The 1881 Women's tennis season was a tennis circuit composed of 39 national, regional, county, and regular tournaments. The season began in April in Cheltenham, England, and ended in October in Queen's Park, Brighton, England.
Season summary Prior to the creation of the International Lawn Tennis Federation and the establishment of its world championship events in 1913 the Wimbledon Championships, the U.S. National Championships, the Irish Lawn Tennis Championships and the Northern Championships were considered by players and historians as the four most important tennis tournaments to win.
This year for women there would be a tennis circuit of sorts starting to form. 1881 also sees the first indoor tournament for women the Cheltenham Covered Court Championships organised by the Cheltenham Lawn Tennis Club and played on wood courts at the Imperial Winter Gardens, Cheltenham, England.Lawn Tennis, The Field, 23 April 1881
At the only major event to feature women's competition the Irish ChampionshipsIrish TV Documentary (4 Jul 2016). The True Tale Of The Irish Tennis Murderer. Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTE). Dublin. Ireland. in Dublin the women's singles and doubles events were not held, but a mixed doubles event was staged won by Ireland's Mary Abercrombie and England's William Renshaw. In terms of draw size the Exmouth Open was the largest as far as women competitors were concerned with 26 in the main singles draw.
In May 1881 the first national tennis association is formed that being the United States Lawn Tennis Association. At the first official U.S. National Championships there was no women's events and it would be eight years before there would be.Sclar In Australia the University of Sydney Lawn Tennis Club formed in 1881 and officially incorporated in 1885, was the only venue in the country following admission of women undergraduates to have active players.
At the 1881 Wimbledon Championships the world's first major tennis tournament, it still remained an all men's event, no women's events were staged. On 26 November 1881 indoor tennis was played inside the 7th Regiment Armory in New York City on with twelve courts for the use of women. In 1913 the International Lawn Tennis Federation was created, that consisted of national member associations. The ILTF through its associated members then became responsible for supervising women's tour events.
Season results Notes 1: Challenge Round: the final round of a tournament, in which the winner of a single-elimination phase faces the previous year's champion, who plays only that one match. The challenge round was used in the early history of tennis (from 1877 through 1921), in some tournaments not all. X Indicates challenge round final * Indicates doubles ** mixed doubles This year 26 singles, 7 doubles and 20 mixed doubles events were held.
Key Main events. National events provincial/state/regional events County events Regular events
January to March No events
April * (denotes doubles) ** (denotes mix doubles) EndedTournamentWinnerFinalistSemifinalistQuarterfinalist23 Apr.Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.67.Cheltenham Covered Court ChampionshipsImperial Winter Gardens Cheltenham, England Wood (i)Singles - Doubles - Mix Doubles Marion Bradley3-6, 6-2, 6-2 Florence Mardall Mary Abercrombie Ellen Ramsay Edith Atherley Mrs Hill Frances Morris Mrs H. Ramsay Clara Hill* Ellen Ramsay 6-1, 6-3 Mrs DarkMiss Jones Miss Williams** Ernest Browne default Florence Mardall Henry Blane Porter
May DateTournamentWinnerFinalistSemi FinalistQuarter Finalist12 MayRoutledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.67.Devonshire Park Championships (Spring)Devonshire Park LTCEastbourne, England GrassSingles - Doubles - Mix Doubles Agnes Watts2 sets to 0 E Hudson Agnes Watts** Sidney Alfred Noon2 sets to 0t E Hudson E.R. Hudson 19 MayRoutledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.68.North Northamptonshire LTC TournamentKettering, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles - Mix Doubles - Rose Collier 6-0, 6-5 M Blencowe Miss E. Hall * Miss H.B. UpcherWon West of England ChampionshipsRoutledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.67.Lansdowne CCBath, EnglandOutdoorGrassSingles - Doubles Gertrude Gibbs6-0, 7-5 Annie Layard Clara Hill Georgina Kirkby Florence Mardall Florence Mardall** Henry Blane Porter6-0, 8-6 Grace Gibbs William Bush-Salmon 28 MayIrish ChampionshipsFitzwilliam LTCDublin, IrelandOutdoorGrassSingles - Doubles Mary Abercrombie ** William Renshaw6–3, 5–7, 6–2, 6–3 Miss Costello Spencer Duncan Maul
June ** (denotes mix doubles) EndedTournamentWinnerFinalistSemi FinalistQuarter Finalist4 JunWest of England ChampionshipsLansdowne CCBath, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Gertrude Gibbs6-0, 7-5 Annie Layard Clara Hill Georgina Kirkby Florence Mardall Florence Mardall** Henry Blane Porter6-0, 8-6 Grace Gibbs William J. Bush-Salmon19 Jun.Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.68. Liverpool Cricket Club Lawn Tennis TournamentLiverpool CLTCLiverpool II, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Miss Nixon * Miss BlackWon Miss F. Fitzroy Algernon Aylmer 26 Jun.Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.68.North Northamptonshire LTC TournamentNorth Northants LTCKettering II, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Miss A. Stobart * Miss E. HuntDef Miss E. Hall Miss F. Lightfoot Mrs Upcher Mr. A. Pulteneydef Miss Bell Mr H. Stockdale
July * (denotes doubles) ** (denotes mix doubles) EndedTournamentWinnerAll comers' finalistSemifinalistQuarterfinalist2 JulRoutledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.69.Championship of the Sydney LTC Sydney LTCBath II, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Miss FreelingWon ? 7 Jul.Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.69.Ripon Club TournamentRipon LTCRipon, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Miss Healey ** Mr A.J. Wise 2–1 sets Miss Springett Mr. J. L. Shann 11 Jul.Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.70.Tonbridge LTC TournamentTonbridge LTCTonbridge, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Miss Gorham ** Mr C. Lachlan2–1 sets Miss Springett Mr. J. L. Shann 12 Jul.Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.70.Bedfordshire LTC TournamentBedfordshire LTCBlenham, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Miss L. ArchdaleWon ? 16 JulStaffordshire C.C.C. TournamentStaffordshire Lawn Tennis ClubLichfield, EnglandOutdoorGrass Singles - Doubles - Mix Doubles - Rose Collier 6-0, 6-5 M Blencowe M Blencowe** A. Blencowe6-1, 6-3 Mrs Peters-Smith A Denton23 JulEdgbaston Open TournamentEdgbaston, EnglandOutdoorGrassSingles Maud Watson6-3 6-1 6-4 Lilian Watson K. Stretton K.H. Cartland Miss Chamberlain K. Holliday Lilian Watson* Maud Watson6-1, 6-3 K. Cartland * L. Hutton 26 Jul.Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.70.Norwich OpenNorwich LTCNorwich, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Miss M. Raikes6-3, 3-6, 6-2 Miss Burleigh 30 JulLondon Athletic Club Open Tournament Stamford Bridge, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles M Raikes5-0, 5-2 Miss Burleigh
August (*denotes doubles) (**denotes mix doubles) EndedTournamentWinnerFinalistSemi FinalistQuarter Finalist 1 Aug.Hexham TournamentHexham LTCHexham, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Miss Gibson ** Jasper Gibson2–0 sets Mrs Peters-Smith Mr A Denton 4 Aug.Nieuwland, Alex. Edition – Cirencester Park Tournament 1881. Source: https://www.tennisarchives.com/edition/?v=26631 |website=www.tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. 7 August 2023. Cirencester Park Lawn Tennis TournamentEarl Bathurst EstateCirencester Park Cirencester, Gloucestershire, EnglandOutdoorGrassSingles - Doubles Gertrude Gibbs Marian Smith 6 AugDarlington Association Tournament Darlington, EnglandGrassSingles - Mix Doubles Ethel Surtees3-6, 6-3, 6-1 Alice Cheese LML Turner Minnie Congreve Winifred Fenwick Mrs JB Dale Alice Cheese ** J.B. Dale 9-7, 6-3 Winifred Fenwick Percival C. Fenwick County Kildare ChampionshipRoutledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.71.County Limerick CCNaas, IrelandOutdoorGrassSingles – Miss C. VeseyWon Miss F. Metcalfe Miss F. Metcalfe ** Algeron Aylmerwon Waterford Annual Lawn Tennis TournamentWaterford Cricket ClubWaterford, County Waterford, IrelandGrassSingles May Langrishe6-2, 6-1 Adela Langrishe Ann Gallwey Miss Hunt Beatrice Langrishe 8 Aug Waterloo LTC TournamentWaterloo LTCLiverpool, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles K. Rayner6-0 6-0 L. Cheetham H. Rayner Alice Bagnall-Wild A. Barry A. Barry * F. Helder 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 Miss Jardine Miss Jones K. Rayner ** J.F. Carde6-1, 12-10 Alice Bagnall-Wild E. Bucknell 10 AugRoutledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.71.South Berkshire TournamentSouth Berks LTCCaversham, EnglandGrassSingles – Miss StokesWon 12 AugExmouth TournamentExmouth, EnglandGrassSingles Lilian Cole6-0, 6-0 Eveline Belfield Maude Taylor Mary Hoare M. Smith Georgiana Kindersley ** Henry Kindersley2-6, 7-5, 7-5 Lilian Cole Thomas Arembery Tombe North of Ireland ChampionshipsRoutledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.71.Cliftonville CCBelfast, IrelandGrassSingles - Doubles Miss Charley ** C. Goldsmid2–1 sets Miss. Spunner Mr. C.H. Wright 19 Aug.Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.71.Waterford TournamentCliftonville CCWaterford, IrelandGrassSingles - Doubles Miss Knox ** R Knox2–1 sets Beatrice Langrishe William Renshaw 21 AugSouth of Ireland ChampionshipsCounty Limerick CC Limerick, IrelandGrassSingles - Doubles Marian Smith8-6, 6-1 Miss Westropp Mary Lysaght 26 Aug.Teignmouth and Shaldon TournamentTeignmouth LTCTeignmouth, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Miss Power ** Charles Coledef Miss Robinson Champion Russell 30 AugSouth Wales ChampionshipsTenby LTC Tenby, WalesGrassSingles - Doubles Miss Kemmis ** P.J. Ashe8-6, 6-1 Miss Jones Mr Rock 31 Aug Sittingbourne & Gore Court Ladies OpenGore Court LTCSittingbourne, EnglandGrassSingles – Miss M Malden 6–3, 6–3 Miss Goodwin Aldershot Division Open"LAWN TENNIS TOURNAMENT AT ALDERSHOT. The third annual Aldershot Garrison Open Lawn Tennis Tournament commenced at the Club Grounds, Aldershot, on Tuesday, 30 August, and continued daily during the week". Aldershot Military Gazette. Aldershot, Hampshire, England: British Newspaper Archive. 10 September 1881. p. 5.Aldershot Division LTCAldershot, EnglandGrassSingles – Miss Draper2–0 sets Miss Pritchard
September (* denotes doubles) EndedTournamentWinnerFinalistSemi FinalistQuarter Finalist2 Sep.Vale of Clwyd CLTC OpenVale of Clwyd CLTCDenbigh, WalesGrassSingles - Doubles Miss L Williams5–3, 5–3 Miss Proctor 8 SepHighclere Park TournamentHighclere, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Miss Arkwright6–4, 6–1 Miss Johnson 15 Sep.St Leonards-on-Sea TournamentSaint Leonards LTCSt Leonards-on-Sea, England GrassSingles - Doubles Augusta Langley 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 Constance Smith Miss Smith 17 Sep.Torquay LTC TournamentTorquay LTCTorquay, England GrassSingles - Doubles Miss Coulthard ** Mr.W. Ware2–1 sets. Lilian Cole Thomas A. Tombe 19 Sep.White Rose York TournamentWhite Rose LTCYork, England GrassSingles - Doubles Miss Smith ** Mr Burkedef. Miss Smith Mr A. Hotham 24 Sep. East Gloucestershire Championships Montpelier Gardens Cheltenham, EnglandOutdoorGrassSingles Gertrude Gibbs6-4, 6-4 Miss Perry Marion Bradley Clara HillMary Abercrombie Florence Mardall Ellen Ramsay Clara Hill * Ellen Ramsay6-1, 6-3 Mrs Dark Miss Jones
October (*denotes doubles) (**denotes mix doubles)