1883
February 14
The New York Times mentions a new publication called
The Archery and Tennis News. "The progress lawn-tennis has made in this country [the United States] forms a leading topic, and a full account of matches in the past and those to bt played in the future
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May 21-25,
Irish Championships, Dublin, Ireland (Grass)
Venue: Fitzwilliam Square
FI: May Langrishe d. Beatrice Langrishe 6-0, 6-1
No women’s doubles event was held this year.
MX: May Langrishe/Ernest Browne d. Lena Rice/Peter Aungier 6-3 6-2 6-0
This is a rare early appearance by Lena Rice, the future (1890) Wimbledon champion from County Tipperary, Ireland, who did not play much competitive tennis either before or after her greatest victory.
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May 28- June 2,
West of England Championships, Bath, Somerset, England (Grass)
SF: Maud Watson d Edith Davies (2 sets to 1)
FI: Maud Watson d Miss Pope (Ire) 6-1 6-2
DF: Lilian Watson/Maud Watson d. Edith Davies/G Gibbs 6-3 5-6 6-3
Maud wins 4 matches for the title. She drops a set in the semis to Edith Davies.
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June 4-9,
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England (Grass)
FI: Maud Watson d. F Davies 6-3 6-0
DF: Lilian Watson/Maud Watson d. Miss Cornford/Edith Davies 6-1 6-1
MX: Miss Mardall/GM Butterworth d. Lilian Cole/Reverend H Smith 4-6 6-2 6-2
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June 19-21,
Leicester, Leicestershire, England (Grass)
FI: Mrs F Watts d. Miss Noon 2-6 6-1 6-1 6-2
This was a best-of-five-sets final.
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June 23-30,
Northern Tournament, Manchester, England (Grass)
FI: Edith Coleridge d Miss Eckersley 7-5 6-3
Doubles (Draw=3)
1R: Ms Cheetham/Ms Eckersley d. Ann Dod/Lottie Dod 6-5 6-1
1R: Edith Coleridge/Miss Ross-Collier-bye
FI: Edith Coleridge/Miss Ross Collier d. Miss Cheetam/Miss Eckersley 6-3 9-7
MX: Miss Fletcher/Ernest Browne d. Miss Cheetham/JB Ismay 6-2 6-3
Note that this same Edith Coleridge married C.J. Cole, thus becoming Edith Cole. She was the player who lost to Maud Watson in the final of the London Athletic Club tournament in 1884. The score was 6-4 6-2 2-6 6-1 (best of five sets). The 6-5 score in the semi of the doubles is not an error. 6-5 sets sometimes occured in this era as scoring had not yet become standardized
This is a very early appearance in tournament play by Lottie Dod, who was just 11 years old at this point in time.
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July 3-7,
Leamington, Warwickshire, England (Grass)
No ladies singles.
DF: Lilian Watson/Maud Watson d. Mrs F. Watts/Miss Noon 6-4 6-4 6-4
MF: Maud Watson/Edward L Williams d. Miss Mardall/J McKay 6-1 6-4 8-6
Both of these finals were played over the best of five sets. Leamington was first contested in 1882, initially holding only a mixed doubles for the ladies.
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July 20-21,
Lichfield, Staffordshire, England (Grass)
FI: Mrs Peters-Smith d. Miss Collier 2-6 6-4 6-5
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July 24-25,
Norwich, Norfolk, England (Grass)
FI: G Rent d. J.Hartoup 6-1 6-2
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August 13-16,
Tenby, Wales (Grass)
FI: C Jones d. E Fletcher 6-2 3-6 6-4
MX: Mrs Bagnall-Wild/PJ Ash d. Mrs Wodehouse/HG Saunders-Davies 6-1 6-4
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August 14-18,
Exmouth, Devon, England (Grass)
FI: Maud Watson d. Lilian Cole 6-4 6-2
MX: Maud Watson/Edward L Williams d. Miss Noon/Charles W Grinstead 6-3 6-1
Maud easily wins her 3 matches.
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August 20-23,
Teignmouth, Devon, England (Grass)
MX: Miss Mardall/Charles L Sweet d. Lilian Watson/Erskine Watson 6-4 6-2
This tournament did not initially feature either a women's singles or women's doubles event.
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August 21-25,
Moffat, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland (Grass)
FI: Jane Meikle d. A Forest 6-3 2-6 6-3
DF: A Fenwick/W Fenwick d. Jane Meikle/Miss Meikle 6-2 12-10
MX: W Fenwick/PC Fenwick d. Miss Meikle/GW Stenhouse 6-2 6-2
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August, 22-25,
Edgbaston, Birmingham, West Midlands, England (Grass)
FI: Miss Hutton d. L Sanders 6-5 8-6
DF: Miss Chamberlain/L Chamberlain d. K Cartland/Miss Hutton 6-1 6-4
MX: Miss Chamberlain/SA Noon d. Miss Hutton/JA Powell 13-11 9-7 6-2
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September 3-5,
Bournemouth, Dorset, England (Grass)
FI: Mrs Hornby d. M Richards 5-6 6-3 6-1
DF: Mrs Hornby/M. Richards d. Miss Dalgairns/Miss Drake 6-4 6-2 6-1
The doubles was a best-of-five-sets final.
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September 3-8,
Devonshire Park Tournament, Eastbourne, East Sussex, England (Grass)
Venue: Devonshire Park
FI: M Leslie d. Miss Congreve 10-8 6-4
This year women's singles event at this tournament was open and not a "handicap" event.
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October 3-5
Camp Washington Ladies Lawn Tennis Tournament, Staten Island, New York, US (Grass)
Venue: Staten Island Cricket Club (AKA Brighton Ladies Club for Out-door Sports)
Draw=11
1R: Miss Goodwin d Bessie Nichols 6-0 6-0
1R: AM Miller-bye
1R: Miss Simmonds d Miss Cave 6-1 1-6 6-5
1R: Mary Johnston d MA Hayes 6-5 5-6 6-3
1R: Adeline Robinson d Elizabeth Crosby 6-2 6-0
1R: Violet Ward d Mrs AE Rendle 6-2 6-4
QF: Goodwin d Miller 6-2 6-1
QF: Johnston d Simmonds 6-5 6-5
QF: Robinson d Ward 6-2 6-5
SF: Goodwin d Johnson 6-2 6-0
SF: Robinson-bye
FI: Miss Goodwin d Adeline Robinson 6-2 4-6 6-5
Doubles (Draw=6)
1R: Miss Hayes/AM Miller d Elizabeth Crosby/Violet Ward 6-3 6-4
1R: Miss Cave/Mrs AE Rendel d Miss McAndrews/Miss McAndrews 6-4 6-2
1R: Miss Johnston/Mary Johnston-bye
1R: Miss Grandy/Adeline Robinson-bye
SF: Cave/Rendel d Hayes/Miller 6-1 4-6 6-1
SF: Grandy/Robinson d Jonston/Johnston 6-1 6-1*
FI: Miss Grandy/Adeline Robinson d Miss Cave/Mrs AE Rendel 6-1 6-2
MX: Miss Goodwin/Mr Greenlough d Violet Ward/Mr Shippen 6-2 6-3
Draw notes:
Though the New York Times and Illustrated News called Miss Robinson "Adelaide", she in fact went by "Adeline." The term "mixed doubles" was not yet in use, at least in the Times, which calls the mixed event ladies and gentelemen's doubles. Ditto for the terms quarterfinal (listed as second round by the Times) and semifinal (listed as the third round). Finally, the NYT reports one of the ladies doubles semifinals (marked as *) as a third round match without any evidence of earlier matches on the part of either team. My interpretation of this is an error on the part of the Times.
Summary:
Published in the Illustrated London News, London:, 1883. An early woodcut print of a women's tennis tournament, played at the Staten Island Cricket Club in New Brighton, Staten Island, NY, thought to be the first tennis court in the US. The print is of women's doubles, played in long skirts with bustles on grass. Rather strong feminist text accompanies the picture on the back, presumably written by a male journalist. "If any club was strong enough to break the barrier of prejudice that forbade ladies to compete in open lawn tennis tournaments, it was the Staten Island Ladies' Club for Out-door Sports.and that organization has vindicated its position by holding a tournament in which ladies belonging to any club in the country were admitted to compete. That such prejudice has existed - and it is by no means yet overcome - is evident from the fact that whereas open tournaments for male amateurs have been frequent in the past three years, only one club has offered a prize for ladies in open competition. The Ladies' Club is therefor entitled to great credit for having inserted the thin end of what it is to be hoped will prove a very stout wedge."
The tournament was won by Miss Goodwin of the Franklin Archery & Tennis Club in New Jersey, against Adeline Robinson of Staten Island, champion of the New Brighton Club. First prize was "an elegant gold pin, studded with diamonds and rubies."
According the New York Times "several hundred ladies witnessed the lawn-tennis games." The mostly local crowd pulled for the home favorite Robinson against the New Jersey girl.
The event was sponsored by the Ladies Club for Out-door sports. The Camp Washington Tennis ground contains 9 courts and 6 croquet grounds.
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Sources and Links:
Much of this thread comes from original research by Newmark. Thanks to Chalres Friesen for finding the Staten Island event.
I utilized the New York Times, covering the entire year.
Results for other years are in the Women's Database at:
http://www.tennisforum.com/showthread.php?t=90372
1883 results
