Wilfred Baddeley (11 January 1872 – 24 January 1929) was a British male tennis player and the elder of the Baddeley twins.
Career
Wilfred, the better-known competitor, made his debut at Wimbledon in 1889 and he went on to win singles title three times in 1891, 1892 and 1895. His 6–4, 1–6, 7–5, 6–0 win over Joshua Pim in 1891 at the age of 19 years and five months made him, until Boris Becker in 1985, the youngest men's singles champion at Wimbledon. He was also runner-up in 1893, 1894 and 1896. With Herbert, he won four doubles championships at Wimbledon in 1891, 1894 – 1896. The twins retired from competitive lawn tennis after the 1897 Wimbledon Championships to pursue their law careers but made a reappearance in the doubles event at Wimbledon in 1904 and 1905. In total he participated in eight Wimbledon singles tournaments and eleven doubles tournaments between 1889 and 1905.
Baddeley was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2013.
Professional life In February 1895 the brothers qualified in London as solicitors. They joined their uncle and father Thomas and E. P. Baddeley in Leadenhall Street at the family firm, founded by their great-grandfather in 1790. The brothers remained partners in the firm until 1919, when they retired leaving their cousin, Cyril Baddeley, to carry on in the family name.
Grand Slam finals
Singles: 6 (3 titles, 3 runners-up)
ResultYearChampionshipSurfaceOpponentScore Win 1891 Wimbledon Grass Joshua Pim 6–4, 1–6, 7–5, 6–0Win 1892 Wimbledon Grass Joshua Pim 4–6, 6–3, 6–3, 6–2Loss 1893 Wimbledon Grass Joshua Pim 6–3, 1–6, 3–6, 2–6Loss 1894 Wimbledon Grass Joshua Pim 8–10, 2–6, 6–8Win 1895 Wimbledon Grass W. V. Eaves 4–6, 2–6, 8–6, 6–2, 6–3Loss 1896 Wimbledon Grass Harold Mahony 2–6, 8–6, 7–5, 6–8, 3–6
Doubles: 6 (4 titles, 2 runner-ups)
ResultYearChampionship SurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreWin 1891 Wimbledon Grass Herbert Baddeley Joshua Pim Frank Stoker 6–1, 6–3, 1–6, 6–2Loss 1892 Wimbledon Gras Herbert Baddeley Ernest Lewis Harold Barlow 6–4, 2–6, 6–8, 4–6Win 1894 Wimbledon Grass Herbert Baddeley Harold Barlow Ernest Lewis 5–7, 7–5, 4–6, 6–3, 8–6Win 1895 Wimbledon Grass Herbert Baddeley Ernest Lewis Herbert Wilberforce 8–6, 5–7, 6–4, 6–3Win 1896 Wimbledon Grass Herbert Baddeley Reginald Doherty Harold Nisbet 1–6, 3–6, 6–4, 6–2, 6–1Loss 1897 Wimbledon Grass Herbert Baddeley Reginald Doherty Laurence Doherty 4–6, 6–4, 6–8, 4–6
References
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