Mabel Cahill facts for kids
Cahill (left) with Emma Leavitt-Morgan
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| Full name | Mabel Esmonde Cahill |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |  United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland |
| Born | 2 April 1863 Ballyragget, County Kilkenny, Ireland |
| Died | 2 February 1905 (aged 41) Ormskirk, Lancashire, England |
| Plays | Right-handed |
| Int. Tennis HoF | 1976 (member page) |
| Singles | |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| US Open | W (1891, 1892) |
| Doubles | |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| US Open | W (1891, 1892) |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| US Open | W (1892) 1890, 1891 not official |
Mabel Esmonde Cahill (born April 2, 1863 – died February 2, 1905) was an amazing Irish tennis player. She played in the late 1800s. Mabel made history as the first woman from another country to win a major tennis tournament. She won the US National Championships in 1891.
Mabel's Early Life
Mabel Cahill was born on April 2, 1863. She grew up in Ballyragget, a town in County Kilkenny, Ireland. She was one of thirteen children in her family. Her family was part of the upper class. They often held social events like tennis parties. This is where Mabel likely first learned about tennis.
It was not common for girls to go to high school back then. But Mabel attended Roscrea School with two of her brothers. This was a school that cost money to attend. There is also a good chance that Mabel and two of her sisters went to Sacred Heart Convent Secondary School.
In 1886, Mabel moved to Dublin, Ireland. There, she joined a lawn tennis club. This really made her love the sport even more. Three years later, in 1889, Mabel decided to move to America. She traveled across the ocean on a ship called the SS Arizona. She settled in New York City when she was 29 years old.
Mabel's Tennis Career
Mabel Cahill quickly became a top tennis player in America. She won the Orange Club ladies championship twice, in 1890 and 1891.
Her biggest win came in 1891. She played against Ellen Roosevelt in the US Championships women's final. Mabel won, becoming the first foreign woman to win this major tournament. This event took place at the Philadelphia Cricket Club. That same year, she also won the Mixed Doubles event with M.R. Wright. However, this win was not officially counted at the time.
Mabel continued her winning streak in 1892. She successfully defended her women's singles title. She also won the women's doubles title with Adeline McKinlay. And she won the mixed doubles title with Clarence Hobart. She decided not to defend her titles in 1893.
Mabel also won many other tournaments. She won the Middle States Championships ladies singles title four times in a row. This was from 1890 to 1893. She also won the New Jersey State Championships in 1890. And she won the Kilkenny County and City Tournament in Ireland in 1884 and 1886.
Life After Tennis
After her tennis career, Mabel Cahill tried to become a writer. She wrote a romantic novel called Her Playthings: Men. It was published in 1891, but it wasn't very popular. Her short stories, Carved in Marble and Purple Sparkling, also didn't do very well.
In 1893, she wrote two articles for the Ladies' Home Journal. These articles were about tennis. They were titled The Art of Playing Good Tennis and Arranging a Tennis Tournament. She also performed as a chorus girl in music halls.
Mabel faced difficulties later in life. She passed away on February 2, 1905. She was buried in Ormskirk, England.
Years after her death, in 1936, the Irish Lawn Tennis Association wanted to honor her. They placed an advertisement asking for a family member to collect a gold medal. This medal was made to celebrate her tennis achievements in America. It's not known if anyone ever collected the medal.
In 1976, Mabel Cahill received a great honor. She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. She is the only Irish person to be in the Hall of Fame.
Images for kids
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Cahill (left) with Emma Leavitt-Morgan
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Mabel E. Cahill, from an 1892 publication.
