The 1889 Women's Tennis Season was a tennis tournament circuit composed of 63 major, national, regional, county, and regular tournaments. The season began in January in Madras, India, and ended in December in Dunedin, 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.
1889 sees a slight decrease 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.38. The 1889 women's tennis season began on 8 January with the first Southern India Championships staged at Madras, India. In May 1889 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. Ireland's Louisa Martin wins the singles title beating defending champion Blanche Hillyard, she also picks up the ladies doubles event is won partnered with Florence Stanuell. In the mixed doubles Lena Rice and Willoughby Hamilton defeat Blanche Hillyard and Harold Stone. In terms of draw size the South of England Championships was the largest tournament of the year with a draw of 30 across two events.
In mid June 1889 the change in scheduling is continued when the U.S. National Championships are held at the Philadelphia Cricket Club, PA, Bertha Townsend successfully defends her title in the challenge round by defeating Lida Voorhees in straight sets.
Later the same month at the third major tournament of the year the Northern Championships played at the Northern Lawn Tennis Club in Manchester, England Lottie Dod successfully defends her title beating Blanche Hillyard in three sets, in the women's doubles final sisters Bertha Steedman and Mary Steedman defeat another sister pairing Ann and Lottie Dod in straight sets, and the All England Mixed Doubles Championship event, is won by Lottie Dod and John Charles Kay who defeat Blanche Hillyard and Ernest Renshaw in the final.
In July at the fourth and final major event of the season the 1889 Wimbledon Championships the world's first major tennis tournament, Blanche Bingley takes the title, when she defeats upcoming Irish player Lena Rice in three very close sets to win her third major title. The season ended on 30 December 1889 at the New Zealand Championships, held in Dunedin, New Zealand that was 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, and together effectively making an early incarnation of the Grand Slam events we know today.
Key Important. National Provincial/State/Regional County Regular
January EndedTournamentWinnerFinalistSemifinalistQuarterfinalist 12 JanSouthern India ChampionshipsMadras Gymkhana ClubMadras, IndiaClaySingles - Doubles Miss Nicholas6–4, 3–6, 6–3 Edith Morgan Miss Clarke Miss Nicholas6–5, 6–3 Mrs Smart Mrs Swinton
February EndedTournamentWinnerFinalistSemi finalist Quarter finalist9 Feb. Cannes Beau Site Hotel Tournament Beau Site HotelCannes, FranceClaySingles - Doubles Constance Bryandef. Elsie Lane Miss Maguire Elsie Lane Miss Maguirewon? 12 Feb. Otago LTA TournamentCarisbrook Club GroundDunedin, New ZealandGrassSingles - Doubles Ruth Orbell8–3 L. Mackerras 20 Feb.Pau International Tournament(later Pau Championships)Pau FranceClaySingles - Doubles Mrs Bruce-Johnstondef. Miss MacFarlane
March EndedTournamentWinnerFinalistSemifinalistQuarterfinalist 17 Mar Championships of BermudaHamilton, BermudaGrassSingles - Doubles Mabel Grant4–6, 6–3, 6–3 Grace Roosevelt Ellen Roosevelt Grace Roosevelt2–1 sets Mrs Erkine Mary G. Gray
April EndedTournamentWinnerFinalistSemifinalistQuarterfinalist8 Apr.Singapore LLTC Spring OpenSingapore, Straits SettlementGrassSingles - Doubles Mrs. Rowell6–2, 6–2 Mrs. Dare 24 AprGeelong Easter TournamentGeelong LTCGeelong, AustraliaAsphaltSingles - Doubles Ellen M Mayne3–6, 6–5, 6–3 A. Chenery Miss McKenzie
May EndedTournamentWinnerFinalistSemifinalistQuarterfinalist5 MayFitzwilliam Club ChampionshipsFitzwilliam LTCDublin, IrelandGrassSingles - Doubles Florence Stanuell 6–3, 6–1 Connie Butler G. Crofton Miss Story Louisa Martin Florence Stanuell Hume R. Jones6–3, 6–2 Miss Wilson Charles James 10 May.Ceylon ChampionshipsThe Hill ClubNuwara Eliya, CeylonClaySingles - Doubles Mrs Norman5–7, 6–2, 6–3 Miss I. J. Watson 11 May.New South Wales ChampionshipsMoore ParkSydney, AustraliaGrassSingles - Doubles Ellen Mayne6–3, 5–7, 6–4 Ellen Blaxland Edith Raleigh Mabel Shaw Florence Batt Miss Dransfield Eliza Fitzgerald Isabel Mansfield Ellen Mayne Mabel Shaw6–3, 6–0 Miss Keating Miss Raleigh Eliza Fitzgerald Robert Fitzgerald2–6, 6–2, 9–7 E.M. Mayne Dudley Webb 25 May. Irish ChampionshipsFitzwilliam LTCDublin, IrelandGrassSingles - Doubles Louisa Martin7–5, 6–0 Blanche Hillyard Lena Rice Bertha Steedman Connie Butler Florence Stanuell Mary Steedman Lilian Watson Louisa Martin Florence Stanuell6–4, 6–2 Blanche Hillyard Lena Rice Lena Rice Willoughby Hamilton 6–4, 5–7, 6–4, 6–4 Blanche Hillyard Harold Stone
June EndedTournamentWinnerFinalistSemifinalistQuarterfinalist 1 Jun.Championship of the West of EnglandBath, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Louisa Martin4–6, 6–1, 6–2 Florence Stanuell Mary Agg N. Pope N. Everett Beatrice Langrishe Florence Mardall Lottie Paterson Louisa Martin Florence Stanuell6–0, 6–3 Miss Everett Miss Pope Louisa Martin James Baldwin6–2, 6–3 Miss Pope Harry Grove 8 Jun.Cheltenham ChampionshipsCheltenham, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Louisa Martin6-1, 4–6, 6-2 Florence Stanuell Florence Mardall Blanche Hillyard Mary Agg Miss Crossley Beatrice Langrishe N. Pope Florence Stanuell James Baldwin7-5, 5–7, 6-2 Louisa Martin Wilfred Milne10 Jun.Whitehouse OpenEdinburgh, ScotlandClaySingles - Doubles Lottie Paterson6–0, 6–1 Ann Dod Ann Dodd Richard Millar Watson6–4, 10–8 Lottie Dod Edward Barnard Fuller11 JuneWissahickon OpenPhiladelphia Cricket ClubWissahickon, United StatesGrassSingles - Doubles Lida Voorheesdef Mrs. Harris Miss D.F. Butterfield Grace Roosevelt Rebecca H. Lycett Laura Knight Marian Wright Lida Voorhees Mrs. Harris def Ellen Roosevelt Grace Roosevelt Ellen Roosevelt Albert Empie Wrightdef Lida Voorhees Clarence Hobart 14 JunLondon ChampionshipsLondon Athletic ClubLondon, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles May Jacks6–2, 6–2 Maud Shackle Miss Canning Olive Tullock 15 JuneWaterloo OpenWaterloo, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Mary Pick6–1, 6–3 Miss Pickthall K. Ack Mary Pick3–6, 6–3, 6–3 Miss Gordon Florence Mardall Miss Barton William Wethered6–4, 6–2 Florence Mardall Jacob Gaitskell BrownScottish ChampionshipsDyvour ClubEdinburgh, ScotlandGrassSingles - Doubles Connie Butler6–3, 6–3 Miss Jones Ann Dod Miss ScovellChallenger Lottie Paterson U.S. National ChampionshipsPhiladelphia Cricket ClubPhiladelphia, United StatesGrassSingles - Doubles Bertha Townsend7–5, 6–2 Helen Day Harris D.F. Butterfield Grace Roosevelt Anna C. Smith Rebecca H. Lycett Laura Knight Marion WrightChallenger Lida Voorhees Margarette Ballard Bertha Townsend6–0, 6–2 Marion Wright Laura KnightWelsh ChampionshipsPenarth LTCPenarth, WalesGrassSingles - Doubles Miss Pope6–0, 6–2 Mary Sweet-Escott 22 JunKent All-Comers' ChampionshipsBeckenham, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Maud Shackle6–3, 7–5 Miss Howes Gertrude Mellersh Mrs Rhodes Amy TaborChallenger May Jacks (holder) May Jacks Herbert Yockney6–3, 6–1 Maud Shackle William Taylor Northern ChampionshipsNorthern LTCManchester, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Lottie Dod6–8, 6–3, 6–3 Bertha Steedman Mary Steedman Beatrice Wood Connie Butler Katherine Hill N. PopeChallenger Blanche Hillyard Bertha Steedman Mary Steedman9–7, 6–2 Ann Dod Lottie Dod Lottie Dod John Charles Kay4–6, 6–3, 6–3 Blanche Hillyard Ernest Renshaw 24 JuneEdgbaston Open TournamentEdgbaston CLTCEdgbaston, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Maud Watson6–1, 9–7 Mrs G.M. Elkington Constance Bryan Maud Watson6–1, 6–3 Miss Charles Miss L. Charles Maud Watson John Redfern Deykin7–5, 5–7, 6–4 Lillian Watson Henry Guy Nadin 29 Jun Lansdowne Lawn Tennis TournamentLansdowne LTCDublin, IrelandGrassSingles - Doubles G. Crofton6–3, 7–5 Lena Rice Miss Malcomson 30 JunOrange Spring TournamentOrange LTCSouth Orange, United StatesSingles - Doubles F. Williams6–4, 6–2 Lida Voorhees
July EndedTournamentWinnerFinalistSemifinalistQuarterfinalist5 Jul. Lancaster Lawn Tennis TournamentLancaster, United StatesGrassSingles - Doubles Miss Bursk6–2, 6–2, 6–1 Miss Calder 13 JulHull Westbourne Avenue Open TournamentHull, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Katherine Grey 6–3, 6–1 Miss Barber Natal ChampionshipsPietermaritzburg, Colony of NatalGrassSingles - Doubles Mabel Grant6–0, 6–3 Miss Murray 14 JulWimbledon ChampionshipsAELTC London, EnglandGrassSingles Blanche Hillyard4–6, 8–6, 6–4 Lena Rice May Jacks Bertha Steedman Annie Rice Mary Steedman 20 JulChampionship of MiddlesexChiswick Park, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Mary Steedman6–4, 7–5 Bertha Steedman E. Malcolm Maud Shackle Edith Austin Edith Cole Ethel Gurney Mrs Robert Bertha Steedman Mary Steedman7–5, 6–1 Blanche Hillyard Ethel Gurney Blanche Hillyard Dudley Field4–6, 6–4, 9–7 Mary Steedman Frederick A. Bowlby 27 JulYorkshire Association and County Open TournamentIlkley LTCIlkley, England Grass Singles - Doubles Mabel Boulton2–6, 6–2, 7–5 Miss Crossley Dorothy Boulton L. Chatterton-Clarke Miss Crosby Mrs E.J. Crossley Miss Crosby Miss Hall Miss MoirChallenger Beatrice Wood (holder) L. Chatterton-Clarke Beatrice Wood6–3, 6–4 Miss Moir Ethel Tannett Beatrice Wood James Baldwin6–1, 6–1 Mabel Boulton Herbert Wilberforce Sewickley Lawn Tennis TournamentSewickley, United StatesGrassSingles - Doubles Bessie Carpenter6–2, 6–1 C. McCleary H. Carpenter B. Ward Miss Blair Miss Gillmore A. Warden C. Whiting 28 Jul. Ealing LTC ChampionshipEaling LTCEaling, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Charlotte Cooperdef A. Francesca Brownholder
August