1881 men's tennis season

1881 men's tennis season
Details
William Renshaw won most titles this year
Duration	19 April – 10 November
Edition	6th
Tournaments	73 (Amateur)
Categories	Important (5 ) National (2) Provincial/Regional/State (6) County (6) Local/other (54)
Achievements (singles)
Most tournament titles	William Renshaw (4)
Most tournament finals	Richard Taswell Richardson (5)
← 1880 1882 →

The 1881 men's tennis season ^[1]^[2] was composed of the sixth annual pre-open era tour now incorporated 73 tournaments staged in Australia, Canada, Great Britain and Ireland, and the United States. The 1881 Wimbledon Championships was won by William Renshaw. This year also saw the inaugural and important 1881 U.S. National Championships held at Newport Casino which Richard Sears won. This was also the year that the United States National Lawn Tennis Association,^[3] which is the world's first national tennis association, was founded. Renshaw then won two other big tournaments of the year, the Irish Lawn Tennis Championships and Princes Club Championships, whilst Richard Taswell Richardson won the prestigious Northern Championships.^[4]

The tour began in April in Cheltenham, England, and ended in November in Melbourne, Australia.

Calendar

Notes 1: Challenge round: the final round of a tournament, in which the winner of a single-elimination phase faces the previous year's champion, who plays only that one match. The challenge round was used in the early history of tennis (from 1877 through 1921),^[5] in some tournaments not all.

* Indicates challenger

Notes 2:Tournaments in italics were events that were staged only onetime

Key

Important.^[6]^[7]^[8]^[9]

National

Provincial/State/Regional

County

Local

January to March

No events

April

Date	Tournament	Winner	Finalist	Semifinalist	Quarterfinalist
4 April.^[10]	North Northamptonshire LTC Tournament (First Meeting) Drayton Park Kettering Northamptonshire ? Singles Doubles	G.H. Evans ?	?
4 April.^[10]
19–23 April.^[11]	Cheltenham Covered Court Championships Imperial Winter Gardens Cheltenham, England Wood (i) Singles - Doubles	Ernest Renshaw 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 8-6	Ernest Browne	Major Henry Holley Goodeve G. Harrison	Ernest Edwin Meek Henry Blane Porter S. Davies
		Ernest Renshaw William Renshaw def	George Montague Butterworth G. Harrison.
		Ernest Browne Miss Williams def	Henry Blane Porter Miss. Florence Mardall.

May

Date	Tournament	Winner	All Comers' Finalist	Semifinalist	Quarterfinalist
23–29 May	Irish Lawn Tennis Championships^[12] Dublin, Ireland Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles	William Renshaw 1-6 6-4 6-3 6-1	Richard Taswell Richardson	Peter Aungier	A J Mullholland Ernest Renshaw Otway Woodhouse
		Challenge round Herbert Lawford
		Spencer Duncan Maul Miss Costello 6-4, 7-5	Robert Hassard Miss. D. Meldon
31 May. ^[a]^[13]	St.George's Hill Tournament St. George's Hill LTC Weybridge, Surrey, England Outdoor Grass Singles	Wilfred Milne 3 sets to 0	B. Hawes	F.M. Ashley Oswald Milne	F.M. Ashley Ferguson G. Davies Mr. Maclachlan Rev. G.S. Money
31 May. ^[a]^[13]				F.M. Ashley Oswald Milne

June

Date	Tournament	Winner	Finalist	Semifinalist	Quarter finalist
June.^[14]	Oxford University Champion Tournament Norham Gardens, Oxford, Great Britain Grass Singles – Doubles	Robert Wallace Braddell 6-4, 8-6, 6-2	Rev. Thomas Poltimore Dimond
June.^[14]
30 May–4 June.^[b]^[15]	Cambridge University Tournament Cambridge University LTC Cambridge, England Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles	Barclay Fowell Buxton ?	Erskine Gerald Watson	E.W. Brooke ? R. Hunt ?	A.C. Cooper ? R. Hunt Bye J.E. McMaster ? J.H.M. Whitehead ?
30 May–4 June.^[b]^[15]				E.W. Brooke ? R. Hunt ?
1–5 June	West of England Championships^[4] Bath, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles	Pelham Von Donop 5-6 6-5 6-3	John Charles Kay	John Charles Kay Bye William Norton Barry	H. C. Jenkins Henry Blane Porter
1–5 June				John Charles Kay Bye William Norton Barry	H. C. Jenkins Henry Blane Porter
5-10 June	Worcester Park Challenge Cup. Worcester, Worcestershire, England Grass	F. Durant ?	?
5-10 June
6–12 June	Waterloo Tournament^[16] Liverpool, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles	Richard Taswell Richardson 6-0 6-0	R W Jones	Henry Blane Porter R W Jones	W. G. Barker T. R. Hunt C. Phillips
6–12 June				Henry Blane Porter R W Jones	W. G. Barker T. R. Hunt C. Phillips
6–12 June	Princes Club Championships^[17] London, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles	William Renshaw 7-5 4-6 6-0 6-3	Alfred John Mulholland	Herbert Lawford	Richard Taswell Richardson John Charles Cole L. G. Campbell
6–12 June				Herbert Lawford	Richard Taswell Richardson John Charles Cole L. G. Campbell
6–12 June	Essex Championships^[18] Brentwood, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles	Dale Womersley 6-0 6-4	Nalton Womersley	Edward North Buxton	Charles Walder Grinstead 6-3 6-1 Albert Womersley W.C. Wells A. Fowler was absent.
6–12 June				Edward North Buxton
16–18 June.^[19] ^[20]	Liverpool Cricket Club Lawn Tennis Tournament Liverpool Cricket Club Aigburth, Liverpool, England Grass Singles	Richard Taswell Richardsons 6-0, 6-0	Reginald Herbert Jones
16–18 June.^[19] ^[20]
20–26 June	Northern Championships^[21] Manchester, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles	Richard Taswell Richardson 6-1 6-1 6-0	Walter Edwin Fairlie	Minden Fenwick	A. L. Payne Percival C. Fenwick J. J. Yates
20–26 June		Challenge round John Comber		Minden Fenwick	A. L. Payne Percival C. Fenwick J. J. Yates

July

Date	Tournament	Winner	All comers' finalist	Semifinalist	Quarterfinalist
26 June–1 July.^[22]	Rochester Open The Paddock King's School, Rochester, Kent, England Grass Singles	H. Blatherwick 6-3,6-3,6-4	A. Buchanan
26 June–1 July.^[22]
2–13 July	Wimbledon Championship ^[23] London, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles	William Renshaw 6–0, 6–1, 6–1	Richard Taswell Richardson	Herbert Lawford	George S. Murray Hill Otway Woodhouse William Henry Darby
2–13 July		Challenge round John Hartley		Herbert Lawford	George S. Murray Hill Otway Woodhouse William Henry Darby

11–17 July	Scottish Championships^[24] Edinburgh, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles	John Galbraith Horn^[25] 6-1 6-5	A L Davidson	T A Bell	B S Cunliffe Captain Gosling Charles C Maconochie Captain Sterling
11–17 July				T A Bell
12 July.^[26]^[27]	Championship of the Esher LTC. Esher Lawn Tennis Club Esher, Surrey, England Grass	Clement Edward Cottrell 6-5, 6-5, 6-1	Charles Martineau
12 July.^[26]^[27]
12 July.	Bedfordshire LTC Tournament North Beds Lawn Tennis Club Blunhem House, Fairfield, Bedfordshire, England Grass	Cecil Henry Polhill-Turner ?	R. Hughes	C. Mellor	A.K. Lindsell F.H. Smith Captain Leigh Warner
12 July.				C. Mellor	A.K. Lindsell F.H. Smith Captain Leigh Warner
16 July.^[28]	Woodford Parish Championship County Cricket Ground Woodford Parish, England Grass Singles	Edward North Buxton 2 sets to 0	R.C. Ball		?
16 July.^[28]					?
15-16 July.^[29]	Staffordshire County Cricket Club Lawn Tennis Tournament. Lichfield, Great Britain Grass Singles	Henry W. J. Gardner 6-4, 2-6, 6-5	E.W. Burnett	A.W. Hart E.K. Wade	John George Chamberlain C.E. Green L.G. Knight
15-16 July.^[29]				A.W. Hart E.K. Wade	John George Chamberlain C.E. Green L.G. Knight
17–20 July^[30]	Alliance LTC Championship Crouch End Hill, Crouch End, London, England Outdoor Grass Singles	F.A. Clark ?	?
17–20 July^[30]
20-23 July.^[31]	North Northamptonshire LTC Tournament (Second Meeting) Grafton Underwood North Northamptonshire ? Singles Doubles	Edward North Buxton ?	H.E. Kaye	N.F. Roberts Daniel Wiltringham Stable	A. Fowler S.E. Palmer Ernest Robert Stable E. Wheeler
20-23 July.^[31]		Challenge round F.E. Deck		N.F. Roberts Daniel Wiltringham Stable	A. Fowler S.E. Palmer Ernest Robert Stable E. Wheeler

18–24 July	Canadian Championships^[32] Toronto, Canada Outdoor Grass Singles	Isidore F. Hellmuth 6–2, 6–2	W.H. Young		?
18–24 July					?
18–24 July	Edgbaston Open Tournament Edgbaston, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles	Dr. Walter W. Chamberlain 6-3 6-1 6-4	F.S. Goodwin	G.R. Brewerton R.W. Miller	G.H. Cartland G.J. Chamerlain H. Simonds J. Lambert
18–24 July				G.R. Brewerton R.W. Miller	G.H. Cartland G.J. Chamerlain H. Simonds J. Lambert
25–30 July	London Athletic Club Tournament Fulham, London, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles	Frederick Lawrence Rawson 6-1 4-6 6-2 6-3	Otway Woodhouse	Edgar Lubbock G. H. Taylor	B. James Ernest Wool Lewis Augustus Adolphus Nepean
25–30 July				Edgar Lubbock G. H. Taylor	B. James Ernest Wool Lewis Augustus Adolphus Nepean
30 July.	Harrow Lawn Tennis Club Tournament. Harrow Lawn Tennis Club Harrow, Middlesex, England Grass	Frederick Gordon Templer 2 sets to 1	J. Ruault	J.P. Charles G. Holmes	C. Edwards W. Guillemard E.S. Prior W. Wilkinson
30 July.				J.P. Charles G. Holmes	C. Edwards W. Guillemard E.S. Prior W. Wilkinson
25–30 July	Norwich Open Tournament. Chapelfield Gardens Norwich, Norfolk England ?	Francis William Monement 6-2 6-4	Edward Morgan Hansell	William Bolding Monement	Henry Edward John Browne Walter Edward Hansell R.H. Perkin
25–30 July				William Bolding Monement	Henry Edward John Browne Walter Edward Hansell R.H. Perkin
25–31 July	Dundalk Tournament^[33] Dundalk, Ireland Outdoor Grass Singles	Robert Shaw Templer def.	Kerry Leyne Supple	H Graves	A. Edes Frederick Gordon Templer
25–31 July				H Graves	A. Edes Frederick Gordon Templer

August

Date	Tournament	Winner	Finalist	Semifinalist	Quarter finalist
August.^[34]	Tivyside LTC Tournament Tivyside Lawn Tennis Club Newcastle Emlyn, Carmarthenshire, Wales Outdoor Grass Singles	George Bevan Bowen ?
August.^[34]
August	Hexham Tournament Hexham, Northumberland, England Outdoor Grass Singles	Jasper Gibson 6-0, 6-0, 6-2	M. Liddell	J.W. Fowler W. Gibson	J.O. Head Henry Kirsopp J.H. Nicholson
August				J.W. Fowler W. Gibson	J.O. Head Henry Kirsopp J.H. Nicholson
August	Hampstead Cricket Club Tennis Tournament Hampstead, Middlesex, England Outdoor Hard Singles	Harry Sibthorpe Barlow 3 sets to 1	Herbert Chipp	Robert Samuel Creaton	E.F. Carey R.A. Walker
August				Robert Samuel Creaton	E.F. Carey R.A. Walker
2–4 August.^[35]	Cirencester Park Lawn Tennis Tournament Earl Bathurst Estate Cirencester Park Cirencester, Gloucestershire, England Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles	F.E. Rooke ?	Julian Marshall
2–4 August.^[35]
4 August.	North Northamptonshire LTC Tournament Drayton Park Lowick, Northamptonshire Grass Singles Doubles	G.H. Evans ?	Henry Minshull Stockdale	R.H. Lindsay F.G. Hodgson	{
4 August.				R.H. Lindsay F.G. Hodgson	{
1–6 August	Darlington Open Tournament Darlington, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles	A. Springett 6-0 4-6 6-2	Mark Fenwick	J.W. Fowler	Cecil Fullerton Minden Fenwick R. De Clare Yeld
1–6 August		J.B. Dale Miss Alice Cheese 9-7, 6-3	Percival C. Fenwick Miss. Winifred Fenwick.	J.W. Fowler	Cecil Fullerton Minden Fenwick R. De Clare Yeld
1–7 August	South of Ireland Championships Limerick, Ireland Outdoor Grass Singles	Edmond Bennett Brackenbury 0-6 6-3 7-5 8-6	Edward Montiford Longfield	Samuel Martin Gully	G Burton James F J Heffernan Considine Major Henry H Goodeve William Dawson
1–7 August				Samuel Martin Gully
2-6 August.	County Kildare Closed Tournament Naas Military Barracks Naas, County Kildare, Ireland Grass -	Peter Aungier ?	E.H. Bennett	Spencer Duncan Maul W.A. Cairnes	Paul Brown Arthur Owen Major Erasmus D. Borrowes Gilbert de Laval Willis
2-6 August.				Spencer Duncan Maul W.A. Cairnes
2-6 August	County Kildare Championship^[36] Naas, Ireland Outdoor Grass Grass Singles - Doubles	Algernon Ambrose Michael Aylmer 6-1 6-1 6-5	Francis Metcalfe	Jacob R. Sherrard	James G. Kennedy Thomas C. Owen
2-6 August				Jacob R. Sherrard	James G. Kennedy Thomas C. Owen
2–7 August	Waterford Tournament Waterford, Ireland Outdoor Grass Singles	Michael G. McNamara 6-2 6-3	James Joycelyn Glascott	Hercules R Langrishe	Chaloner Knox John H Browne Henry Hills Goodeve
2–7 August				Hercules R Langrishe	Chaloner Knox John H Browne Henry Hills Goodeve
2–8 August.^[37]	Orange Invitation Mountain Station, Montrose South Orange, New Jersey, US Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles	Richard Field Conover 7-5 6-2 6-3	A.M. Wood	Samuel A. Campbell Jr.	Richard Morse Colgate S.E. Hall E. Winslow
2–8 August.^[37]				Samuel A. Campbell Jr.	Richard Morse Colgate S.E. Hall E. Winslow
8–10 August	Downshire Lawn Tennis Tournament Downshire Archery and Lawn Tennis Club Cliftonville Cricket Club Ground, Belfast, Great Britain Outdoor Grass	F.L. Rawson 5-2,5-1	F.G.Gordon	J. McNeile W. R. Young	C. L. Graham 5-1 5-0 F. St John Gordon John H. Browne O. B. Graham
8–10 August				J. McNeile W. R. Young
9–12 August	Exmouth Open^[38] Exmouth, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles	E. W. Mancounchy 6-3 1-6 6-4	Thomas Hoare	T.P. Hogg	E.G. Farquharson G. F. Hampson Champion Russell
9–12 August		Henry Kindersley ** Miss. Georgiana Kindersley 2-6, 7-5, 7-5	Thomas Arembery Tombe Miss. Lilian Cole.	T.P. Hogg	E.G. Farquharson G. F. Hampson Champion Russell
9–12 August	Teignmouth and Shaldon Tournament^[38] Teignmouth, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles	Champion Branfill Russell 5-6 6-1 6-0	Charles John Cole	Charles John Cole Spencer Cox	Arthur Bellfield C. Haynes Thomas Arembery Tombe
9–12 August				Charles John Cole Spencer Cox	Arthur Bellfield C. Haynes Thomas Arembery Tombe
8–13 August	North of Ireland Championships Belfast, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles	E. J. Charley 2-1 (sets)	J.R. Bristow	A.H. Callwell A. Eager	E.M. Charley H.O. Lanyon H.W. Boyce John Taswell Richardson
8–13 August				A.H. Callwell A. Eager	E.M. Charley H.O. Lanyon H.W. Boyce John Taswell Richardson
13 August.^[39]	Langley Marish Tournament Langley Marish LTC Langley Marish, Berkshire, England Grass	Thomas Arthur Nash 6-5, 3-6, 6-3	Wiliam Harry Nash	Maurice John Swabey	G.E. Hale \| Richard Helder
13 August.^[39]				Maurice John Swabey	G.E. Hale \| Richard Helder
13 Aug.^[40]	Gloucestershire Lawn Tennis Tournament Montpellier Gardens Cheltenham, Great Britain Outdoor Grass/Asphalt Singles - Doubles	George Montague Butterworth 6-1 6-1	Alexander Kaye Butterworth w.o.	Walter William Chamberlain	H. Hardwick Percy Hattersley Smith C. Tillard
13 Aug.^[40]					H. Hardwick Percy Hattersley Smith C. Tillard
14–15 August.^[c]^[41]	Maidstone Lawn Tennis Tournament Maidstone Athletic Ground Maidstone, England Outdoor Grass Singles	Richard Mercer w.o.	Mr. Stited	Randall Mercer Mr. Scudamore	Mr. Ground A. Mercer Mr. Tasker C.G. Traill
14–15 August.^[c]^[41]				Randall Mercer Mr. Scudamore	Mr. Ground A. Mercer Mr. Tasker C.G. Traill
15-16 August.^[42]	Penzance LTC Tournament Penzance LTC Penzance, Cornwall, England Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles	P.H. Fernandez 6-5 6-5	Rev. William Ewart Beamish Barter^[43]	C.G. Fagan	W.E.T. Bolitho R.J. McNeill H.W. Simons
15-16 August.^[42]				C.G. Fagan	W.E.T. Bolitho R.J. McNeill H.W. Simons
18-19 August.^[44]	Rochford Hundred Club Lawn Tennis Tournament Rochford Hundred Club Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England. Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles	M. Thackeray 6-3, 4-6, 6-5	W. Wood	J.C. Page A. Stallibrass	E. Benton R.C. Browne A. Lancaster E. Meeson
18-19 August.^[44]				J.C. Page A. Stallibrass	E. Benton R.C. Browne A. Lancaster E. Meeson
15–20 August	Devonshire Park Championships^[45] Eastbourne, Great Britain Grass	George S. Murray Hill 2 sets to 0	Sidney Alfred Noon	Joseph Butler Chamberlain William C. Taylor	Alexander Raymond Aspinall F. Link Leo Maxse E.P. Nicholls
15–20 August				Joseph Butler Chamberlain William C. Taylor	Alexander Raymond Aspinall F. Link Leo Maxse E.P. Nicholls
22-26 August	Westgate-on-Sea Tournament Westgate-on-Sea, Kent, England Outdoor Asphalt Singles	G.G. Dineley ?	T. Sopwith	R. Whyte	C. Leigh Clare W. Price H. Steward
22-26 August				R. Whyte	C. Leigh Clare W. Price H. Steward
26–30 August.^[46]	South Wales Championships Tenby LTC Tenby, Carmarthenshire, Wales Outdoor Grass Singles	L.G. Campbell 6-2, 6-5, 9-7	Grismond Saunders Davies	P.T. Ashe Mr. Voyle	Mr. Morris F. Lort Phillips E. Smith G. Synge
26–30 August.^[46]				P.T. Ashe Mr. Voyle	Mr. Morris F. Lort Phillips E. Smith G. Synge
29 August-4 September	Victoria Park Lawn Tennis Tournament^[38] Exeter, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles	Champion Branfill Russell 6-3 7-5	Spencer Cox	G. Batten ? Pelham Von Donop	A.Belfield A.W. Buckingham H. B. Kindersley
29 August-4 September				G. Batten ? Pelham Von Donop	A.Belfield A.W. Buckingham H. B. Kindersley
29-30 August^[47]	Abbot's Court Hoo Tournament Hoo St Werburgh, Rochester, Kent, England Outdoor Grass Singles	E. Mansel 6-3	Warwick Stunt	H. Cobb Capt. Johnson	Major Blackwood F. Day Mr. Johnson O.H. Pedley
29-30 August^[47]				H. Cobb Capt. Johnson	Major Blackwood F. Day Mr. Johnson O.H. Pedley
30-31 August.^[48]	Holt Lawn Tennis Club Tournament Holt LTC Holt, Norfolk, England Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles	William Meaburn Tatham 2 sets to 1	William Bolding Monement	Francis William Monement Charles Edmund Tatham	Henry William Pelham-Clinton S. Hart-Davies Edward Morgan Hansell
30-31 August.^[48]				Francis William Monement Charles Edmund Tatham
31 August.^[49]	Gore Court Championships Sittingbourne, Gore Court Archery and LTC Gore Court, Sittingbourne, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles	W.H. Patterson 5-4 6-1	J. Patterson	John Walter Langlois E. Marmion	A. Chittenden W. Plumb E.K. Skinner J.A. Tuke
31 August.^[49]				John Walter Langlois E. Marmion	A. Chittenden W. Plumb E.K. Skinner J.A. Tuke
31 July–1 August.^[50]	Rochester Open Paddock Lawn Tennis Club Rochester, Kent, England Grass Singles	H. Blatherwick 6-1 6-2	A. Buchanan	W.A. Dartnall W.H. St. John Hope
31 July–1 August.^[50]				W.A. Dartnall W.H. St. John Hope
31 August - 3 September	U.S. National Championships^[51] Newport Casino, Newport, Rhode Island, United States Outdoor Grass Singles Doubles	Richard Sears 6-0 6-3 6-2	William Glyn	Edward H. Gray Samuel Shaw	Crawford Nightingale Edward Gray William Gammell Mr. Kessler
31 August - 3 September		Clarence Clark Frederick Winslow Taylor 6-5 6-4 6-5	Alexander Van Rensselaer Arthur Newbold	Edward H. Gray Samuel Shaw

September

Date	Tournament	Winner	Finalist	Semifinalist	Quarterfinalist
September.	Skipton Tournament Craven Lawn Tennis Club (f.1879)? Gargrave, Skipton, North Yorkshire, England Outdoor Grass	T.R. Atkinson ?	J.B. Dury	R.J. Jefferson	J. St. John W. Bairstow L. Dewhurst
September.				R.J. Jefferson	J. St. John W. Bairstow L. Dewhurst
September.	West Somerset Archery and Lawn Tennis Tournament West Somerset Lawn Tennis Club Taunton, Somerset, England Outdoor Grass	Francis Escott Hancock 2 sets to 0	R.P. Spurway	G.F. Hampson C.R. Rodwell	J. St. John A. Newton G. Peard F. Scott
September.				G.F. Hampson C.R. Rodwell	J. St. John A. Newton G. Peard F. Scott
30 Aug–3 Sept.^[52]^[53]	Aldershot Division Open Lawn Tennis Tournament Aldershot Divisional LTC Aldershot Garrison, Hampshire, England Outdoor Grass Singles	Lt-Col Robert H. Stuart Truell 6–4, 1–6, 6–5	Lieut. Robert Howden Kellie	Percy Wildman Lushington	Lieut. King William Robert Boileau Peyton
30 Aug–3 Sept.^[52]^[53]				Percy Wildman Lushington	Lieut. King William Robert Boileau Peyton
29 August-4 Sept	Victoria Park Lawn Tennis Tournament Victoria Park Exeter, Devon, England Outdoor Grass Singles	Spencer Cox 6-3 7-5	Champion Russell	G. Batten Pelham Von Donop	A.Belfield A.W. Buckingham H. B. Kindersley
29 August-4 Sept				G. Batten Pelham Von Donop	A.Belfield A.W. Buckingham H. B. Kindersley
5–6 September.^[54]	Vale of Clwyd CLTC Open Tournament Vale of Clwyd LTC Ruthin, Vale of Clwyd, Wales Outdoor Grass Singles	Percy John Frederick Lush 5-2 5-4	M. Lush	R.L. Williams	P.J.T. Henery A.B. Mesham Major. Mesham
5–6 September.^[54]				R.L. Williams	P.J.T. Henery A.B. Mesham Major. Mesham
5–9 September.	South of England Championships Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club, Eastbourne, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles	Edgar Lubbock 6-4 6-2 6-0	Robert W. Braddell	R.N. Cooper-Coles Frederick Brunning Maddison	Charles John Cole C. Fairfax Leopold Maxse William C. Taylor
5–9 September.				R.N. Cooper-Coles Frederick Brunning Maddison
13–17 September.^[d]	Torquay Lawn Tennis Tournament^[55] Winter Gardens Torquay, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles	Ernest Maconchy ?	Thomas Arembery Tombe	C. Haynes	B.C. Skottowe G. Egerton W. Ware
		J. Bayly Thomas Arembery Tombe 6-2 6-4	F. Crowdy G. Egerton
		W. Ware Miss. Coulthard 6-2 6-4	Thomas Arembery Tombe Miss. Cole

15–17 September.^[e]	Saint Leonards-on-Sea Lawn Tennis Tournament^[56] St Leonards-on-Sea, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles	Arthur Wellesley Soames 6-3 6-5 6-5	A.H. Trevor	S. Twining	A.R.N. Coles Charles John Chichester Smith
15–17 September.^[e]				S. Twining	A.R.N. Coles Charles John Chichester Smith
19 September.	White Rose Lawn Tennis Tournament Gentleman's Cricket Ground York, Yorkshire, England Outdoor Grass Singles	F. Durant 6-4 6-5	E.M. Turner	A. Hotham Granville Croft	Mr. Baines Major Lee's
19 September.				A. Hotham Granville Croft	Mr. Baines Major Lee's
19–24 September.^[f]	East Gloucestershire Championships Cheltenham, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles	William Renshaw 6–0, 6–1, 6–1	Robert Wallace Braddell	Ernest Browne Michael Gallwey McNamara	Henry Blane Porter
19–24 September.^[f]		Challenge round Ernest Browne		Ernest Browne Michael Gallwey McNamara	Henry Blane Porter

24-25 September.^[57]	Truro LTC Open Tournament Truro, Cricket Club Truro, Cornwall, England Grass	H. Mann ?	Francis Joseph Ridgway	Lancelot Melvill Haslope Robert Fox	Charles Reginald Gerveys Grylls H.E. Lambe T.W. Wilson
24-25 September.^[57]				Lancelot Melvill Haslope Robert Fox	Charles Reginald Gerveys Grylls H.E. Lambe T.W. Wilson
26 September-2 October.^[58]	Bournemouth Lawn Tennis Club Tournament (later Hampshire Championships) Bournemouth, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles	Montague Hankey 6-2 6-3 6-0	J. G. Johnson	Rev. Edmond Bennet Brackenbury E.W. Brooke	John Dalby Dewhurst Edward George Farquharson H. Fort F.E. Rooke
26 September-2 October.^[58]				Rev. Edmond Bennet Brackenbury E.W. Brooke

October

Date	Tournament	Winner	Finalist	Semifinalist	Quarterfinalist
3–10 October	Armagh ALTC Tournament^[59] Armagh, Northern Ireland Outdoor Hard Singles	Robert Barron Templer 2-0 (sets)	H. Irwin	M. Blacker E. J. Wolfe	M. Blacker A. Burke C. S. Poole V. De. Tattersall
3–10 October		Challenge round Robert Shaw Templer		M. Blacker E. J. Wolfe	M. Blacker A. Burke C. S. Poole V. De. Tattersall
3–10 October.^[60]	Brighton Lawn Tennis Club Tournament Brighton Lawn Tennis Club Queen's Park, Brighton, East Sussex, England Grass	C. Fairfax 6-1, 6-4, 7-5	A.O. Jennings	W.P. Bowyer Leonard Dampier	A. Evelegh Robert Howden Kellie H. Langton W. Stuckey
3–10 October.^[60]				W.P. Bowyer Leonard Dampier	A. Evelegh Robert Howden Kellie H. Langton W. Stuckey
4–10 October	Sussex County Lawn Tennis Tournament Brighton, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles	Michael Gallwey McNamara 2-6 6-2 6-0 6-1	Champion Russell	Charles John Cole Charles Walder Grinstead	Humphery H. Berkley H. Brooker George S. Murray Hill H. M. Nichol
4–10 October		Henry B. Thornhill Miss. E. Munt 6-3, 6-1	Orlando R. Coote Miss. Leila Lodwick	Charles John Cole Charles Walder Grinstead
26–28 October.^[61]	St. George's Cricket Club Tournament St. George's Cricket Club New York, United States Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles	John Jameson Cairnes 7-5 6-2 6-3	James Rankine	Charles F. Watson Sr. F. Ennis	W. P. Anderson R. J. Cross H. Henry James Rankine
26–28 October.^[61]				Charles F. Watson Sr. F. Ennis	W. P. Anderson R. J. Cross H. Henry James Rankine

November

Date	Tournament	Winner	Finalist	Semifinalist	Quarterfinalist
4–10 November	Victorian Championships^[62] Melbourne Cricket Ground Melbourne, Australia Outdoor Hard Singles - Doubles	Louis Whyte 6-4 4-6 6-1 6-1	Francis James Highett	J. S. Conran Francis James Highett	R. H. James W. M. Mitchell Francis James Highett
4–10 November				J. S. Conran Francis James Highett	R. H. James W. M. Mitchell Francis James Highett

December

No events

List of tournament winners

Note: important tournaments in bold

William Renshaw—Cheltenham, Irish Championships, Princes Club, Wimbledon—(4)
Richard Taswell Richardson—Aigburth, Waterloo, Northern Championships—(2)
Michael G. McNamara—Brighton-Waterford—(2)
Edward North Buxton—Lowick, Woodford Parish—(1)
Richard Sears—U.S. National Championships—(1)
Richard Barron Templer—Armagh—(1)
Pelham Von Donop—Bath—(1)
E. J. Charley—Belfast—(1)
F. L. Rawson—Belfast—(1)
Montague Hankey—Bournemouth—(1)
C. Fairfax —Brighton—(1)
Barcley Fowell Buxton—Cambridge—(1)
Ernest Renshaw -Cheltenham (indoor)—(1)
Dale Womersley—Colchester—(1)
F. E. Rook—Cirencester—(1)
A. Springett—Darlington—(1)
Robert Shaw Templer—Dundalk—(1)
Edgar Lubbock—Eastbourne—(1)
Walter William Chamberlain—Edgbaston—(1)
John Galbraith Horn—Edinburgh—(1)
Leslie Balfour-Melville—Edinburgh—(1)
C. Martineau —Esher—(1)
Spencer Cox—Exeter—(1)
E. W. Mancounchy—Exmouth—(1)
Edmond Bennett Brackenbury—Limerick—(1)
Herbert Lawford—London—(1)
Frederick Lawrence Rawson—London—(1)
Richard Mercer—Maidstone—(1)
Louis Whyte—Melbourne—(1)
Peter Aungier—Naas—(1)
John Jameson Cairnes -New York -(1)
A.W. Soames-St Leonards-on-Sea-(1)
Jonas Henry William Gardner-Stafford-(1)
Champion Branfill Russell—Teignmouth—(1)
Ernest Maconchy-Torquay-(1)
Isidore F. Hellmuth—Toronto—(1)
Wilfred Milne—Weybridge—(1)

Rankings

Source: The Concise History of Tennis

Karoly Mazak World Rankings for 1881 ^[63]
#	Player
1	William Renshaw (ENG)
2	Herbert Lawford (SCO)
3	Richard Taswell Richardson (GBR)
4	Ernest Renshaw (ENG)
5	Ernest de S. H. Browne (Ireland)
6	Otway Woodhouse (GBR)
7	Peter Aungier (Ireland)
8	Edgar Lubbock (GBR)

Notes

^ The St.George's Hill tournament was staged at Weybridge, Surrey from 1880 to 1966 on grass courts, it was known as the Brooklands Open between 1913-14.
^ The Cambridge University tournament ran from 1881 to 1903 and featured winners such as Herbert Wilberforce and Anthony (Tony) Wilding.
^ The Maidstone tournament was staged from 1881 to 1927.
^ The Torquay Tennis Tournament was staged from 1880 to 1974 on grass courts.
^ The St Leonards-on-Sea Tournament ran from 1880 to 1891.
^ The East Gloucestershire Championships ran from 1879 to 1969.

References

^ "Tennis season 1881". thetennisbase.com. The Tennis Base, 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
^ Archives, Tennis. "Tournaments 1881". www.tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives, 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
^ "USTA HISTORY ARCHIVE". usta.com. USTA. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
^ ^a ^b Nauright, John; Parrish, Charles (2012). Sports around the world : history, culture, and practice. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO. p. 198. ISBN 9781598843002.
^ "Abolition of Challenge Rounds". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. EVENING POST, VOLUME CIII, ISSUE 65, 20 MARCH 1922. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
^ Nauright, John; Parrish, Charles (2012). Sports Around the World: History, Culture, and Practice. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO. p. 198. ISBN 9781598843002.
^ Gillmeister, Heiner (1998). Tennis:Cultural History. London: A&C Black. p. 199. ISBN 9780718501952.
^ Mazak, Karoly (2017). The Concise History of Tennis. Independently published. pp. 5–36. ISBN 9781549746475.
^ Lake, Robert J. (2014). A Social History of Tennis in Britain: Volume 5 of Routledge Research in Sports History. Routledge. p. 48. ISBN 9781134445578.
^ Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.68.
^ Nieuwland, Alex. "Edition – Cheltenham Covered Courts 1881". www.tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
^ "Irish Championships 1881". tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
^ Nieuwland, Alex. "Edition – St. George's Hill 1881". www.tennisarchives.com. Iddznew BV. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
^ Nieuwland, Alex. "Edition – Oxford University Tournament 1881". www.tennisarchives.com. A. Nieuwland. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
^ Nieuwland, Alex. "Edition – Cambridge University LTC 1881". www.tennisarchives.com. Iddznew BV. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
^ "Waterloo, Liverpool 1881". tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
^ "Prince's Club Tournament 1881". tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
^ "Essex Championships 1881". tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
^ Nieuwland, Alex. "Edition – Liverpool Cricket Club Tournament 1881". www.tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
^ Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.69.
^ "Championship Roll of Honour" (PDF). thenorthern.co.uk. The Northern Lawn Tennis Club. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
^ OPEN TOURNAMENT AT ROCHESTER. The 19th Rochester Open tournament. which extends over three days, was continued on Saturday, the weather being somewhat more favourable than on the opening day. Sporting Life. (Monday 6 August 1900). The British Newspaper Archive. London, England. page.3.
^ "The Championships 1881:Gentlemen's All-Comers' Singles" (PDF). wimbledon.com. All England Lawn Tennis Club. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
^ Winslow, F. L (1882). The Lawn Tennis Annual 1882. London: Frederick Warne & Co.
^ "Scottish Championships 1881 Final". tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
^ Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881
^ Routledges Sporting Annual (1883) Lawn Tennis Principle Meetings of 1882
^ Nieuwland, Alex. "Edition – Woodford Parish 1881". www.tennisarchives.com. Iddznew BV.
^ "Tournaments:Litchfield/Stafford - Staffordshire Championships". The Tennis Base. Madrid: Tennismem SL. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
^ Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.70.
^ Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.69.
^ Lake, J Robert (2014). A Social History of Tennis in Britain:Volume 5 of Routledge Research in Sports History. London, UK: Routledge. p. 73. ISBN 9781134445578.
^ "Dundalk 1881". tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
^ Jones, Ken (2014). Newcastle-Emlyn more miscellany : more local facts that you might not have known about : until now!!. Newcastle Emlyn: Summerhill Press. pp. 303–318. ISBN 0955662540.
^ Nieuwland, Alex. "Edition – Cirencester Park Tournament 1881". www.tennisarchives.com. Iddznew BV. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
^ "County Kildare Tournament 1881". tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
^ "Tournaments: Orange Invitation". The Tennis Base. Tennismem SL. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c Travis, John F. (1993). The rise of the Devon seaside resorts 1750-1900 (1. publ. ed.). Exeter: University of Exeter Press. p. 176. ISBN 9780859893923.
^ "Tournaments: Langley Marish". The Tennis Base. Tennismem SL. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
^ "Tournaments: Gloucestershire". The Tennis Base. Tennismem SL. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
^ Nieuwland, Alex. "Edition – Maidstone 1881". www.tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
^ "Tournaments: Penzance LTC". The Tennis Base. Tennismem SL. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
^ Government, HM (July 1896). "Correspondence: FP Creighton - PAPERS OF MANDELL CREIGHTON, BISHOP OF LONDON: BARTER (Rev. William Ewart Beamish) ff.100-5". discovery.nationalarchives. The National Archives. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
^ THE SECOND LAWN TENNIS TOURNAMENT ROCHFORD HUNDRED CLUB.—The president's (the Rev. F. Thackeray's) prize, to be competed for at the RocHford Hundred Lawn Tennis Club on 17 August. Southend Standard and Essex Weekly Advertiser. (Friday 4 August 1882). The British Newspaper Archive. Essex, England. page.5.
^ "Devonshire Park 1880". tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
^ "Tournaments: Tenby - South Wales". The Tennis Base. Madrid: Tennismem SL. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
^ "Tournament at Abbot's Court Hoo". The Field. London, England: British Newspaper Archive. 3 September 1881. p. 37. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
^ "Tournaments: Holt Lawn Tennis Club". The Tennis Base. Madrid: Tennismem SL. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
^ "Tournaments: Sittingbourne - Gore Court Championships". The Tennis Base. Madrid: Tennismem SL. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
^ "Tournaments: Rochester Open". The Tennis Base. Tennismem SL. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
^ Stark, Douglas (2011). Tennis and the Newport Casino. Newport, Rhode Island, US: Arcadia Pub. p. 25. ISBN 0738574821.
^ "LAWN TENNIS TOURNAMENT AT ALDERSHOT. The third annual Aldershot Division Open Lawn Tennis Tournament commenced at the Club Grounds, Aldershot, on Tuesday, the 30th August, and continued daily during the week". Aldershot Military Gazette. Aldershot, Hampshire, England: British Newspaper Archive. 10 September 1881. p. 5.
^ "Edition – Aldershot 1881". www.tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
^ "VALE OF CLWYD LAWN TENNIS AND CRICKET CLUB. THE THIRD ANNUAL LAWN TENNIS TOURNAMENT 'will be held' at DENBIGH, on 30 August and following days. GENTLEMEN'S SINGLES EVENT to be called the North Wales Counties Challenge Cup, the value, not less that 10 guineas, to be given by the Vale of Clwyd Club". North Wales Chronicle. Caernarfon, Caernarfonshire, Wales: The British Newspaper Archive. 11 August 1883. p. 1.
^ "Torquay 1881". .tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
^ Nieuwland, Alex. "Edition – St. Leonards-On-Sea 1881". www.tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
^ "TRURO LAWN TENNIS TOURNAMENT: This ninth annual open tournament, under the auspices of the Truro Lawn Tennis Club, was concluded on last Friday evening". Royal Cornwall Gazette. Truro, Cornwall, England: British Newspaper Archives. 16 August 1888. p. 6.
^ "Lawn Tennis". trove.nla.gov.au. National Library of Australia, The Mercury Newspaper, Hobart, Australia, 9 August 1910. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
^ "Armagh tournament draw 1881". thetennisbase.com. The Tennis Base. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
^ Nieuwland, Alex. "Edition – Brighton Lawn Tennis Club Tournament 1881". www.tennisarchives.com. Iddznew BV. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
^ "Engraving: Lawn Tennis Tournament at the St. Georges Club Ground, Hoboken, New Jersey, October 27, 1881. - Print | Hoboken Historical Museum". hoboken.pastperfectonline.com. Hoboken Historical Museum. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
^ "Intercolonial Lawn Tennis Championships". National Library of Australia, The Argus, Melbourne, 12 November 1881. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
^ Mazak, Karoly (2010). The Concise History of Tennis. p. 9.

Sources

A Social History of Tennis in Britain: Lake, Robert J. (2014), Volume 5 of Routledge Research in Sports History. Routledge, UK, ISBN 9781134445578.
Ayre's Lawn Tennis Almanack And Tournament Guide, 1908 to 1938, A. Wallis Myers.
British Lawn Tennis and Squash Magazine, 1948 to 1967, British Lawn Tennis Ltd, UK.
Dunlop Lawn Tennis Almanack And Tournament Guide, G.P. Hughes, 1939 to 1958, Dunlop Sports Co. Ltd, UK
Lawn tennis and Badminton Magazine, 1906 to 1973, UK.
Lowe's Lawn Tennis Annuals and Compendia, Lowe, Sir F. Gordon, Eyre & Spottiswoode
Spalding's Lawn Tennis Annuals from 1885 to 1922, American Sports Pub. Co, USA.
Sports Around the World: History, Culture, and Practice, Nauright John and Parrish Charles, (2012), ABC-CLIO, Santa Barbara, Cal, US, ISBN 1598843001.
The Concise History of Tennis, Mazak Karoly, (2010), 6th Edition, 2015.
Tennis; A Cultural History, Gillmeister Heiner, (1997), Leicester University Press, Leicester, UK.
The Tennis Book, edited by Michael Bartlett and Bob Gillen, Arbor House, New York, 1981 ISBN 0-87795-344-9
The World of Tennis Annuals, Barrett John, 1970 to 2001.
Total Tennis:The Ultimate Tennis Encyclopedia, by Bud Collins, Sport Classic Books, Toronto, Canada, ISBN 0-9731443-4-3
Wright & Ditson Officially Adopted Lawn Tennis Guide's 1890 to 1920 Wright & Ditsons Publishers, Boston, Mass, USA.
http://www.tennisarchives.com/1881 Men's Tennis season
https://app.thetennisbase.com/1881 Men's Tennis season