Harold Mahony
British tennis player
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
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
Singles
Doubles
Olympic finals
Singles: 1 (1 silver medal)
Mixed Doubles: 1 (1 silver medal)
Challenge Rounds
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
Singles 86 (43 titles, 43 runner-ups)
No.
Result
Date
Tournament
Surface
Opponent
Score
1.
Loss
May 1888
Fitzwilliam Club Championships [11]
Grass
Tom Campion
9–7, 7–5, 5–7, 6–0
2.
Loss
Jun 1889
Northern Championships
Grass
Willoughby Hamilton
6–3, 3–6, 6–1, 6–2
3.
Win
Jun 1889
Dublin University LT Championships [12]
Hard
Hume R. Jones
9–7, 7–5, 5–7, 6–0
4.
Loss
May 1890
Dublin University LT Championships[13]
Hard
Grainger Chaytor
6–3, 3–6, 8–6, 6–1
5.
Win
Jun 1890
East Gloucestershire Championships [14]
Grass
James Baldwin
6–4, 1–6, 6–1, 6–4
6.
Loss
Jul 1890
Middlesex Championships
Grass
Ernest Lewis
6–1, 6–4, 6–2
7.
Loss
Aug 1890
South Saxons Open Tournament [15]
Grass
Joshua Pim
3–6, 6–1, 6–4, 6–4
8.
Loss
Jun 1891
Welsh Championships
Grass
Harry S. Barlow
5–7, 6–2, 7–5, 0–6, 6–1
9.
Loss
Jul 1891
Queens Challenge Cup[16]
Grass
Joshua Pim
2–6, 6–1, 6–2, 6–3
10.
Loss
Jul 1891
Warwickshire Championships
Grass
Joshua Pim
8–10, 6–2, 6–3, 6–2
11.
Win
Jul 1891
Leicestershire Championships
Grass
Joshua Pim
7–5, 6–2, 2–6, 4–6, 6–4
12.
Win
Aug 1891
Northumberland Championships
Grass
Tom Chaytor
6–2, 6–4, 6–3
13.
Loss
Apr 1892
British Covered Court Championships
Hard (i)
Ernest George Meers
6–2, 6–4, 6–3
14.
Win
Jul 1892
Leicestershire Championships
Grass
Joshua Pim
6–1, 6–2, 6–1
15.
Loss
Jul 1892
Northumberland Championships
Grass
Tom Chaytor
6–0, 10–8, 6–2
14.
Win
Apr 1893
British Covered Court Championships
Hard (i)
Ernest George Meers
6–2, 6–2, 6–4
15.
Win
Jue 1893
Middlesex Championships
Grass
Ernest Lewis
w.o
16.
Win
Apr 1893
Queens Covered Court Championship
Hard (i)
Horace Chapman
6–0, 2–6, 6–1
17.
Win
Apr 1893
British Covered Court Championships
Hard (i)
Ernest George Meers
6–2, 6–2, 6–4
18.
Win
Jun 1893
Middlesex Championships
Grass
Horace Chapman
6–3, 6–4, 6–4
19.
Loss
Jun 1893
Northern Championships
Grass
Joshua Pim
4–6, 6–3, 7–5, 6–2
20.
Loss
Jun 1893
Yorkshire Championships
Grass
Joshua Pim
3–6, 6–2, 6–3, 8–6
21.
Loss
Jul 1893
Championship of London
Grass
Joshua Pim
9–7, 1–6, 6–1, 6–8, 6–3
22.
Loss
Jul 1893
Wimbledon Championships [17]
Grass
Joshua Pim
9–7, 6–3, 6–0
23.
Win
Aug 1893
Darlington Open Tournament
Grass
David Chaytor
w.o
24.
Win
Apr 1894
Queens Covered Court Championship
Hard (i)
Guy Brabazon Pilkington
6–4, 8–10, 6–2
25.
Win
Apr 1894
British Covered Court Championships
Hard (i)
Ernest George Meers
6–4, 8–10, 6–2
26.
Loss
May 1894
Irish Championships
Grass
Thomas Chaytor
6–2, 5–7, 6–3, 2–6, 6–1
27.
Loss
Jun 1894
Middlesex Championships
Grass
Harry S. Barlow
3–6, 6–3, 7–5, 6–1 **
28.
Win
Jun 1894
Leicestershire Championships
Grass
Edward Roy Allen
w.o.
29.
Win
Jun 1894
Championship of London
Grass
Joshua Pim
6–4, 8–10, 6–2 **
30.
Win
Jun 1894
Nottinghamshire Championships
Grass
Edward Roy Allen
8–6, 6–3, 9–7
31.
Win
Aug 1894
Northumberland Championships
Grass
Harry Barlow
6–3, 6–3, 8–6
32.
Loss
Apr 1895
British Covered Court Championships
Hard (i)
Edward Roy Allen
w.o.
33.
Loss
Jun 1895
Irish Championships
Grass
Wilberforce Eaves
6–3, 6–8, 6–2, 6–4
34.
Loss
Jun 1895
Middlesex Championships
Grass
Turketil G. P. Greville
6–2, 7–5, 6–4
35.
Loss
Jun 1895
Neighborhood (u.s.)
Clay
Joshua Pim
6–4, 6–8, 4–6, 6–4, 6–3
36.
Loss
Jul 1895
Warwickshire Championships
Grass
Edward Roy Allen
6–2, 6–4
37.
Win
Aug 1895
Derbyshire Championships
Grass
David Chaytor
6–2, 3–6, 2–6, 7–5, 6–3
38.
Loss
Apr 1896
British Covered Court Championships
Hard (i)
Wilberforce Eaves
2–6, 6–2, 7–5, 6–3
39.
Loss
May 1896
Irish Championships
Grass
Wilfred Baddeley
6–1, 6–2, 3–6, 6–3
40.
Win
Jun 1896
Middlesex Championships
Grass
Edwin A. Barlow
6–2, 7–5, 6–4 **
41.
Loss
Jun 1896
Northern Championships
Grass
Wilfred Baddeley
6–1, 10–12, 7–5, 6–4 **
42.
Win
Jun 1896
Championship of London
Grass
Reginald Doherty
11–9, 6–4, 6–4
43.
Win
Jul 1896
West of England Championships
Grass
William Larned
6–3, 6–3, 6–3
44.
Win
Jul 1896
Wimbledon Championships [18]
Grass
Wilfred Baddeley
6–2, 6–8, 5–7, 8–6, 6–3 **
45.
Loss
Apr 1897
British Covered Court Championships
Hard (i)
Wilberforce Eaves
6–3, 6–3, 6–0
46.
Loss
Jul 1897
Wimbledon Championships
Grass
Reginald Doherty
6–4, 6–4, 6–3 **
47.
Win
May 1898
Irish Championships
Grass
Wilberforce Eaves
6–1, 5–7, 9–7, 8–6 **
48.
Win
Jun 1898
Middlesex Championships
Grass
Turketil G. P. Greville
4–6, 6–4, 7–5, 6–2 **
49.
Loss
Jun 1898
Kent Championships
Grass
Wilberforce Eaves
6–3, 7–5, 6–3
50.
Loss
Jun 1898
Wimbledon Championships [19]
Grass
Laurence Doherty
6–1, 6–2, 4–6, 2–6, 14–12
51.
Loss
Jul 1898
London Championships
Grass
Laurence Doherty
6–3, 6–4, 9–7
52.
Win
Jul 1898
Midland Counties Championships
Grass
Captain Ernest D. Black
3–6, 6–4, 6–2, 7–5
53.
Win
Aug 1898
German International Championships
Clay
George Hillyard
w.o. **
54.
Loss
Sep 1898
Sussex Championships
Grass
David Chaytor
7–5, 0–6, 4–6, 6–2, 6–4
55.
Win
Sep 1898
Welsh Covered Court Championships
Hard (i)
Laurence Doherty
5–7, 6–4, 7–5, 6–4
56.
Loss
Apr 1899
British Covered Court Championships
Hard (i)
Wilberforce Eaves
6–2, 6–4, 6–8, 3–6, 6–4 **
57.
Loss
May 1899
Irish Championships
Grass
Reginald Doherty
6–3, 6–4, 5–7, 6–4 **
58.
Win
Jun 1899
Middlesex Championships
Grass
Turketil G. P. Greville
5–7, 2–6, 6–1, 6–1, 6–4 **
59.
Win
Jun 1899
Kent Championships [20]
Grass
Wilberforce Eaves
6–1, 6–1, 6–8, 3–6, 8–6 **
60.
Win
Jul 1899
London Championships
Grass
Arthur Gore
8–10, 6–2, 7–5, 6–1
61.
Win
Jul 1899
Northumberland Championships
Grass
Arthur Gore
8–6, 6–3
62.
Win
Aug 1899
Championship of Europe [21]
Clay
Reginald Doherty
w.o.
63.
Loss
Sep 1899
South of England Championships
Grass
Sydney Howard Smith
6–3, 6–3, 6–1 **
64.
Win
Sep 1899
Dinard Challenge Cup
Clay
Arthur Gore
6–4, 6–2, 6–4
65.
Loss
Apr 1900
French Covered Court Championships
Hard (i)
George Caridia
3–6, 11–9, 6–3
66.
Win
Jun 1900
Middlesex Championships
Grass
Arthur Gore
6–2, 6–4, 6–2
67.
Loss
Jun 1900
Kent Championships [20]
Grass
Arthur Gore
6–4, 6–4, 6–4 **
68.
Loss
Jun 1900
Summer Olympics – Paris [22] [23]
Clay
Laurence Doherty
6–4, 6–2, 6–3
69.
Loss
Sep 1900
Dinard Challenge Cup
Clay
Laurence Doherty
4–6, 6–1, 8–6, 7–5
70.
Loss
Jun 1901
Middlesex Championships
Grass
Turketil G. P. Greville
7–5, 6–1, 4–6, 6–3
71.
Loss
Sep 1901
South of England Championships
Grass
Sydney Howard Smith
6–3, 7–9, 4–6, 6–4, 1–0. rt.
72.
Loss
Sep 1901
Portuguese International Championships
Clay
George Hillyard
6–0, 6–4
73.
Win
Jun 1902
Leicestershire Championships [24]
Grass
Laurence Doherty
w.o.
74.
Loss
Jun 1902
Kent Championships
Grass
George Miéville Simond
6–4, 6–0, 6–3 **
75.
Loss
Jun 1902
Northern Championships
Grass
Sydney Howard Smith
7–5, 7–5, 3–6, 10–8
76.
Loss
Oct 1902
European Championships
Hard (i)
Laurence Doherty
4–6, 6–4, 6–3, 6–1
77.
Loss
Apr 1903
British Covered Court Championships
Hard (i)
George Hillyard
6–3, 7–9, 6–4, 6–3
78.
Win
Jun 1903
Middlesex Championships
Grass
Brame Hillyard
3–6, 6–2, 6–3, 3–6, 6–3
79.
Win
Jul 1903
Berkshire Championships
Grass
Alfred E. Crawley
6–3, 8–6
80.
Win
Jun 1904
Middlesex Championships
Grass
Frederick Payn
3–6, 6–1, 6–2, 6–4
81.
Win
Jun 1904
Kent Championships [20]
Grass
Brame Hillyard
3–6, 6–1, 6–2, 6–4
82.
Win
Jul 1904
North London Championships (Gipsy)
Grass
Alfred Beamish
6–1, 5–7, 6–2, 6–1
83.
Loss
Jul 1904
Championship of London
Grass
Josiah Ritchie
6–3, 7–9, 6–4, 6–3
84.
Win
Jul 1904
Berkshire Championships
Grass
Walter Crawley
5–7, 6–1, 6–4
85.
Win
Aug 1904
Crystal Palace Open
Grass
Ernest Parton
6–3, 6–2
86.
Loss
Jun 1905
Kent Championships
Grass
Norman Brookes
w.o.
References
^ 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