Richard Sears (tennis) facts for kids
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| Full name | Richard Dudley Sears |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |  United States |
| Born | October 26, 1861 Boston, Massachusetts, US |
| Died | April 8, 1943 (aged 81) Boston, MA, US |
| Turned pro | 1880 (amateur tour) |
| Retired | 1888 |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Int. Tennis HoF | 1955 (member page) |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 43–8 (84.3%) |
| Career titles | 9 |
| Highest ranking | No. 5 (1887, ITHF) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Wimbledon | 1R (1884) |
| US Open | W (1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887) |
| Doubles | |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Wimbledon | SF (1884) |
| US Open | W (1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887) |
Richard Dudley Sears (born October 26, 1861 – died April 8, 1943) was an American tennis player. He was a true legend of early tennis. He won the US National Championships in singles for the first seven years it was held, from 1881 to 1887. He also won the doubles title for six years in a row, from 1882 to 1887. After these amazing wins, he decided to retire from playing tennis.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Richard Sears was born in Boston, Massachusetts. His parents were Frederic Richard Sears and Albertina Homer Shelton. Richard wasn't the only tennis player in his family. His brothers, Philip and Herbert, also played tennis.
Tennis Career Highlights
Richard Sears started learning to play tennis in 1879. He quickly became very good at the sport.
Becoming a Champion
He was unbeatable at the U.S. Championships. He won his first title in 1881 while he was still a student at Harvard. Back then, the winner from the previous year automatically got a spot in the final match. This rule helped him keep his winning streak going.
An Unbroken Winning Streak
Starting from the very first round in 1881, Richard Sears won 18 matches in a row. This amazing streak lasted all the way through the 1887 championships. After that, he retired from the game. His record of 18 unbeaten matches at the U.S. Championships was not broken until 1921, by another great player named Bill Tilden. For his first three championships, Sears didn't even lose a single set! He was the first 19-year-old to win the U.S. title.
Other Tournaments and Achievements
Even though he is most famous for his U.S. Championship wins, Richard Sears also played in and won other tournaments. He won his very first tournament at Beacon Park in Boston in 1880.
In 1884, he traveled to Europe to play in tournaments in Great Britain and Ireland. He reached the quarterfinals at the Irish Championships in Dublin. He also made it to the final of the Cheltenham tennis tournament, which was played on clay courts.
Sears was recognized as the first U.S. No. 1 player in the USLTA rankings. These rankings started in 1885, and he held the top spot in 1885, 1886, and 1887.
Life After Lawn Tennis
After he stopped playing regular tennis (sometimes called lawn tennis), Richard Sears continued to be involved in sports. He won the U.S. Court Tennis singles title in 1892. Court tennis is a different, older version of tennis played indoors. He also served as the President of the USTA in 1887 and 1888.
Personal Life
Richard Sears married Eleanor M. Cochrane on November 24, 1891. They had two children together, a son named Richard Dudley Sears Jr. and a daughter named Miriam Sears.
Richard Sears passed away on April 8, 1943. His grandson, John W. Sears, later became a politician in Massachusetts.
Legacy and Hall of Fame
Richard Sears's incredible achievements in tennis were remembered long after he retired. He was honored by being inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1955. His cousin, Eleonora Sears, who was also a talented athlete, is also in the Hall of Fame.
See also
In Spanish: Richard Sears para niños
