The 1887 Women's tennis season was a tennis circuit composed of 69 (singles) and 100 (Inc doubles and mixed doubles) national, regional, county, and regular tournaments. The season began in February in Auckland, New Zealand, and ended in December in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Summary of season From 1888 until 1912 Britain's Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), grew in status and influence to become the de facto international tennis governing body before the proper International Lawn Tennis Federation commenced operations. Despite the United States National Lawn Tennis Association (USNLTA) forming in 1881 a good seven years before the LTA, it was the British body that set laws, settled disputes and organized the increasingly complicated tournament calendar before the International Lawn Tennis Federation (ILTF) formed in March, 1913.Lake. p.343.
After the formation of the ILTF the world tennis circuit going forward was a highly organised and structured network of national and international tournaments. Most tennis tournaments were usually mixed events for men and women, and the women's international tennis circuit certainly up to 1923 was composed mainly of tournaments on the British and European Circuits.Someren p.35. After the USNLTA joined the ILTF this would later change with more and more tournaments being staged globally. Women tennis players on the world circuit up to the open era were funded by their national associations enabling them to travel and take part in international tournaments.Someren p.31.
1887 sees an increase in the number women's singles events being held as the tennis circuit continues to form.Berry. David (2020). A people's history of tennis. (2) Feminists. Pluto Books London . p.35. The 1887 women's tennis season began on 2 January with the Farndon Park Open, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. In May 1887 at the first major event of the year the Irish ChampionshipsIrish TV Documentary (4 Jul 2016). The True Tale Of The Irish Tennis Murderer. Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTE). Dublin. Ireland. played at the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin, Ireland. England's Lottie Dod wins the singles title defeating Maud Watson, she also picks up the mixed doubles title with Ernest Renshaw. The ladies doubles event is won by Louisa Martin and Florence Stanuell. In terms of draw size the West of England Championships was the largest tournament of the year with a draw of 56 across three events.
In June 1887 at the second major tournament of the year the Northern Championships played at the Northern Lawn Tennis Club in Manchester Lottie Dod collects her second major title beating Maud Watson in straights sets, the women's doubles event is won by the sister's Ann Dod and Lottie Dod who defeat a Louisa Martin and Florence Stanuell in the final in three sets, the mixed doubles event is won by Irish pair Louisa Martin and Tom Campion who defeat Lottie Dod and Harry Grove in the final.
In July at the 1887 Wimbledon Championships the world's first major tennis tournament, Lottie Dod completes a clean sweep all the British and Irish major tournaments, when she defeats defending champion Blanche Bingley in straight sets to claim her third major title.
In September at the U.S. National Championships a women's event is staged for the first time at the Philadelphia Cricket Club, PA and was played after the men's tournament had ended. 17-year-old Philadelphian Ellen Hansell became the first women's champion, defeating Laura Knight in straight sets. The season ended on 24 December 1887 at the New Zealand Championships, held in Christchurch, New Zealand played on grass.
Season results 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 is a calendar of all known official events that were administered by national, regional, provincial, state, and county lawn tennis associations in the year 1887, with player progression documented from the quarterfinals stage where historical sources have permitted.
Key Important. National Provincial/State/Regional County Regular
January * (denotes doubles) ** (denotes mix doubles) EndedTournamentWinnerFinalistSemifinalistQuarterfinalist6 Jan. Farndon Park OpenFarndon ParkNapier, New ZealandGrassSingles - Doubles No Ladies Singles No Ladies Doubles Rose Tanner ** J.W. Begg 6–4, 6–0 Hilda Hitchings R. Smith
February EndedTournamentWinnerFinalistSemifinalistQuarterfinalist21 Feb.Auckland Association ChampionshipsFarndon ParkAuckland, New ZealandGrassSingles - Doubles Miss Mowbray 2–6, 6–2, 6–4 E. Morse
March EndedTournamentWinnerFinalistSemi finalist Quarter finalist14 Mar. Cannes Beau Site Hotel Tournament Beau Site HotelCannes, FranceClaySingles - Doubles No Ladies Singles No Ladies Doubles Constance Bryan ** Ernest Renshaw 6–4, 13–11 Edith Gurney Harry Grove 19 March.Southern California Championships(Spring Edition)Casa Blanca ClubRiverside, United StatesAsphaltSingles - Doubles Grace GillilandWon Mrs. G. L. Waring
April No events
May EndedTournamentWinnerFinalistSemi finalist Quarter finalist1 May.Ceylon ChampionshipsThe Hill ClubNuwara Eliya, CeylonClaySingles - Doubles Isa Watson4–6, 6–1, 6–2 Miss Bayley 9 May.Inter-Colonial Lawn Tennis Tournament (Championship of New South Wales)Sydney, AustraliaAsphaltSingles - Doubles EM Mayne6–4, 6–4 C. Greene Mabel Shaw Ada Rodd Eliza Fitzgerald Constance Raleigh Lil Scott Zilla Scott3–6, 6–4, 6–3 C. Greene Constance Raleigh C. Greene Dudley Webb6–4, 6–2 Eliza Fitzgerald Robert Fitzgerald 21 May.West of Scotland ChampionshipsPollockshields Athletic ClubPollokshields, ScotlandGrassSingles - Doubles Julia MacKenzie6-0 10-8 Miss Blackburn Julia MacKenzie Miss Robertson6–2, 6–3 Miss Blackburn Miss Rodger 28 May.Irish ChampionshipsFitzwilliam LTCDublin, IrelandGrassSingles - Doubles Lottie Dod6-4, 6-3 Maud Watson Louisa Martin Lillian Watson Connie Butler Miss McClintock Miss Exham Florence Stanuell Louisa Martin Florence Stanuell4–6, 6–4, 6–4 Lillian Watson Maud Watson Lottie Dod Ernest Renshaw8–6, 5–7, 6–1, 6–3 Maud Watson Harry Grove 30 May.Berrylands Club TournamentBerrylands LTCSurbiton, EnglandSingles - Doubles No Ladies Singles No Ladies Doubles Harry Barlow Miss Ripley1–6, 6–5, 10–8 Lucy Ripley Herbert Ripley 31 May.Rotherby InvitationRotherby Hall EstateRotherby, EnglandSingles - Doubles Mrs Jacques Effie Noon1–6, 6–3, 6–3 Florence Noon Miss Turner Florence Noon Alfred E. Thompson6–2, 5–7, 8–6 Effie Noon Conway John Morgan
June EndedTournamentWinnerFinalistSemi finalist Quarter finalist3 Jun.Championship of West of EnglandLansdown Cricket ClubBath, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Lottie Dod7–5, 6–4 Maud Watson N. Pope Beatrice Langrishe Margaret Bracewell Miss Hornby Lottie Paterson Miss Wilder Ann Dod Lottie Dod10–8, 6–3 Lillian Watson Maud Watson Lottie Dod James Dwight6–4, 4–6, 6–1 Margaret Bracewell William Renshaw– 4 Jun.Whitehouse Open Whitehouse LTCEdinburgh, ScotlandClaySingles - Doubles Mabel Boultonwalkover Jane Meikle Dorothy Boulton Mabel Boulton1–6, 6–4, 6–3 A. Forest Miss Meikle Dorothy Boulton John Galbraith Horn6–2, 3–6, 12–10 Mabel Boulton Richard Millar Watson 11 JunScottish ChampionshipsDyvour Club Edinburgh, ScotlandGrass Singles - Doubles Connie Butler6–2, 6–2, 3–6, 8–6 Dorothy Boulton Miss Meikle Lottie Paterson A. Forest Miss Moreton Jane Meikle Challenger Mabel Boulton 11 Jun.East Gloucestershire Championship Challenge Cup Cheltenham LTCGrass Cheltenham, EnglandSingles - Doubles Louisa Martin6–4, 5–7, 6–2 Maud Watson Margaret Bracewell Florence Stanuell Edith Davies Florence Mardall Beatrice Langrishe Lillian Watson Lillian Watson Maud Watson6–4, 6–1 Louisa Martin Florence Stanuell Maud Watson John Redfern Deykin6–4, 6–3 Margaret Bracewell James Dwight 17 Jun.Welsh Championships Penarth LTCPenarth, WalesGrass Singles - Doubles Maud Watson6–3, 6–3 Beatrice Langrishe Miss Cockshott Lillian Watson Clara Hill E. Stephens Lilian Watson James Baldwin3–6, 6–2, 6–1 Maud Watson Ernest Renshaw 18 JunLondon ChampionshipsLondon Athletic ClubLondon, EnglandGrass Singles - Doubles Blanche Hillyard6–4, 6–3 May Jacks L. Murray A. Tulloch Mrs Anderson E. Bushell Florence Renwick Lois RenwickChallenger Bernice James 18 Jun.Waterloo TournamentWaterloo, EnglandGrass Singles - Doubles Miss Pickthall7–5, 6–1 M. Pick K. Pick Jacob Gaitskill Brown6–2, 9–7 F. Bromfield JD Harris 20 JunHeadingley TournamentHeadingley LTCHeadingley, EnglandGrass Singles - Doubles Beatrice Wood6–3, 6–2 G. Harrison 25 Jun.Northern ChampionshipsNorthern LTC Manchester, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Lottie Dod6–1, 6–2 Margaret Bracewell May Langrishe Florence Stanuell Connie Butler Edith Davies Florence Mardall Louisa MartinChallenger Maud Watson Ann Dod Lottie Dod6–4, 2–6, 6–3 Louisa Martin Florence Stanuell Louisa Martin Tom Campion8–6, 6–3 Lottie Dod Harry Grove 25 Jun.Kent All-Comers' ChampionshipsBeckenham LTC Beckenham, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles No Ladies SinglesNo Ladies Doubles Miss Barlow Harry Sibthorpe Barlow 7–5, 4–6, 6–1 May Jacks HC Yockney
July