26 singles, 7 doubles and 20 mixed doubles events were held.

Key

Main events.[12][13][14][15]
National events
provincial/state/regional events
County events
Regular events

January to March

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No events

April

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* (denotes doubles) ** (denotes mix doubles)
Ended Tournament Winner Finalist Semifinalist Quarterfinalist
23 Apr.[16] Cheltenham Covered Court Championships
Imperial Winter Gardens
Cheltenham, England
Wood (i)
Singles - Doubles - Mix Doubles
  Marion Bradley
3-6, 6-2, 6-2
  Florence Mardall   Mary Abercrombie
  Ellen Ramsay
  Edith Atherley
  Mrs Hill
  Frances Morris
  Mrs H. Ramsay
  Clara Hill*
  Ellen Ramsay
6-1, 6-3
  Mrs Dark
 Miss Jones
  Miss Williams**
  Ernest Browne
default
  Florence Mardall
  Henry Blane Porter
Date Tournament Winner Finalist Semi Finalist Quarter Finalist
12 May[17] Devonshire Park Championships (Spring)
Devonshire Park LTC
Eastbourne, England
Grass
Singles - Doubles - Mix Doubles
  Agnes Watts
2 sets to 0
  E Hudson
  Agnes Watts**
  Sidney Alfred Noon
2 sets to 0t
  E Hudson
  E.R. Hudson
19 May[18] North Northamptonshire LTC Tournament
Kettering, England
Grass
Singles - Doubles - Mix Doubles -
  Rose Collier
6-0, 6-5
  M Blencowe
  Miss E. Hall *
  Miss H.B. Upcher
Won
West of England Championships[19]
Lansdowne CC
Bath, England
Outdoor
Grass
Singles - Doubles
  Gertrude Gibbs
6-0, 7-5
  Annie Layard   Clara Hill   Georgina Kirkby
  Florence Mardall
  Florence Mardall**
  Henry Blane Porter
6-0, 8-6
  Grace Gibbs
  William Bush-Salmon
28 May Irish Championships
Fitzwilliam LTC
Dublin, Ireland
Outdoor
Grass
Singles - Doubles
  Mary Abercrombie **
  William Renshaw
6–3, 5–7, 6–2, 6–3
  Miss Costello
  Spencer Duncan Maul

June

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** (denotes mix doubles)
Ended Tournament Winner Finalist Semi Finalist Quarter Finalist
4 Jun West of England Championships
Lansdowne CC
Bath, England
Grass
Singles - Doubles
  Gertrude Gibbs
6-0, 7-5
  Annie Layard   Clara Hill   Georgina Kirkby
  Florence Mardall
  Florence Mardall**
  Henry Blane Porter
6-0, 8-6
  Grace Gibbs
  William J. Bush-Salmon
19 Jun.[20] Liverpool Cricket Club Lawn Tennis Tournament
Liverpool CLTC
Liverpool II, England
Grass
Singles - Doubles
  Miss Nixon *
  Miss Black
Won
  Miss F. Fitzroy
  Algernon Aylmer
26 Jun.[21] North Northamptonshire LTC Tournament
North Northants LTC
Kettering II, England
Grass
Singles - Doubles
  Miss A. Stobart *
  Miss E. Hunt
Def
  Miss E. Hall
  Miss F. Lightfoot
  Mrs Upcher
  Mr. A. Pulteney
def
  Miss Bell
  Mr H. Stockdale

July

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* (denotes doubles) ** (denotes mix doubles)
Ended Tournament Winner All comers' finalist Semifinalist Quarterfinalist
2 Jul[22] Championship of the Sydney LTC
Sydney LTC
Bath II, England
Grass
Singles - Doubles
  Miss Freeling
Won
 ?
7 Jul.[23] Ripon Club Tournament
Ripon LTC
Ripon, England
Grass
Singles - Doubles
  Miss Healey **
  Mr A.J. Wise
2–1 sets
  Miss Springett
  Mr. J. L. Shann
11 Jul.[24] Tonbridge LTC Tournament
Tonbridge LTC
Tonbridge, England
Grass
Singles - Doubles
  Miss Gorham **
  Mr C. Lachlan
2–1 sets
  Miss Springett
  Mr. J. L. Shann
12 Jul.[25] Bedfordshire LTC Tournament
Befordshire LTC
Blenham, England
Grass
Singles - Doubles
  Miss L. Archdale
Won
 ?
16 Jul Staffordshire C.C.C. Tournament
Staffordshire Lawn Tennis Club
Lichfield, England
Outdoor
Grass
Singles - Doubles - Mix Doubles -
  Rose Collier
6-0, 6-5
  M Blencowe
  M Blencowe**
  A. Blencowe
6-1, 6-3
  Mrs Peters-Smith
  A Denton
23 Jul Edgbaston Open Tournament
Edgbaston, England
Outdoor
Grass
Singles
  Maud Watson
6-3 6-1 6-4
  Lilian Watson
  K. Stretton   K.H. Cartland
  Miss Chamberlain
  K. Holliday
  Lilian Watson*
  Maud Watson
6-1, 6-3
  K. Cartland *
  L. Hutton
26 Jul.[26] Norwich Open
Norwich LTC
Norwich, England
Grass
Singles - Doubles
  Miss M. Raikes
6-3, 3-6, 6-2
  Miss Burleigh
30 Jul London Athletic Club Open Tournament
Stamford Bridge, England
Grass
Singles - Doubles
  M Raikes
5-0, 5-2
  Miss Burleigh

August

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(*denotes doubles) (**denotes mix doubles)

Ended Tournament Winner Finalist Semi Finalist Quarter Finalist
1 Aug. Hexham Tournament
Hexham LTC
Hexham, England
Grass
Singles - Doubles
  Miss Gibson **
  Jasper Gibson
2–0 sets
  Mrs Peters-Smith
  Mr A Denton
4 Aug.[27] Cirencester Park Lawn Tennis Tournament
Earl Bathurst Estate
Cirencester Park
Cirencester, Gloucestershire, England
Outdoor
Grass
Singles - Doubles
  Gertrude Gibbs
  Marian Smith
6 Aug Darlington Association Tournament
Darlington, England
Grass
Singles - Mix Doubles
  Ethel Surtees
3-6, 6-3, 6-1
  Alice Cheese
  LML Turner   Minnie Congreve
  Winifred Fenwick
  Mrs JB Dale
  Alice Cheese **
  J.B. Dale
9-7, 6-3
  Winifred Fenwick
  Percival C. Fenwick
County Kildare Championship[28]
County Limerick CC
Naas, Ireland
Outdoor
Grass
Singles
  Miss C. Vesey
Won
  Miss F. Metcalfe
  Miss F. Metcalfe **
  Algeron Aylmer
won
Waterford Annual Lawn Tennis Tournament
Waterford Cricket Club
Waterford, County Waterford, Ireland
Grass
Singles
  May Langrishe
6-2, 6-1
  Adela Langrishe   Ann Gallwey   Miss Hunt
  Beatrice Langrishe
8 Aug Waterloo LTC Tournament
Waterloo LTC
Liverpool, England
Grass
Singles - Doubles
  K. Rayner
6-0 6-0
  L. Cheetham   H. Rayner   Alice Bagnall-Wild
  A. Barry
  A. Barry *
  F. Helder
6-2, 3-6, 6-1
  Miss Jardine
  Miss Jones
  K. Rayner **
  J.F. Carde
6-1, 12-10
  Alice Bagnall-Wild
  E. Bucknell
10 Aug[29] South Berkshire Tournament
South Berks LTC
Caversham, England
Grass
Singles
  Miss Stokes
Won
12 Aug Exmouth Tournament
Exmouth, England
Grass
Singles
  Lilian Cole
6-0, 6-0
  Eveline Belfield   Maude Taylor   Mary Hoare
  M. Smith
  Georgiana Kindersley **
  Henry Kindersley
2-6, 7-5, 7-5
  Lilian Cole
  Thomas Arembery Tombe
North of Ireland Championships[30]
Cliftonville CC
Belfast, Ireland
Grass
Singles - Doubles
  Miss Charley **
  C. Goldsmid
2–1 sets
  Miss. Spunner
  Mr. C.H. Wright
19 Aug.[31] Waterford Tournament
Cliftonville CC
Waterford, Ireland
Grass
Singles - Doubles
  Miss Knox **
  R Knox
2–1 sets
  Beatrice Langrishe
  William Renshaw
21 Aug South of Ireland Championships
County Limerick CC
Limerick, Ireland
Grass
Singles - Doubles
  Marian Smith
8-6, 6-1
  Miss Westropp   Mary Lysaght
26 Aug. Teignmouth and Shaldon Tournament
Teignmouth LTC
Teignmouth, England
Grass
Singles - Doubles
  Miss Power **
  Charles Cole
def
  Miss Robinson
  Champion Russell
30 Aug South Wales Championships
Tenby LTC
Tenby, Wales
Grass
Singles - Doubles
  Miss Kemmis **
  P.J. Ashe
8-6, 6-1
  Miss Jones
  Mr Rock
31 Aug Sittingbourne & Gore Court Ladies Open
Gore Court LTC
Sittingbourne, England
Grass
Singles
  Miss M Malden
6–3, 6–3
  Miss Goodwin
Aldershot Division Open[32]
Aldershot Division LTC
Aldershot, England
Grass
Singles
  Miss Draper
2–0 sets
  Miss Pritchard

September

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(* denotes doubles)

Ended Tournament Winner Finalist Semi Finalist Quarter Finalist
2 Sep. Vale of Clwyd CLTC Open
Vale of Clwyd CLTC
Denbigh, Wales
Grass
Singles - Doubles
  Miss L Williams
5–3, 5–3
  Miss Proctor
8 Sep Highclere Park Tournament
Highclere, England
Grass
Singles - Doubles
  Miss Arkwright
6–4, 6–1
  Miss Johnson
15 Sep. St Leonards-on-Sea Tournament
Saint Leonards LTC
St Leonards-on-Sea, England
Grass
Singles - Doubles
  Augusta Langley
4-6, 6-2, 6-3
  Constance Smith   Miss Smith
17 Sep. Torquay LTC Tournament
Torquay LTC
Torquay, England
Grass
Singles - Doubles
  Miss Coulthard **
  Mr.W. Ware
2–1 sets.
  Lilian Cole
  Thomas A. Tombe
19 Sep. White Rose York Tournament
White Rose LTC
York, England
Grass
Singles - Doubles
  Miss Smith **
  Mr Burke
def.
  Miss Smith
  Mr A. Hotham
24 Sep. East Gloucestershire Championships
Montpelier Gardens
Cheltenham, England
Outdoor
Grass
Singles
  Gertrude Gibbs
6-4, 6-4
  Miss Perry   Marion Bradley
  Clara Hill
 Mary Abercrombie
  Florence Mardall
  Ellen Ramsay
  Clara Hill *
  Ellen Ramsay
6-1, 6-3
  Mrs Dark
  Miss Jones

October

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(*denotes doubles) (**denotes mix doubles)

Ended Tournament Winner Finalist Semi Finalist Quarter Finalist
1 Oct. Sussex County Lawn Tennis Tournament
Brighton, England
Grass
Singles - Doubles
  Edith Coleridge
6-5, 6-2
  Leila Lodwick   M. Walker
  Miss Maltby *
  E. Munt
6-2, 6-2
  Miss Saint-Clair
  M. Walker
  E. Munt **
  H.B. Thornhill
6-3, 6-1
  Leila Lodwick
  Orlando R. Coote
8 Oct. Brighton Lawn Tennis Club Tournament
Queen's Park, England
Grass
Singles
  Edith Coleridge
6-5, 4-6, 6-2
  Eva Adshead   Leila Lodwick
  Miss Munt **
  H.B. Thornhill
6-3, 6-1
  Leila Lodwick
  Orlando R. Coote

November to December

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No events

Tournament Winners

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Singles

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This is list of winners sorted by number of singles titles (# and main titles in bold)

Doubles

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This is list of winners sorted by number of doubles titles (# and main titles in bold)

Mixed Doubles

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This is list of winners sorted by number of mixed doubles titles (# and main titles in bold)

Statistical summary

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  • Total Tournaments–(39)
  • Most Titles—  Gertrude Beatrice Gibbs—(3)
  • Most Finals—  Gertrude Beatrice Gibbs–(3)
  • Most Matches Played—  Gertrude Beatrice Gibbs–(10)
  • Most Matches Won—  Gertrude Beatrice Gibbs–(10)
  • Match Winning %—  Gertrude Beatrice Gibbs—(100.0%)
  • Most Tournaments Played—  Gertrude Beatrice Gibbs–(5)
  • Most Head to Head Meetings—  Miss M. Raikes &   Miss Burleigh–(6)

References

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  1. ^ Robertson, Max (1974). The Encyclopedia of Tennis. London: Allen & Unwin. pp. 266, 267. ISBN 9780047960420.
  2. ^ Meyers, A. Wallis (1903). Lawn Tennis at Home and Abroad. New York: Charles Scribner and Sons. p. 55.
  3. ^ Lake, Robert J. (2014). A Social History of Tennis in Britain. Routledge. p. 49. ISBN 9781134445578.
  4. ^ Berry, David (2020). "2: Feminists". A people's history of tennis. London: Pluto Books. p. 27. ISBN 978-0745339658.
  5. ^ Lawn Tennis, The Field, 23 April 1881
  6. ^ Irish TV Documentary (4 Jul 2016). The True Tale Of The Irish Tennis Murderer. Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTE). Dublin. Ireland.
  7. ^ Sclar, Ari F. (15 April 2015). Beyond Stereotypes: American Jews and Sports. West Lafayette, Indiana, United States: Purdue University Press. p. 45. ISBN 978-1-61249-356-5.
  8. ^ Sclar
  9. ^ Sherington, Geoffrey; Georgakis, Steve (2008). Sydney University Sport 1852–2007: More Than a Club. Sydney: Sydney University Press. p. 64. ISBN 978-1-920898-91-5.
  10. ^ "Timeline of Women in Sports". faculty.elmira.edu. Elmira, New York, United States: Elmira College. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  11. ^ "Abolition of Challenge Rounds". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. EVENING POST, VOLUME CIII, ISSUE 65, 20 March 1922. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  12. ^ Nauright, John; Parrish, Charles (2012). Sports Around the World: History, Culture, and Practice. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO. p. 198. ISBN 9781598843002.
  13. ^ Gillmeister, Heiner (1998). Tennis:Cultural History. London: A&C Black. p. 199. ISBN 9780718501952.
  14. ^ Mazak, Karoly (2017). The Concise History of Tennis. Independently published. pp. 5–36. ISBN 9781549746475.
  15. ^ Lake, Robert J. (2014). A Social History of Tennis in Britain: Volume 5 of Routledge Research in Sports History. Routledge. p. 48. ISBN 9781134445578.
  16. ^ Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.67.
  17. ^ Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.67.
  18. ^ Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.68.
  19. ^ Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.67.
  20. ^ Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.68.
  21. ^ Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.68.
  22. ^ Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.69.
  23. ^ Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.69.
  24. ^ Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.70.
  25. ^ Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.70.
  26. ^ Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.70.
  27. ^ Nieuwland, Alex. Edition – Cirencester Park Tournament 1881. Source: https://www.tennisarchives.com/edition/?v=26631 |website=www.tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. 7 August 2023.
  28. ^ Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.71.
  29. ^ Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.71.
  30. ^ Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.71.
  31. ^ Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.71.
  32. ^ "LAWN TENNIS TOURNAMENT AT ALDERSHOT. The third annual Aldershot Garrison Open Lawn Tennis Tournament commenced at the Club Grounds, Aldershot, on Tuesday, 30 August, and continued daily during the week". Aldershot Military Gazette. Aldershot, Hampshire, England: British Newspaper Archive. 10 September 1881. p. 5.