Richard Dudley "Dick" Sears (b. October 16, 1861 d. April 8, 1943 both in Boston) – was an American male tennis player. He was the son of Frederic Richard Sears and Albertina Homer Shelton. He married Eleanor M Cochrane on Nov 24, 1891 and they had Richard Dudley Sears, Jr. and Miriam Sears.
Sears was undefeated in the U.S. Championships, he won the first of his seven consecutive titles (the all-time record, although in those days the previous year's winner had an automatic place in the final) there in 1881 while still a student at Harvard. Starting in the 1881 first round, he went on an 18-match unbeaten streak at that would take him through the 1887 championships, after which he retired from the game. Not until 1921 was his 18-match unbeaten run overtaken (by Bill Tilden). During his first three championships, Sears did not even lose a single set, never mind a match. Sears was the first 19-year old to win in the U.S., slightly older than Oliver Campbell was in 1890 and the youngest winner ever, Pete Sampras, in 1990.
After giving up playing lawn tennis, Sears won the U.S. Court Tennis singles title in 1892 and went on to serve as USTA President in 1887 and 1888.
Sears was inducted in the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1955, where his cousin Eleonora Sears also has a place.
Contents |
| Year | Championship | Opponent in Final | Score in Final |
| 1881 | U.S. Championships | William E. Glyn | 6–0, 6–3, 6–2 |
| 1882 | U.S. Championships (2) | Clarence Clark | 6–1, 6–4, 6–0 |
| 1883 | U.S. Championships (3) | James Dwight | 6–2, 6–0, 9–7 |
| 1884 | U.S. Championships (4) | Howard Taylor | 6–0, 1–6, 6–0, 6–2 |
| 1885 | U.S. Championships (5) | Godfrey Brinley | 6–3, 4–6, 6–0, 6–3 |
| 1886 | U.S. Championships (6) | R. Livingston Beeckman | 4–6, 6–1, 6–3, 6–4 |
| 1887 | U.S. Championships (7) | Henry Slocum | 6–1, 6–3, 6–2 |
|
|||||