William Renshaw
William ( " Willie" ) Charles Renshaw ( born January 3, 1861 in Leamington, England; † August 12, 1904 in Swanage, England ) was a British tennis player. He is considered the " father of modern lawn tennis " and was seven times the men's singles of the Lawn Tennis Championships ( Wimbledon ) decide for themselves. With his twin brother Ernest (1861-1899) he also won five times the local doubles final.
Life
William Renshaw and his twin brother (James) Ernest were the sons of the flat spinner James Renshaw and his wife Ellen Knight. The father died before the birth of the children in September 1860 and left the family a fortune of about 60000-70000 pounds. The brothers went to visit two years the Cheltenham College, which they left in July 1874.
The Renshaw brothers learned the sport of tennis traditionally on asphalt courts in a club of their hometown. 1880 both took part in the first Lawn Tennis Championships (formerly Port Down Rink ) were held at that time in Maida Vale. William was eliminated in the second round, while Ernest did not come on the third round addition. A year later, William reached the final, where he defeated John Hartley in three sets. Then began a winning streak that would last for the stronger William until 1886. Six times in a row he won the men's singles, where he in 1882 and 1883 in the finals defeated his brother Ernest. Together the brothers from 1884 to 1886 and from 1888 to 1889, also won the competition in the men's doubles. In addition, he won jointly with Ernest four times the double at the Irish Championships (1881, 1883-1885 ).
The brothers revolutionized in its active time technique and tactics in tennis. Unlike their competitors, they brought the game ball before touching the ground with volleys and smashes back ( " Renshaw smash "). At that time the net was attached to the sides higher than today, so that was to be less danger in a played volley from the center of the square with a Passierball of the excessive number of baseline players countered. The Renshaw's changed the kind of double game by a player positioned directly in front of the net. Through its financial reserves, it was William and Ernest also possible to train over the winter in Cannes, France.
1889 William won a seventh time the finals of the Lawn Tennis Championships in four sets against Ernest. This record should be set by the American Pete Sampras or 2012 by the Swiss Roger Federer until the year 2000, which were also seven per decide the individual competition of Wimbledon for themselves. 1890 Renshaw lost another final against Willoughby James Hamilton to a 2-1 set lead yet in five sets. 1893 occurred the last time the brothers together at the Lawn Tennis Championships at - both should meet already in the first round, after which William gave up a start. Overall, he won Wimbledon in 22 of 25 games. The audience went back to the resignation of the brothers, and many complained that the sport of tennis had lost its luster.
After his playing career, William Renshaw was appointed in 1894 as President of the Council of the British Lawn Tennis Association. Both William Ernest († 1899) remained unmarried. As a gentleman, highly respected and wealthy, William died in 1904 at the age of 43, after suffering from epileptic febrile seizures. In memory of the brothers the All England Club was donated by relatives of the Renshaw Cup, which was awarded for a time as a trophy to the winners of Mr. Single Page of Wimbledon. 1983 found both induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.