Victor Voss
Viktor Eugen Felix Voss -Schönau ( born March 31, 1868 in Schorssow; † August 9, 1936 in Goods ) was a German count and tennis player. He won from 1894 to 1896 the German Championships and was in the 1890s, the most successful and most famous German tennis player.
Life
Voss came on March 31, 1868 as the son of a Count of Mecklenburg noble family Voss and the Hungarian Countess Elise Szapáry on the family estate in Schorssow to the world. At the beginning of the 1890s, he learned there playing tennis under the guidance of American coach. From 1894 to 1896 he won the German Championships at Hamburg Rothbaum, which, however, were reserved until then only German and Austrian players. In 1896 he reached the final of the tournament in Baden -Baden, subject to there, however, Reginald Doherty clearly in three sets. After his third victory at the German championships 1896 originally founded by Carl Laeisz trophy went over in his possession. Voss donated a new trophy, but he himself should never win.
In 1897 he engaged with Burke one of the best professional players of his time as a coach. He is now in the winter months to tennis tournaments and the Côte d' Azur in part, and to be quartered in Cannes at Hotel Beau-Site in. 1897 in Nice and Monte Carlo in 1898 he was able to move into the final, but lost again against Reginald and his brother Laurence Doherty.
1899 took Voß a trip to the UK, which was hailed in the local press in expectant anticipation: " The German champion player [ ... ] soon as Alexander the Great thirst for new conquests, and it is finally nothing more he has left, as to travel to England to be beaten again in the struggle with the local variables! " in the Irish Championships in Dublin, he was defeated in the second round in five sets Frank Riseley. In a tournament in London's Chiswick Park he lost to George Greville. In 1899 he had to win the final of Nice Laurence Doherty smooth defeated with 0:6, 0:6 and 0:6.
Voss played frequently on the tennis courts in Heiligendamm, including the Grand Duchess Anastasia of Mecklenburg -Schwerin and Countess Clara von der Schulenburg. His trademark was a wet towel wrapped around his forehead, which he prevented fogging of the lenses. Another peculiarity was his second serve, he always served cut from below.
Arthur Wallis Myers wrote about Voss that he possessed a good forehand stroke and volley; However, his weaknesses are the backhand, serve and be an only average Smash. According to Myers, the obligation of a professional trainer is a mistake, because this would financially dependent, express only mild criticism, which Voss would overestimate its strength.
After Voss failed to George Hillyard at the German championships in 1900 in the semifinals, he withdrew from the tournament tennis. He devoted himself in following his other two hobbies, car racing and clay pigeon shooting. Voss died in August 1936 retired at the age of 68 years in Waren at the Müritz. Although he was married twice, he had no children.
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Sources and links
- Gillmeister, H.: Cultural history of tennis. Willhelm Fink Verlag, Munich 1990, ISBN 3-7705-2618- X, pp. 285 f
- Count Victor Eugene Voss -Schönau. tennisarchives.com, accessed on 16 November 2012 ( English).