Willoughby Hamilton
Willoughby James " Willoby " Hamilton ( born December 9, 1864 in Monasterevin, Kildare, Ireland, † September 27, 1943 in Dublin) was an Irish tennis player. He won, among others, in the single Wimbledon Championships in 1890 and 1889 at the Irish Championships.
Life
Hamilton, a versatile athlete and original international footballer for Ireland, took from 1884 to tennis tournaments. His appearance was described as pale and fragile, earning him the nickname Ghost ( "ghost" ) earned. In tennis, he was known for his hard forehand that was called Irish Drive.
In 1889, Hamilton won the individual title of the gentlemen at the Irish Championships. In the years 1886-1888 he won the doubles title of the same tournament, in 1889 the title in mixed doubles, along with his fellow countrywoman Lena Rice.
At Wimbledon, Hamilton broke the years of dominance by William Renshaw in the men's singles with two spectacular victories over him. The first victory in 1888 meant the end of Renshaw's hit series with 14 wins, which was a record at that time. The World Championship in 1890 both met each other in the Challenge Round, Hamilton was the challenger. The game was over five sets balanced, at the end of Hamilton went with a score as the winner of the game and the tournament from the square.
The following year, he contracted blood poisoning, however, so he could not defend his title at Wimbledon. He then ended his tennis career and worked as a stockbroker. On 31 May 1894 he married Sophia Jane Thomson.
In badminton, he won in 1902 at the inaugural Irish Open with his brother Blayney the men's doubles competition. His nephew Willoughby Hamilton was also successful in badminton.
He died in 1943 at the age of 78 years in Dublin's Dundrum.
Title
Singles
Doubles
Mixed double
Sources and links
- Collins, B.: History of tennis. 2nd edition. New Chapter Press, New York 2010, ISBN 978-0-942257-70-0, pp. 692
- Tingay, L.: One Hundred Years of Wimbledon. Guinness World Records Ltd, London 1977, ISBN 978-0900424717, p 198
- Willoughby James Hamilton. tennisarchives.com, accessed on 14 November 2012 ( English).