Lena Rice facts for kids
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| Full name | Helena Bertha Grace Rice |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |  United Kingdom |
| Born | 21 June 1866 Marlhill near New Inn, Ireland |
| Died | 21 June 1907 (aged 41) Marlhill |
| Singles | |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Wimbledon | W (1890) |
Helena Bertha Grace Rice (born June 21, 1866 – died June 21, 1907), known as Lena Rice, was a famous Irish tennis player. She made history by winning the singles title at the 1890 Wimbledon Championships. To this day, she is the only Irish woman to ever win a singles title at Wimbledon. This makes her a very special figure in Irish sports.
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Lena Rice's Early Life and Tennis Start
Lena Rice was born in 1866. She was one of eight children in her family. Her home was a large, two-story house called Marlhill. It was located near a place called New Inn, County Tipperary in Ireland.
Lena learned to play tennis in her family's big garden. She often played with her sister, Anne. Both sisters later joined the Cahir Lawn Tennis club. This is where Lena's journey in competitive tennis began.
Lena's Rise in Tennis
Lena Rice first played in a major tournament outside her home county in May 1889. This was the Irish Championships in Dublin. She played well but lost in the semi-final to a strong player named Blanche Bingley Hillyard.
However, Lena did not give up. In the doubles competition, she reached the final with Blanche Hillyard as her partner. She also won the mixed doubles title. She teamed up with Willoughby Hamilton for that win.
Playing at Wimbledon
Later in 1889, Lena played at the famous Wimbledon Championships. She made it all the way to the final. There, she faced Blanche Hillyard again. Lena won the first set. She even had chances to win the match in the second set. But Hillyard fought back and won the match.
The next year, in 1890, only four players entered the singles event at Wimbledon. Lena won her first match easily. Then, she played against May Jacks in the final match for all the challengers. Lena won this match too, with a score of 6–4, 6–1.
This victory meant Lena won the special 50-guinea challenger trophy. She also received a cash prize of 20 guineas. This was a huge achievement for her.
Inventing the Overhead Smash
Lena Rice is also famous for something else in tennis. Many people believe she invented the Overhead Smash. This is a powerful shot hit from above the head. She used this shot to win her final point against May Jacks in the 1890 Wimbledon final.
After Her Wimbledon Win
After winning Wimbledon in 1890, Lena Rice did not play in any more tennis tournaments. She did not even come back to defend her Wimbledon title the next year. It is thought that family health issues might have stopped her from continuing her tennis career. Her mother passed away in 1891.
Lena Rice never got married. She died on her 41st birthday in 1907. She was buried in the New Inn cemetery, near her family.
Grand Slam Finals
Singles (1 Title)
Lena Rice won one major singles title in her career.
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1890 | Wimbledon | Grass | Blanche Bingley Hillyard |
w.o. |
