Reginald Doherty facts for kids
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| Full name | Reginald Frank Doherty | ||||||||||||||||
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| Country (sports) |  United Kingdom |
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| Born | 14 October 1872 Wimbledon, Surrey, England |
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| Died | 29 December 1910 (aged 38) Kensington, London, England |
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| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||||||||||||||||
| Turned pro | 1891 (amateur) | ||||||||||||||||
| Retired | 1910 | ||||||||||||||||
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) | ||||||||||||||||
| Int. Tennis HoF | 1980 (member page) | ||||||||||||||||
| Singles | |||||||||||||||||
| Career record | 211–96 (68.73%) | ||||||||||||||||
| Career titles | 36 | ||||||||||||||||
| Highest ranking | No. 1 (1897, ITHF) | ||||||||||||||||
| Grand Slam singles results | |||||||||||||||||
| Wimbledon | W (1897, 1898, 1899, 1900) | ||||||||||||||||
| US Open | F (1902Ch) | ||||||||||||||||
| Doubles | |||||||||||||||||
| Grand Slam doubles results | |||||||||||||||||
| Wimbledon | W (1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1903, 1904, 1905) | ||||||||||||||||
| US Open | W (1902, 1903) | ||||||||||||||||
| Mixed doubles | |||||||||||||||||
| Team competitions | |||||||||||||||||
| Davis Cup | W (1903, 1904, 1905, 1906) | ||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Reginald Frank Doherty (born October 14, 1872 – died December 29, 1910) was a famous British tennis player. People often called him "Reggie" or "R.F." He was the older brother of another great tennis player, Laurence Doherty. Reginald was known for winning the Wimbledon singles title four times. He also won three Olympic gold medals in doubles and mixed doubles events.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Reginald Doherty was born in Wimbledon, England, on October 14, 1872. His father, William Doherty, was a printer. Reginald started playing tennis when he was very young. He showed a lot of talent even as a boy at Westminster School.
When he was just 14, he won a boys' singles championship in Llandudno. Reginald later studied at the University of Cambridge. There, he played for the Cambridge University Lawn Tennis Club. In 1895, his Cambridge team beat Oxford. He also won championships in Scotland and Essex during this time.
Tennis Career Highlights
Reginald Doherty had an amazing career in tennis. He competed in many major tournaments around the world.
Grand Slam Success
Reginald first played at the Wimbledon Championships in 1894. He won his first Wimbledon singles title in 1897. He beat the champion, Harold Mahony, in a very strong match. Reginald then won the title for the next three years (1898, 1899, 1900). In 1898, he even beat his younger brother, Laurence, in the final match.
In 1901, Reginald finally lost his Wimbledon singles title to Arthur Gore. He also reached the final of the US Championships in 1902. However, he was beaten by American champion William Larned.
Reginald and his brother Laurence were a fantastic doubles team. They won eight Wimbledon doubles titles together. They also won two US Championship doubles titles.
Representing His Country: Davis Cup
Reginald Doherty played for the British Isles team in the important Davis Cup competition. He played from 1902 to 1906. In 1902, he and his brother won their doubles match. But the team lost the final to the United States.
In 1903, Reginald helped his team win their first Davis Cup title. He won his doubles match and a key singles match. He then won the Davis Cup three more times (1904, 1905, 1906). In these years, he only played and won in the doubles matches.
Olympic Medals
Reginald Doherty also shined at the Olympic Games. At the 1900 Olympic Games in Paris, he won the doubles title with his brother. (Back then, they didn't give out gold medals, but it was the top prize). He also played in the singles tournament. He reached the semifinal but chose not to play against his brother.
He also won the mixed doubles title in 1900 with Charlotte Cooper. She was a five-time Wimbledon champion. Reginald did not play in the 1904 Olympics. At the 1908 Olympics in London, he won another doubles title. This time, his partner was George Hillyard.
Reginald Doherty was recognized for his amazing career. He was put into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1980, along with his brother.
Later Life and Passing
Reginald Doherty passed away on December 29, 1910, at the age of 38. He had been unwell for some time. He died from heart issues and a condition called neurasthenia. This happened a day after he returned from a health stay in Switzerland.
According to a newspaper article at the time, Reginald had been sick for a while. The article said he had won "every important championship the world of tennis has for a man to win." It also mentioned he was only beaten when his health started to decline. Both Reginald and his brother had breathing problems throughout their lives. Their father had encouraged them to play tennis, partly for their health.
Images for kids
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Reginald Doherty – Beginning of a low backhand drive
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Reginald Doherty (left) with his brother Laurence.
