The 1888 Women's tennis season was a tennis circuit composed of 67 national, regional, county, and regular tournaments. It was the 13th annual season since the first women's tennis tournaments were held in 1876. The season began in February in Auckland, New Zealand, and ended in December in Napier, 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.
1888 sees a decrease in the number women's singles events on the previous year being held as the tennis circuit continues to form.Berry. David (2020). A people's history of tennis. (2) Feminists. Pluto Books London . p.37. The 1888 women's tennis season began on 27 February with the|Auckland Association Championships in Auckland, New Zealand. In May 1888 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 Blanche Hillyard wins the singles title for the first time compatriot Bertha Steedman two sets to love. The ladies doubles event is won by English sister's Bertha Steedman and Mary Steedman, and in the mixed doubles Margaret Bracewell partnering Ernest Wool Lewis defeat the English/Irish pairing of Bertha Steedman and Hugh Cairns.Northern Whig (May 1888) In June 1888 sees a change in scheduling when the U.S. National Championships held at the Philadelphia Cricket Club, PA are brought forward this month, Bertha Townsend sweeps away title holder Ellen Hansell in straight sets.
Later at the end of June the third major tournament of the year the Northern Championships is played at the Liverpool Cricket Club in Liverpool sees Lottie Dod retain her title beating Irish Champion Blanche Hillyard in straights sets, the women's doubles event is won by the sister's Ann Dod and Lottie Dod who defeat the English/Irish pairing of Margaret Bracewell and May Langrishe in the final. The All England mixed doubles event is won by Blanche Hillyard and Ernest Renshaw defeating Lottie Dod and John Charles Kay on their way to the title.Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser In June Ireland's Connie Butler wins the Scottish Championships in Edinburgh against England's Ann Dod, and at the Welsh Championships in Penarth Blanche Hillyard takes the title against Miss N Pope.
In July at the 1888 Wimbledon Championships the world's first major tennis tournament, Lottie Dod successfully defends last years title, when she defeats Blanche Hillyard in straight sets to claim her second major title of the season. The season ended on 30 December 1888 at the New Zealand Championships, held in Napier, 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 1888, with player progression documented from the quarter-finals stage where historical sources have permitted.
Key Important. National Provincial/State/Regional County Regular
January No events
February No events
March EndedTournamentWinnerFinalistSemifinalistQuarterfinalist1 Mar.Auckland Association ChampionshipsAuckland, New ZealandGrassSingles - Doubles Miss. Mowbray6–2, 6–0 Miss. Jahn
April EndedTournamentWinnerFinalistSemifinalistQuarterfinalist12 Apr.Ceylon ChampionshipsThe Hill ClubNuwara Eliya, CeylonClaySingles - Doubles Miss I. J. Watson6–1, 6–1, 6–5 Miss A'Esterre
May EndedTournamentWinnerFinalistSemifinalistQuarterfinalist7 May.Inter-Colonial Lawn Tennis Tournament (Championship of New South Wales)Sydney, AustraliaGrassSingles - Doubles Lillian Scott8–6, 6–4 Ellen Mayne Eliza Fitzgerald Edith L Fox Florence Batt Ellen Blaxland Ada Keele Miss MaddrellChallenger Ellen Mayne Lilian Scott Zilla Scott 6–1, 3–6, 6–2 Edith Fox Ellen Mayne Ellen Mayne Dudley Webb6–4, 2–6, 6–1 Zilla Scott Alec Chomley 26 May.West of Scotland ChampionshipsPollockshields Athletic ClubPollokshields, ScotlandGrassSingles - Doubles Miss Rose6–0, 10–8 Miss Simpson 26 MayFlushing Spring TournamentFlushing Athletic ClubFlushing, United StatesGrass Singles - Doubles Ellen M. Lynch 6–3, 6–3, 6–3 Miss Ward Miss Bogert Miss Mann Irish Championships Fitzwilliam LTCDublin, IrelandGrassSingles - Doubles Blanche Hillyard7–5, 6–2 Bertha Steedman Constance Bryan May Langrishe Connie Butler Margaret Bracewell Mary Steedman Isabella Smyth Bertha Steedman Mary Steedman6–2, 3–6, 6–1 Margaret Bracewell Blanche Hillyard Margaret Bracewell Ernest Wool Lewis6–3, 6–3, 4–6, 9–7 Bertha Steedman H Cairns
June EndedTournamentWinnerFinalistSemifinalistQuarterfinalist1 JunWashington D.C. Open Tournament Kendall GreenWashington D.C., United StatesGrass Singles - Doubles Florence Bayard6–2, 6–0, 6–1 Agnes S. Bartlett Florence Bayard Annie J. Safford6–0, 6–1, 6–3 Agnes S. Bartlett Sallie A. Bartlett 2 Jun. Championship of West of EnglandLansdown Cricket ClubBath, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Lottie Dod6–3, 6–0 N. Pope Margaret Bracewell Gertrude Gibbs Ann Dod Blanche Hillyard Beatrice Langrishe Ann Dod Lottie Dod11–9, 7–5 Beatrice Langrishe N. Pope Margaret Bracewell Harry Grove6–4, 4–6, 6–1 Lottie Dod Anthony Dod New York Tennis Club OpenNew York Tennis ClubNew York City, United StatesClaySingles - Doubles Miss Locke6–1, 6–1 A McKinley Adelaide Badgley Mrs Johnson Adelaide Badgley Howard BadgleyWon Augustus Schultz William D. Hobart 9 Jun.East Gloucestershire Championships Cheltenham LTCGrass Cheltenham, EnglandSingles - Doubles Louisa Martin6–4, 5–7, 6–2 Blanche Hillyard Margaret Bracewell Miss Fenwick Gertrude Bracewell Ellen Browne M. Crossley Beatrice Langrishe Whitehouse Open Whitehouse LTCEdinburgh, ScotlandClaySingles - Doubles Ann Dod6–2, 8–6 J Ferguson Ann Dod J Ferguson 6–2, 6–4 Miss Meikle Jane Meikle Ann Dod Richard Millar Watson 5–7, 6–3, 6–4 J Ferguson CD Murray 13 Jun.Nottinghamshire LTA Tournament Trent Bridge GroundNottingham, EnglandGrass Singles - Doubles Florence Noon6–2, 6–1 Frances Snook Charlotte Snook Agnes Noon Watts Miss Exham Mrs Hill 15 Jun.U.S. National ChampionshipsPhiladelphia Country ClubPhiladelphia, United StatesGrassSingles Bertha Townsend6–3, 6–5 Marion Wright Adeline Robinson Ellen Roosevelt Violet WardChallenger Ellen Hansell 16 Jun.Kent All-Comers' ChampionshipsBeckenham LTC Beckenham, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles May Jacks1–6, 6–3, 6–0 Edith Gurney Miss Canning N. Howes Miss Aste E. Forrest J. Kennedy A. Wickham Edith Gurney Charles Ross May Jacks “A.N. Other” Scottish Championships Dyvour Club Edinburgh, ScotlandGrass Singles - Doubles Connie Butler6–3, 6–3 Beatrice Wood E, Ferguson J. Ferguson Jane Meikle Miss Meikle Miss Rankine Challenger Ann Dod Welsh Championships Penarth LTCPenarth, WalesGrass Singles - Doubles Blanche Hillyard6–3, 6–3 Miss N. Pope 22 JunLondon Championships London Athletic ClubStamford Bridge, EnglandGrass Singles - Doubles Blanche Hillyard6–4, 6–3 Miss Canning Mrs A. Burr Challenger May Jacks 23 Jun.Northern ChampionshipsLiverpool Cricket ClubLiverpool, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Lottie Dod6–3, 9–7 May Langrishe Margaret Bracewell Louisa Martin Gertrude Bracewell Florence Mardall Beatrice Wood Florence StanuellChallenger Blanche Hillyard Ann Dod Lottie Dod6–3, 6–2 Margaret Bracewell May Langrishe Blanche Hillyard Ernest Renshaw7–5, 10–8 Lottie Dod John Charles Kay 30 Jun.Waterloo TournamentWaterloo LTCWaterloo, EnglandGrass Singles - Doubles Ann Dod4–6, 6–0, 6–3 K. Hill M. Pick John Charles8–6, 6–3 K. Hill William Wethered Midland Counties Championships Edgbaston CLTCEdgbaston, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Margaret Bracewell7–5, 6–2 Florence Mardall Gertrude Bracewell J. Wray Mrs G Elkington Bertha Steedman Mary Steedman Lilian Watson Lilian Watson Maud Watson6–0 1–0, retd Bertha Steedman Mary Steedman Maud Watson John Redfern Deykin0–6, 7–5, 6–2 Bertha Steedman George Brown EndedTournamentWinnerFinalistSemifinalistQuarterfinalist 1 Jul.Natal ChampionshipsPietermaritzburg, Colony of NatalGrassSingles - Doubles Mabel Grant6–4, 6–3 Norah Hickman Beatrice Grant Miss Lloyd Miss Grant Miss NimmoChallenger L. Button L. Button Reuben Benningfield 6–1, 6–3 Mabel Grant William J. Grant 21 Jul.Taunton and West Somerset Lawn Tennis TournamentCoton Hill Institution GroundsStafford, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles N. Popedefault Louisa Sweet-Escott A. Boucher Ada Meyler Angel Smith Miss Kepple-Taylor N. Pope Louisa Sweet-Escott6–2, 6–4 Ada Meyler Jessie Meyler 7 Jul.Staffordshire Lawn Tennis TournamentCoton Hill Institution GroundsStafford, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Agnes Watts6–1, 0–6, 6–4 Bertha Steedman Bertha Steedman Ernest Wool Lewis 6–4, 6–1 Mary Steedman John Redfern Deykin 19 Jul.Leamington Open TournamentLeamington Spa, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Alice Pickering4–6, 6–1, 6–2 Mrs Christie 19 Jul.Wimbledon Championships AELTCLondon, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Lottie Dod6–2, 6–0 Miss Howes D. Patterson Miss Phillimore Miss Canning Blanche WilliamsChallenger Blanche Hillyard 24 Jul.Meadow Club InvitationValentine G. Hall, "Lawn Tennis in America" (1889), p.32-35Meadow ClubSouthampton, United StatesGrassSingles - Doubles E. K. Lente6–4, 5–6, 6–4 A Smallwood May Colby M. Lente Mrs Babbitt J Fraser E. W. Smith N Trowbridge E. K. Lente A. Smallwood 6–1, 6–1 May Colby J Fraser Miss Betts Henry Slocum6–4, 11–9 Miss Gregory Oliver Samuel Campbell 28 JulYorkshire Association and County Open TournamentIlkley LTCIlkley, England Grass Singles - Doubles Margaret Bracewell 3–6, 6–0, 7–5 Mabel Boulton Gertrude Bracewell L. Chatterton-Clarke M. Crossley Miss HutchinsonChallenger Beatrice Wood Margaret Bracewell James Baldwindefault Gertrude Bracewell Marmaduke S. Constable Middlesex ChampionshipsChiswick, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Blanche Hillyard6–2, 6–4 Edith Cole Ethel Gurney Miss Malcolm Mrs Anderson Miss Howes May Jacks H. JamesChallenger D Patterson (holder) Edith Gurney Blanche Hillyard6–1, 6–3 D Patterson J Wray 29 Jul. Ealing LTC ChampionshipEaling LTCEaling, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles A. Francesca BrownWon ?
August