Ernest Lewis

Ernest Lewis
Full name Ernest Wool Lewis
Country  United Kingdom
Born 5 April 1867
Hammersmith, Middlesex, UK
Died 19 April 1930 (aged 63)
Plymouth, UK
Turned pro 1881 (amateur tour)
Retired 1897
Singles
Highest ranking No. 1 (1891, Karoly Mazak)[1]
Grand Slam Singles results
Wimbledon F (1886, 1888, 1892, 1894)
Doubles
Grand Slam Doubles results
Wimbledon W (1892)
Last updated on: 24 December 2012.
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Ernest Wool Lewis (5 April 1867 – 19 April 1930) was a former co-World No. 1 British amateur lawn tennis player who was active at the end of the 19th century.

Career

Ernest Lewis reached the final of the first Wimbledon Championships gentlemen's doubles competition held in 1884. Partnering E.L. Williams they lost the final to the famous tennis brothers Ernest Renshaw and William Renshaw in four sets. With partner George Hillyard he reached and lost the 1889 and 1890 gentlemen's doubles finals.

In 1892 he won his first and only Wimbledon title when together with Harry S. Barlow they defeated another famous team of tennis brothers, Herbert Baddeley and Wilfred Baddeley, in four sets.[2]

In total Lewis would reach seven doubles finals at the Wimbledon Championships during his career (1884,1889, 1890, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895).[3]

In the gentlemen's singles competition at Wimbledon his best result was reaching the final of the all-comers tournament on four occasions (1886, 1888, 1892 and 1894). In 1894 he won against Herbert Baddeley in the semifinal in a close five sets match but was solidly defeated in the final by Wilfred Baddeley, 0–6, 1–6, 0–6.[4]

Lewis won the singles title at the Irish Championships in 1890 after a close–fought battle in the challenge round against Willoughby Hamilton, 3–6, 3–6, 9–7, 6–4, 7–5.[5] He defended his Irish title in 1891 in a straight sets victory over Irishman Joshua Pim. In 1892 he was victorious at the Queens Club Tournament, defeating Joshua Pim in the final.

He won the singles title at the British Covered Court Championships seven times; in 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890, 1891, 1895 and 1896. The first five titles were won when the tournament was played at its original location in Hyde Park, the last two titles were won at the Queen's Club in London.

Grand Slam finals

Doubles

Titles (1)

Year Championship Partner Opponents Score
1892 Wimbledon Championships United Kingdom Harry Barlow United Kingdom Herbert Baddeley
United Kingdom Wilfred Baddeley
4–6, 6–2, 8–6, 6–4

Runners-up (6)

Year Championship Partner Opponents Score
1884 Wimbledon Championships United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland E.L. Williams United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Ernest Renshaw
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland William Renshaw
3–6, 1–6, 6–1, 4–6
1889 Wimbledon Championships United Kingdom George Hillyard United Kingdom Ernest Renshaw
United Kingdom William Renshaw
4–6, 4 6, 6–3, 6–0, 1–6
1890 Wimbledon Championships United Kingdom George Hillyard Ireland Joshua Pim
Ireland Frank Stoker
0–6, 5–7, 4–6
1893 Wimbledon Championships United Kingdom Harry Barlow Ireland Joshua Pim
Ireland Frank Stoker
6–4, 3–6, 1–6, 6–2, 0–6
1894 Wimbledon Championships United Kingdom Harry Barlow United Kingdom Herbert Baddeley
United Kingdom Wilfred Baddeley
7–5, 5–7, 6–4, 3–6, 6–8
1895 Wimbledon Championships United Kingdom Wilberforce Eaves United Kingdom Herbert Baddeley
United Kingdom Wilfred Baddeley
6–8, 7–5, 4–6, 3–6

References

  1. Mazak, Karoly (2010). The Concise History of Tennis, p. 19.
  2. Barrett, John (2001). Wimbledon : The Official History of the Championships. London: CollinsWillow. p. 238. ISBN 0007117078.
  3. Bud Collins (2010). The Bud Collins History of Tennis (2nd ed. ed.). [New York]: New Chapter Press. p. 435. ISBN 978-0942257700.
  4. Barrett, John (2001). Wimbledon : The Official History of the Championships. London: CollinsWillow. pp. 246, 248, 250, 252. ISBN 0007117078.
  5. "News Items". The Colonist. 5 January 1891. Retrieved 9 June 2012.

External links