Reginald Doherty

Reginald "Reggie" or "R. F." Frank Doherty (14 October 1872 – 29 December 1910) was a British tennis player and the older brother of tennis player Laurence Doherty. He was known in the tennis world as "R.F." rather than "Reggie".[1] He was a four-time Wimbledon singles champion and a triple Olympic Gold medalist in doubles and mixed doubles.

Reginald Doherty
Full nameReginald Frank Doherty
Country (sports) United Kingdom
Born(1872-10-14)14 October 1872
Wimbledon, London, England
Died29 December 1910(1910-12-29) (aged 38)
Kensington, England
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Int. Tennis HoF1980 (member page)
Singles
Career record21–5
Grand Slam Singles results
WimbledonW (1897, 1898, 1899, 1900)
US OpenF (1902Ch)
Doubles
Grand Slam Doubles results
WimbledonW (1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1903, 1904, 1905)
US OpenW (1902, 1903)
Team competitions
Davis CupW (1903, 1904, 1905, 1906)
Medal record
Olympic Games – Tennis
1900 Paris Doubles
1900 Paris Mixed doubles
1908 London Doubles
1900 Paris Singles

Early life

Doherty was born on 14 October 1872 at Beulah Villa in Wimbledon, Surrey, the oldest son of William Doherty, a printer, and his wife, Catherine Ann Davis.[2] Doherty began tennis early in life and as a boy at Westminster School showed great promise. At age 14 he won the boys' singles title at an open championship in Llandudno. Doherty was educated at the University of Cambridge (Trinity Hall), where he played for the Cambridge University Lawn Tennis Club.[3] In 1895 and 1895 he was part of the Cambridge team that beat Oxford and won the Scottish and Essex championships.

Career

Grand Slams

Doherty played in his first Wimbledon Championships in 1894 and lost in the first round to Clement Cazalet in four sets. In 1897 Doherty won his first singles Wimbledon title after beating reigning champion Harold Mahony in three straight sets (6–4, 6–4, 6–3). He successfully defended his title for the next three years (1898, 1899, 1900). In 1898 he did so by beating his brother in the Challenge Round in five sets (6–3, 6–3, 2–6, 5–7, 6–1). In 1901 he finally lost his Wimbledon crown when he was defeated in the Challenge Round by Arthur Gore in four sets (6–4, 5–7, 4–6, 4–6). He was also a runner-up at the US Championships in 1902 where he was beaten by the defending American champion William Larned in four sets (6–4, 2–6, 4–6, 6–8). Together with his brother Laurie he won eight Wimbledon Championships doubles titles and two US Championship doubles titles.

Davis Cup

Doherty represented the British Isles in the prestigious Davis Cup contest from 1902 to 1906. In 1902 he won the doubles match with his brother but lost the final and decisive singles match against American Malcolm Whitman in straight sets (1–6, 5–7, 4–6). In 1903 he contributed significantly to his team's first Davis Cup title against the United States by winning the doubles match and the decisive singles match against Robert Wrenn. Doherty won the Davis Cup trophy a further three times (1904, 1905, 1906) although in these years he only competed, and won, in the doubles matches.[4]

Olympics

Doherty won the doubles title (gold medals were not given at the 1900 Games) at the 1900 Olympic Games in Paris with his brother.[5] He also competed in the singles tournament and reached the semifinal, where he was scheduled to play against his brother. Reggie withdrew, since the brothers refused to play each other before the final.[6] He also won the mixed doubles title with five-time Wimbledon champion Charlotte Cooper. Doherty did not compete in the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis. In the 1908 Olympics in London Reggie again won the doubles title, this time with compatriot George Hillyard.[7]

R.F. Doherty was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1980 together with his brother.[8]

Death

Doherty died of heart failure and neurasthenia on 29 December 1910 at age 38 at his home in Kensington a day after returning from a convalescence stay in a sanatorium in Davos, Switzerland.[2][9]

According to his obituary in The New York Times, Doherty had "been in ill health for some time". The article further stated, he "held at various times every important championship the world of tennis has for a man to win. He was not beaten until he began to fail in health".[1] Both brothers apparently suffered from respiratory problems throughout their lives.[10]

R.F. and his brother had been urged to take up lawn tennis by their father, reportedly for health reasons.[1]

Grand Slam finals
Reginald Doherty – Beginning of a low backhand drive
Reginald Doherty (left) with his brother Laurence.

Singles: 6 (4 titles, 2 runners-up)
Result Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Win1897WimbledonGrass Harold Mahony6–4, 6–4, 6–3[11]
Win1898WimbledonGrass Laurence Doherty6–3, 6–3, 2–6, 5–7, 6–1[11]
Win1899WimbledonGrass Arthur Gore1–6, 4–6, 6–3, 6–3, 6–3[11]
Win1900WimbledonGrass Sydney Smith6–8, 6–3, 6–1, 5–7, 11–9[11]
Loss1901WimbledonGrass Arthur Gore6–4, 5–7, 4–6, 4–6[11]
Loss1902U.S. National ChampionshipsGrass William Larned6–4, 2–6, 4–6, 6–8[12]

Doubles: 13 (10 titles, 3 runners-up)
Result Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss1896WimbledonGrass Harold Nisbet Herbert Baddeley
Wilfred Baddeley		6–1, 6–3, 4–6, 2–6, 1–6[13]
Win1897WimbledonGrass Laurence Doherty Herbert Baddeley
Wilfred Baddeley		6–4, 4–6, 8–6, 6–4[13]
Win1898WimbledonGrass Laurence Doherty Clarence Hobart
Harold Nisbet		6–4, 6–4, 6–2[13]
Win1899WimbledonGrass Laurence Doherty Clarence Hobart
Harold Nisbet		7–5, 6–0, 6–2[13]
Win1900WimbledonGrass Laurence Doherty Herbert Roper Barrett
Harold Nisbet		9–7, 7–5, 4–6, 3–6, 6–3[13]
Win1901WimbledonGrass Laurence Doherty Dwight Davis
Holcombe Ward		4–6, 6–2, 6–3, 9–7[13]
Loss1902WimbledonGrass Laurence Doherty Frank Riseley
Sydney Smith		6–4, 6–8, 3–6, 6–4, 9–11[13]
Win1902U.S. National ChampionshipsGrass Laurence Doherty Dwight Davis
Holcombe Ward		11–9, 12–10, 6–4[14]
Win1903WimbledonGrass Laurence Doherty Frank Riseley
Sydney Smith		6–4, 6–4, 6–4[13]
Win1903U.S. National ChampionshipsGrass Laurence Doherty Kreigh Collins
L. Harry Waidner		7–5, 6–3, 6–3[14]
Win1904WimbledonGrass Laurence Doherty Frank Riseley
Sydney Smith		6–1, 6–2, 6–4[13]
Win1905WimbledonGrass Laurence Doherty Frank Riseley
Sydney Smith		6–2, 6–4, 6–8, 6–3[13]
Loss1906WimbledonGrass Laurence Doherty Frank Riseley
Sydney Smith		8–6, 4–6, 7–5, 3–6, 3–6[13]

Career tournaments
Titles by surface
Clay (18–4)
Grass (14–12)
Hard (1–0)
Wood (3–0)

Singles titles
No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent in final Score
1. 1895 Essex Championships,[15] Colchester, England Grass Herbert Ramon Yglesias 6–3, 6–1, 6–0
2. 1895 Scottish Championships,[16] Moffat, Scotland Grass Richard Millar Watson walkover
3. 1895 Welsh Covered Court Championships,[17] Llandudno, Wales Wood William S. N. Heard walkover
4. 1895 Exmouth, Exmouth, England Grass Harry Barlow 6–1, 7–5, 6–2
5. 1896 Baden Baden International, Baden-Baden, Germany Clay Count Voss 6–1, 7–5, 6–2
6. 1896 East of England Championships, England Grass Edward Roy Allen 6–4, 8–6
7. 1896 Essex Championships, Colchester, England Grass Laurence Doherty walkover
8. 1896 Scottish Championships,[16] Moffat, Scotland Grass Edward Roy Allen 13–11, 6–4 retired.
9. 1896 The Homburg Cup, Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, Germany Clay William M. Cranston walkover
10. 1896 Welsh Covered Court Championships,[17] Llandudno, Wales Wood Laurence Doherty walkover
11. 1897 Baden Baden International, Baden-Baden, Germany Clay Laurence Doherty walkover
12. 1897 Wimbledon Championships, London, England Grass Wilberforce Eaves 6–3, 7–5, 2–0 ret
13. 1897 South of France Championships, Nice, France Clay Count Voss 6–2, 6–4, 3–6, 6–1
14. 1897 The Homburg Cup, Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, Germany Clay George Hillyard walkover
15. 1897 Monte-Carlo Cup,[18] Monte Carlo, France Clay Conway W. Blackwood Price 6–2, 6–1, 6–2
16. 1897 Scottish Championships,[19] Moffat, Scotland Grass Laurence Doherty walkover
17. 1897 Cannes Championships, Cannes, France Clay M.G. Gongoltz 6–2, 6–4, 6–3
18. 1897 Welsh Covered Court Championships,[17] Llandudno, Wales Wood Laurence Doherty walkover
19. 1898 Wimbledon Championships, London, England Grass Laurence Doherty 6–3, 6–3, 2–6, 5–7, 6–1
20. 1898 The Homburg Cup, Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, Germany Clay Laurence Doherty walkover
21. 1898 Monte-Carlo Cup,[18] Monte Carlo, France Clay Count Voss 4–6, 6–3, 6–3, 4–0 Retired.
22. 1899 Irish Championships Dublin, Ireland Grass Harold Mahony 6–3, 6–4, 5–7, 6–4
23. 1899 Wimbledon Championships London, England Grass Arthur Gore 1–6, 4–6, 6–3, 6–3, 6–3
24. 1899 Monte-Carlo Cup,[18] Monte Carlo, France Clay Count Voss 6–2 Ret.
25. 1899 Heiligendammer Cup, Heiligendammer, Germany Clay Georg Wantzelius 6–2, 6–1, 6–2
26. 1899 The Homburg Cup, Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, Germany Clay Clarence Hobart 3–6, 4–6, 6–0, 6–3, 6–4
27. 1899 South of France Championships, Nice, France Clay Count Voss 6–0, 6–0 6–0
28. 1900 Irish Championships Dublin, Ireland Grass Arthur Gore 6–4, 7–5, 7–9, 7–9, 6–3
29. 1900 Wimbledon Championships London, England Grass Sydney Howard Smith 6–8, 6–3, 6–1, 6–2
30. 1901 Irish Championships Dublin, Ireland Grass Laurence Doherty 6–4, 4–6 ret.
31. 1902 Monte-Carlo Cup,[18] Monte Carlo, France Clay George Hillyard 6–1, 6–4, 6–3
32. 1902 Paris International Championships, Paris, France Clay Paul Lebreton walkover
33. 1903 Monte-Carlo Cup,[18] Monte Carlo, France Clay Frank Riseley 6–1, 14–16 Ret.
34. 1903 Paris International Championships, Paris, France Clay Max Decugis 6–4, 6–3, 8–6
35. 1904 Monte-Carlo Cup,[18] Monte Carlo, France Clay Josiah Ritchie 6–1, 7–5, 3–6, 7–5
36. 1909 South African Championships,[20] Johannesburg, South Africa Hard Lionel Escombe 6–3, 6–1, 6–1

Singles finals
No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent in final Score
1. 1895 Colchester Championships, Colchester, England Grass Charles Gladstone Allen walkover
2. 1896 Irish Championships, Dublin, Ireland Grass Harold Mahony 6–2, 6–2, 6–4
3. 1896 Queen's Club Championships, London, England Grass Harold Mahony 11–9, 6–4, 6–4
4. 1896 Sussex Championships, Exmouth, England Grass Wilfred Baddeley 6–1, 6–2, 6–3
5. 1897 Irish Championships, Dublin, Ireland Grass Wilberforce Eaves 6–4, 6–3, 3–6, 6–2
6. 1897 Northern Lawn Tennis Association Tournament, Manchester, England Grass Wilfred Baddeley 6–2, 7–5, 2–6, 6–0
7. 1898 South of France Championships, Nice, France Clay Laurence Doherty walkover
8. 1898 Irish Championships, Dublin, Ireland Grass Harold Mahony 6–3, 8–6, 6–3
9. 1898 Scottish Championships, Moffat, Scotland Grass Laurence Doherty walkover
10. 1899 Championship of Europe, Bad Homburg, Germany Clay Harold Mahony walkover
11. 1900 South of France Championships, Nice, France Clay Laurence Doherty walkover
12. 1901 Wimbledon Championships, London, England Grass Arthur Gore 4–6, 7–5, 6–4, 6–4
13. 1902 U.S. National Championships, Newport, RI, USA Grass William Larned 4–6, 6–2, 6–4, 8–6
14 1902 South of France Championships, Nice, France Clay Laurence Doherty walkover
15. 1902 Irish Championships, Dublin, Ireland Grass Laurence Doherty walkover
16 1905 East Grinstead, East Grinstead, England Grass Roderick James McNair walkover

References
  1. "Famous Tennis Player Dead: R.F. Doherty, Once American Champion, Passes Away in London", The New York Times, 30 December 1910
  2. Wray Vamplew. "Doherty, (Hugh) Laurence [Laurie] (1875–1919), tennis player". Oxford University Press.
  3. "Doherty, Reginald Frank (DHRY894RF)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  4. "Davis Cup Player Profile". ITF. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  5. "Reginald Doherty Olympic Results". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  6. Grasso, John. Historical dictionary of tennis. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press. p. 86. ISBN 9780810872370. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  7. "All the Medallists since 1896". Olympic Movement. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  8. "Hall of Famers – Reggie Doherty". International Tennis Hall of Fame. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  9. "Late Mr. Doherty". Northern Advocate (New Zealand). Northland. 14 February 1911. p. 3.
  10. Hugh Laurence Doherty (UK) Archived 9 December 2012 at Archive.today
  11. "Wimbledon Rolls of Honour / Gentlemen's Singles". Wimbledon official tournament website. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  12. "US Open Past Champions / Men's Singles". US Open official website. Archived from the original on 22 February 2009. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  13. "Wimbledon Rolls of Honour / Gentlemen's Doubles". Wimbledon. AELTC.
  14. "US Open Past Champions / Men's Doubles". US Open official website. Archived from the original on 25 October 2007. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  15. "Late Mr. Doherty". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Northern Advocate, 14 February 1911. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  16. "A Great Lawn Tennis Player: Death of Mr. R. F. Doherty". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. The Dominion. 11 February 1911. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  17. Kinsey, Albert. "The Craigside Hotel Hydro Band". genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/. BBC Radio Times Regional Programme Western, 9 July 1936. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  18. Schneiderman, E. Digby Baltzell ; with a new introduction by Howard G. (2013). Sporting gentlemen : men's tennis from the age of honor to the cult of the superstar. Somerset, NJ: Transaction Publishers. p. 73. ISBN 9781412851800.
  19. "Games and Players:Notable Tennis Record". news.google.com. The Glasgow Herald, 18 April 1951. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  20. "Reggie Doherty-Biography". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
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