Harold Mahony
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Full name | Harold Segerson Mahony | |||||||||||||||||
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Country (sports) | ![]() | |||||||||||||||||
Born | Edinburgh, Scotland, UK | 13 February 1867|||||||||||||||||
Died | 27 June 1905 County Kerry, Ireland | (aged 38)|||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | |||||||||||||||||
Turned pro | 1890 (amateur tour) | |||||||||||||||||
Retired | 1905 (death) | |||||||||||||||||
Singles | ||||||||||||||||||
Career titles | 43 | |||||||||||||||||
Grand Slam singles results | ||||||||||||||||||
Wimbledon | W (1896) | |||||||||||||||||
US Open | 4R (1903) | |||||||||||||||||
Doubles | ||||||||||||||||||
Grand Slam doubles results | ||||||||||||||||||
Wimbledon | F (1892, 1903) | |||||||||||||||||
US Open | F (1897) | |||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Harold Segerson Mahony (13 February 1867 – 27 June 1905) was a Scottish-born Irish tennis player who is best known for winning the singles title at the Wimbledon Championships in 1896. His career lasted from 1888 until his death in 1905. Mahony was born in Scotland but lived in Ireland for the majority of his life; his family were Irish including both of his parents, the family home was in County Kerry, Southwestern Ireland. He was the last Scottish born man to win Wimbledon until the victory of Andy Murray at the 2013 championships.[1]
Career
[edit]Mahony was born at 21 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh to Richard John Mahony, an Irish barrister and prominent landowner. The family had a home in Scotland but spent most of their time at Dromore Castle, in County Kerry, Ireland. Harold trained on a specially built tennis court at Dromore.[2]
Mahony made his Wimbledon debut in 1890 exiting in the first round.[3] He reached the semifinal in 1891 and 1892.[2] Mahony spent some time in America in the mid-1890s, before returning to the United Kingdom and finally taking the Wimbledon crown in 1896. In the final he beat Wilfred Baddeley of Great Britain in five sets.[2] Under the challenger system Mahony was entitled to defend the Wimbledon title in 1897 but this time he was beaten in the Challenge Round in three straight sets by Reginald Doherty.[3] He was the last Scottish-born player to win a grand slam until Andy Murray won the US Open in 2012 and win Wimbledon until Murray won it in 2013. He was recognised as the third and last Irishman to win the Wimbledon singles.[4]
He won the singles title at the British Covered Court Championships, played at the Queen's Club in London, in 1893 and successfully defended his title the following year. In 1895 Mahony forfeited the defence of his title due to illness.[5] In 1898 he won the singles titles at the prestigious Irish Championships. That same year Mahony, who was a regular competitor in Germany and spoke fluent German, also won the singles title at the German Championships.[6]
At the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris he won a silver medal in the men's singles event and a bronze medal in the doubles competition (for Great Britain and Ireland), as well as a silver medal in the mixed doubles event with Hélène Prévost from France.[7] Mahony won the Kent Championships in 1899, defeating Wilberforce Eaves in the final, and in 1904, defeating Brame Hillyard in the final.[8]
Mahony was a member of the 1903 British Isles Davis Cup team that won the against the United States at the Longwood Cricket Club in Boston but did not play in the event. When four-time Wimbledon champion Reginald Doherty had a shoulder injury the British team captain William Collins elected to forfeit his first match, instead of letting Mahony play, so that Doherty would be allowed to play the reverse singles match later in the event.[9]
Mahony was 1.91m (6 ft 3in) tall and possessed a formidable backhand. His forehand was less notable: his fellow player, George Hillyard, wrote that he "never did acquire the right method of hitting the ball on the forehand".[2]
Mahony was killed on 27 June 1905, aged 38, in a bicycling accident while descending a steep hill near Caragh Lake in County Kerry.[2][5]
Grand Slam finals
[edit]Singles
[edit]Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 1896 | Wimbledon | Grass | ![]() |
6–2, 6–8, 5–7, 8–6, 6–3 |
Loss | 1897 | Wimbledon | Grass | ![]() |
4–6, 4–6, 3–6 |
Doubles
[edit]Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 1897 | U.S. Championships | Grass | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
13–11, 2–6, 7–9, 6–1, 1–6 |
Olympic finals
[edit]Singles: 1 (1 silver medal)
[edit]Result | Year | Olympics | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Silver | 1900 | Paris | Clay | ![]() |
4–6, 2–6, 3–6 |
Mixed Doubles: 1 (1 silver medal)
[edit]Result | Year | Olympics | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Silver | 1900 | Paris | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
2–6, 4–6 |
Challenge Rounds
[edit]Challenge Round: the final round of a tournament, in which the winner of a single-elimination phase (final) 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),[10] in some tournaments not all. (**) denotes challenge round
Career finals
[edit]Singles 86 (43 titles, 43 runner-ups)
[edit]Legend (43–43) |
---|
Win |
Loss |
No. | Result | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Loss | May 1888 | Fitzwilliam Club Championships[11] | Grass | ![]() |
9–7, 7–5, 5–7, 6–0 |
2. | Loss | Jun 1889 | Northern Championships | Grass | ![]() |
6–3, 3–6, 6–1, 6–2 |
3. | Win | Jun 1889 | Dublin University LT Championships[12] | Hard | ![]() |
9–7, 7–5, 5–7, 6–0 |
4. | Loss | May 1890 | Dublin University LT Championships[13] | Hard | ![]() |
6–3, 3–6, 8–6, 6–1 |
5. | Win | Jun 1890 | East Gloucestershire Championships[14] | Grass | ![]() |
6–4, 1–6, 6–1, 6–4 |
6. | Loss | Jul 1890 | Middlesex Championships | Grass | ![]() |
6–1, 6–4, 6–2 |
7. | Loss | Aug 1890 | South Saxons Open Tournament[15] | Grass | ![]() |
3–6, 6–1, 6–4, 6–4 |
8. | Loss | Jun 1891 | Welsh Championships | Grass | ![]() |
5–7, 6–2, 7–5, 0–6, 6–1 |
9. | Loss | Jul 1891 | Queens Challenge Cup[16] | Grass | ![]() |
2–6, 6–1, 6–2, 6–3 |
10. | Loss | Jul 1891 | Warwickshire Championships | Grass | ![]() |
8–10, 6–2, 6–3, 6–2 |
11. | Win | Jul 1891 | Leicestershire Championships | Grass | ![]() |
7–5, 6–2, 2–6, 4–6, 6–4 |
12. | Win | Aug 1891 | Northumberland Championships | Grass | ![]() |
6–2, 6–4, 6–3 |
13. | Loss | Apr 1892 | British Covered Court Championships | Hard (i) | ![]() |
6–2, 6–4, 6–3 |
14. | Win | Jul 1892 | Leicestershire Championships | Grass | ![]() |
6–1, 6–2, 6–1 |
15. | Loss | Jul 1892 | Northumberland Championships | Grass | ![]() |
6–0, 10–8, 6–2 |
14. | Win | Apr 1893 | British Covered Court Championships | Hard (i) | ![]() |
6–2, 6–2, 6–4 |
15. | Win | Jue 1893 | Middlesex Championships | Grass | ![]() |
w.o |
16. | Win | Apr 1893 | Queens Covered Court Championship | Hard (i) | ![]() |
6–0, 2–6, 6–1 |
17. | Win | Apr 1893 | British Covered Court Championships | Hard (i) | ![]() |
6–2, 6–2, 6–4 |
18. | Win | Jun 1893 | Middlesex Championships | Grass | ![]() |
6–3, 6–4, 6–4 |
19. | Loss | Jun 1893 | Northern Championships | Grass | ![]() |
4–6, 6–3, 7–5, 6–2 |
20. | Loss | Jun 1893 | Yorkshire Championships | Grass | ![]() |
3–6, 6–2, 6–3, 8–6 |
21. | Loss | Jul 1893 | Championship of London | Grass | ![]() |
9–7, 1–6, 6–1, 6–8, 6–3 |
22. | Loss | Jul 1893 | Wimbledon Championships[17] | Grass | ![]() |
9–7, 6–3, 6–0 |
23. | Win | Aug 1893 | Darlington Open Tournament | Grass | ![]() |
w.o |
24. | Win | Apr 1894 | Queens Covered Court Championship | Hard (i) | ![]() |
6–4, 8–10, 6–2 |
25. | Win | Apr 1894 | British Covered Court Championships | Hard (i) | ![]() |
6–4, 8–10, 6–2 |
26. | Loss | May 1894 | Irish Championships | Grass | ![]() |
6–2, 5–7, 6–3, 2–6, 6–1 |
27. | Loss | Jun 1894 | Middlesex Championships | Grass | ![]() |
3–6, 6–3, 7–5, 6–1 ** |
28. | Win | Jun 1894 | Leicestershire Championships | Grass | ![]() |
w.o. |
29. | Win | Jun 1894 | Championship of London | Grass | ![]() |
6–4, 8–10, 6–2 ** |
30. | Win | Jun 1894 | Nottinghamshire Championships | Grass | ![]() |
8–6, 6–3, 9–7 |
31. | Win | Aug 1894 | Northumberland Championships | Grass | ![]() |
6–3, 6–3, 8–6 |
32. | Loss | Apr 1895 | British Covered Court Championships | Hard (i) | ![]() |
w.o. |
33. | Loss | Jun 1895 | Irish Championships | Grass | ![]() |
6–3, 6–8, 6–2, 6–4 |
34. | Loss | Jun 1895 | Middlesex Championships | Grass | ![]() |
6–2, 7–5, 6–4 |
35. | Loss | Jun 1895 | Neighborhood (u.s.) | Clay | ![]() |
6–4, 6–8, 4–6, 6–4, 6–3 |
36. | Loss | Jul 1895 | Warwickshire Championships | Grass | ![]() |
6–2, 6–4 |
37. | Win | Aug 1895 | Derbyshire Championships | Grass | ![]() |
6–2, 3–6, 2–6, 7–5, 6–3 |
38. | Loss | Apr 1896 | British Covered Court Championships | Hard (i) | ![]() |
2–6, 6–2, 7–5, 6–3 |
39. | Loss | May 1896 | Irish Championships | Grass | ![]() |
6–1, 6–2, 3–6, 6–3 |
40. | Win | Jun 1896 | Middlesex Championships | Grass | ![]() |
6–2, 7–5, 6–4 ** |
41. | Loss | Jun 1896 | Northern Championships | Grass | ![]() |
6–1, 10–12, 7–5, 6–4 ** |
42. | Win | Jun 1896 | Championship of London | Grass | ![]() |
11–9, 6–4, 6–4 |
43. | Win | Jul 1896 | West of England Championships | Grass | ![]() |
6–3, 6–3, 6–3 |
44. | Win | Jul 1896 | Wimbledon Championships[18] | Grass | ![]() |
6–2, 6–8, 5–7, 8–6, 6–3 ** |
45. | Loss | Apr 1897 | British Covered Court Championships | Hard (i) | ![]() |
6–3, 6–3, 6–0 |
46. | Loss | Jul 1897 | Wimbledon Championships | Grass | ![]() |
6–4, 6–4, 6–3 ** |
47. | Win | May 1898 | Irish Championships | Grass | ![]() |
6–1, 5–7, 9–7, 8–6 ** |
48. | Win | Jun 1898 | Middlesex Championships | Grass | ![]() |
4–6, 6–4, 7–5, 6–2 ** |
49. | Loss | Jun 1898 | Kent Championships | Grass | ![]() |
6–3, 7–5, 6–3 |
50. | Loss | Jun 1898 | Wimbledon Championships[19] | Grass | ![]() |
6–1, 6–2, 4–6, 2–6, 14–12 |
51. | Loss | Jul 1898 | London Championships | Grass | ![]() |
6–3, 6–4, 9–7 |
52. | Win | Jul 1898 | Midland Counties Championships | Grass | ![]() |
3–6, 6–4, 6–2, 7–5 |
53. | Win | Aug 1898 | German International Championships | Clay | ![]() |
w.o. ** |
54. | Loss | Sep 1898 | Sussex Championships | Grass | ![]() |
7–5, 0–6, 4–6, 6–2, 6–4 |
55. | Win | Sep 1898 | Welsh Covered Court Championships | Hard (i) | ![]() |
5–7, 6–4, 7–5, 6–4 |
56. | Loss | Apr 1899 | British Covered Court Championships | Hard (i) | ![]() |
6–2, 6–4, 6–8, 3–6, 6–4 ** |
57. | Loss | May 1899 | Irish Championships | Grass | ![]() |
6–3, 6–4, 5–7, 6–4 ** |
58. | Win | Jun 1899 | Middlesex Championships | Grass | ![]() |
5–7, 2–6, 6–1, 6–1, 6–4 ** |
59. | Win | Jun 1899 | Kent Championships[20] | Grass | ![]() |
6–1, 6–1, 6–8, 3–6, 8–6 ** |
60. | Win | Jul 1899 | London Championships | Grass | ![]() |
8–10, 6–2, 7–5, 6–1 |
61. | Win | Jul 1899 | Northumberland Championships | Grass | ![]() |
8–6, 6–3 |
62. | Win | Aug 1899 | Championship of Europe[21] | Clay | ![]() |
w.o. |
63. | Loss | Sep 1899 | South of England Championships | Grass | ![]() |
6–3, 6–3, 6–1 ** |
64. | Win | Sep 1899 | Dinard Challenge Cup | Clay | ![]() |
6–4, 6–2, 6–4 |
65. | Loss | Apr 1900 | French Covered Court Championships | Hard (i) | ![]() |
3–6, 11–9, 6–3 |
66. | Win | Jun 1900 | Middlesex Championships | Grass | ![]() |
6–2, 6–4, 6–2 |
67. | Loss | Jun 1900 | Kent Championships[20] | Grass | ![]() |
6–4, 6–4, 6–4 ** |
68. | Loss | Jun 1900 | Summer Olympics – Paris[22][23] | Clay | ![]() |
6–4, 6–2, 6–3 |
69. | Loss | Sep 1900 | Dinard Challenge Cup | Clay | ![]() |
4–6, 6–1, 8–6, 7–5 |
70. | Loss | Jun 1901 | Middlesex Championships | Grass | ![]() |
7–5, 6–1, 4–6, 6–3 |
71. | Loss | Sep 1901 | South of England Championships | Grass | ![]() |
6–3, 7–9, 4–6, 6–4, 1–0. rt. |
72. | Loss | Sep 1901 | Portuguese International Championships | Clay | ![]() |
6–0, 6–4 |
73. | Win | Jun 1902 | Leicestershire Championships[24] | Grass | ![]() |
w.o. |
74. | Loss | Jun 1902 | Kent Championships | Grass | ![]() |
6–4, 6–0, 6–3 ** |
75. | Loss | Jun 1902 | Northern Championships | Grass | ![]() |
7–5, 7–5, 3–6, 10–8 |
76. | Loss | Oct 1902 | European Championships | Hard (i) | ![]() |
4–6, 6–4, 6–3, 6–1 |
77. | Loss | Apr 1903 | British Covered Court Championships | Hard (i) | ![]() |
6–3, 7–9, 6–4, 6–3 |
78. | Win | Jun 1903 | Middlesex Championships | Grass | ![]() |
3–6, 6–2, 6–3, 3–6, 6–3 |
79. | Win | Jul 1903 | Berkshire Championships | Grass | ![]() |
6–3, 8–6 |
80. | Win | Jun 1904 | Middlesex Championships | Grass | ![]() |
3–6, 6–1, 6–2, 6–4 |
81. | Win | Jun 1904 | Kent Championships[20] | Grass | ![]() |
3–6, 6–1, 6–2, 6–4 |
82. | Win | Jul 1904 | North London Championships (Gipsy) | Grass | ![]() |
6–1, 5–7, 6–2, 6–1 |
83. | Loss | Jul 1904 | Championship of London | Grass | ![]() |
6–3, 7–9, 6–4, 6–3 |
84. | Win | Jul 1904 | Berkshire Championships | Grass | ![]() |
5–7, 6–1, 6–4 |
85. | Win | Aug 1904 | Crystal Palace Open | Grass | ![]() |
6–3, 6–2 |
86. | Loss | Jun 1905 | Kent Championships | Grass | ![]() |
w.o. |
References
[edit]- ^ The Today Programme, BBC Radio 4, 8 July 2013
- ^ a b c d e David Randall (31 January 2010). "Scotland's only winner of a Grand Slam. So far". The Independent. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
- ^ a b "Wimbledon players archive – Harold Mahony". AELTC.
- ^ Devastating backhand nets glory for Mahony By Ryle Dwyer, The Irish Examiner, 1 August 2012
- ^ a b "ME. H. S. MAHONY KILLED". Bunbury Herald (WA : 1892 – 1919). WA. 14 August 1905. p. 1 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Scottish Wimbledon champion that history forgot". The Scotsman. 13 July 2007.
- ^ "Harold Mahony". Olympedia. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
- ^ "Harold Mahony Olympic Results". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
- ^ Randy Walker (2 March 2015). "Brothers Vs. Brothers in a USA Vs. Britain Davis Cup? It's Happened Before…". World Tennis Magazine.
- ^ "Abolition of Challenge Rounds". Evening Post. Vol. CIII, no. 65. 20 March 1922. Retrieved 11 December 2016 – via paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
- ^ "FITZWILLIAM CLUB CH. Tournament Draw". The Tennis Base. 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
- ^ "DUBLIN UNIVERSITY CH. Tournament Draw 1889". The Tennis Base. 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
- ^ "DUBLIN UNIVERSITY CH. Tournament Draw". The Tennis Base. 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
- ^ "CHELTENHAM Tournament Draw". Tennis Base. 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
- ^ "ST. LEONARDS-ON-SEA Tournament Draw". Tennis Base. 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
- ^ "QUEENS CHALLENGE CUP Tournament Draw". Tennis Base. 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
- ^ "The Championships 1893, Gentlemen's All-Comers' Singles" (PDF). wimbledon.com. All England Lawn Tennis Club, 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
- ^ "The Championships 1896, Gentlemen's All-Comers' Singles" (PDF). wimbledon.com. All England Lawn Tennis Club, 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
- ^ "The Championships 1898, Gentlemen's All-Comers' Singles" (PDF). wimbledon.com. All England Lawn Tennis Club, 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
- ^ a b c "Beckenham Lawn Tennis Club: Kent Championships". Beckenham Lawn Tennis Club. 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
- ^ "LAWN TENNIS AT HOMBURG". The Daily Telegraph. London, England. 22 August 1899. p. 9. Retrieved 19 February 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Hugh Lawrence DOHERTY – Olympic Tennis Great Britain". International Olympic Committee. 14 June 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
- ^ "Harold MAHONY – Olympic Tennis". International Olympic Committee. 14 June 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
- ^ "LEICESTERSHIRE CH. Tournament Draw 1902". The Tennis Base. 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
External links
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Harold Mahony at the Association of Tennis Professionals
- Harold Mahony at the International Tennis Federation
- Harold Mahony at TennisArchives.com
- Harold Mahony at Olympics.com
- Harold Mahony at Olympedia
- 1867 births
- 1905 deaths
- 19th-century Irish people
- 19th-century male tennis players
- Scottish male tennis players
- Irish male tennis players
- Olympic bronze medallists for Great Britain
- Olympic silver medallists for Great Britain
- Olympic tennis players for Great Britain
- People from Kenmare
- Cycling road incident deaths
- Sportspeople from Edinburgh
- Tennis players at the 1900 Summer Olympics
- Wimbledon champions (pre-Open Era)
- Olympic medalists in tennis
- Grand Slam (tennis) champions in men's singles
- Medalists at the 1900 Summer Olympics
- Road incident deaths in the Republic of Ireland
- British male tennis players