Blanche Bingley
 | |
| Full name | Blanche Bingley Hillyard |
|---|---|
| Country |
 United Kingdom |
| Born |
3 November 1863 Greenford, England |
| Died |
6 August 1946 (aged 82) London, England |
| Plays | Right-handed |
| Singles | |
| Grand Slam Singles results | |
| Wimbledon | W (1886, 1889, 1894, 1897, 1899, 1900) |
Blanche Bingley Hillyard (3 November 1863 – 6 August 1946) was an English tennis player.
Born in Greenford in the London Borough of Ealing, Blanche Bingley was a member of the "Ealing Lawn Tennis & Archery Club." In 1884, she competed in the first ever Wimbledon championships for women and two years later captured the first of her six singles titles. A seven time runner-up, Bingley's thirteen finals remain a Wimbledon record as is the fourteen-year time span between her first and last title.[1][2]
Bingley's Wimbledon record suggests that she was the second strongest female player of her day, being inferior only to Lottie Dod, who defeated her in no fewer than five finals.[3][4]
Once married Bingley was recorded with her husband's name and is usually listed in various records as Blanche Bingley Hillyard. At age thirty-seven, she made it to the Wimbledon finals and continued to compete until age forty-eight, playing in her last Wimbledon tourney in 1912.
During her career, she also won the Irish championships on three occasions (1888, 1894, 1897) and the German championship, played in Hamburg, twice; in 1897, defeating Charlotte Cooper Sterry in the final in three sets, and in 1900 against Muriel Robb, also in three sets. Additionally, she won the South of England Championships at Eastbourne, then a major event, eleven times between 1885 and 1905.[5]
Blanche Bingley Hillyard died in London in 1946.
Her husband Commander George Whiteside Hillyard was one of the foremost men's players on the international tennis circuit between 1886 and 1914. He also played first class cricket for Middlesex and Leicestershire. From 1907 to 1925, he was secretary of the All England Lawn Tennis Club and director of The Championships at Wimbledon between 1907 and 1925. He died in Bramfold, Pulborough, on 24 March 1943.
Grand Slam record
- Wimbledon
- Singles champion: 1886, 1889, 1894, 1897, 1899, 1900
- Singles runner-up: 1885, 1887, 1888, 1891, 1892, 1893, 1901
Grand Slam singles finals
Titles (6)
| Year | Championship | Opponent in Final | Score |
| 1886 | Wimbledon | Maud Watson | 6–3, 6–3 |
| 18891 | Wimbledon (2) | Helena Rice | 4–6, 8–6, 6–4 |
| 18942 | Wimbledon (3) | Edith Austin Greville | 6–1, 6–1 |
| 1897 | Wimbledon (4) | Charlotte Cooper Sterry | 5–7, 7–5, 6–2 |
| 1899 | Wimbledon (5) | Charlotte Cooper Sterry | 6–2, 6–3 |
| 1900 | Wimbledon (6) | Charlotte Cooper Sterry | 4–6, 6–4, 6–4 |
1This was actually the all-comers final as Lottie Dod did not defend her 1888 Wimbledon title, which resulted in the winner of the all-comers final winning the challenge round and, thus, Wimbledon in 1889 by walkover.
2This was actually the all-comers final as Lottie Dod did not defend her 1893 Wimbledon title, which resulted in the winner of the all-comers final winning the challenge round and, thus, Wimbledon in 1894 by walkover.
Runners-up (7)
| Year | Championship | Opponent in Final | Score |
| 1885 | Wimbledon | Maud Watson | 6–1, 7–5 |
| 1887 | Wimbledon | Lottie Dod | 6–2, 6–0 |
| 1888 | Wimbledon | Lottie Dod | 6–3, 6–3 |
| 18911 | Wimbledon | Lottie Dod | 6–2, 6–1 |
| 1892 | Wimbledon | Lottie Dod | 6–1, 6–1 |
| 1893 | Wimbledon | Lottie Dod | 6–8, 6–1, 6–4 |
| 1901 | Wimbledon | Charlotte Cooper Sterry | 6–2, 6–2 |
1This was actually the all-comers final as Helena Rice did not defend her 1890 Wimbledon title, which resulted in the winner of the all-comers final winning the challenge round and, thus, Wimbledon in 1891 by walkover.
References
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Blanche Bingley Hillyard. |
- ↑ Collins, Bud (2010). The Bud Collins History of Tennis (2nd ed. ed.). [New York]: New Chapter Press. p. 693. ISBN 9780942257700.
- ↑ "Lady Champion of England.". Australian Town and Country Journal (NSW : 1870 – 1907) (NSW: National Library of Australia). 14 October 1899. p. 55.
- ↑ "Lawn Tennis.". Australian Town and Country Journal (NSW : 1870 – 1907) (NSW: National Library of Australia). 8 September 1888. p. 41.
- ↑ "TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP.". Launceston Examiner (Tas. : 1842 – 1899) (Tas.: National Library of Australia). 13 July 1891. p. 3.
- ↑ Barrett, John (2001). Wimbledon : The Official History of the Championships. London: CollinsWillow. p. 37. ISBN 0007117078.