Charles Dixon (tennis)
Encyclopedia
Charles Percy Dixon (7 February 1873 – 29 April 1939) was a male tennis
player from Great Britain. He was a four-time Olympic medallist and led a successful British team to victory in the Davis Cup
.
in London he won a bronze medal in the men's doubles event. In the 1912 Summer Olympics
he won three medals in the indoor tennis events: gold in the mixed doubles, silver in men's singles and bronze in men's doubles.
From 1929 to 1932 he represented the International Club of Great Britain against France at Queens
and at Ateuil in 1932 and 1933. After retiring from tournaments, he coached juniors and umpired at Wimbledon, becoming President of the Umpire's Association. He died on 29 April 1939.
defined the first rules for lawn tennis. Dixon participated in games played during those early years. His early career included victories in international tournaments overseas:
Dixon was better known at the time for his many successes when representing Britain in the Davis Cup
: starting in the 1909 Cup in Philadelphia
,
he led the British team to victory in the 1912 Cup in Australia
.
He was a member of the English Drive Club team in South Africa in 1910-1911, and reached the final of the Wimbledon Tennis Championship
later that year. He was runner-up to Herbert Roper Barrett, his partner in the Davis Cup, and with whom he won the doubles at Wimbledon in 1912 and 1913.
and Cambridge at racquets
, winning the silver medal in 1891. He was also a keen prize-winning golfer, and represented Britain in international fencing
in Paris.
His brother, J A Dixon, was captain of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club
.
In 1897 he married Louise Robinson , and until his death they lived at Chestnut Road, West Norwood.
He died on 29 April 1939 in West Norwood
, London.
After cremation his ashes were buried nearby at the Robinson family plot in West Norwood Cemetery
.
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
player from Great Britain. He was a four-time Olympic medallist and led a successful British team to victory in the Davis Cup
Davis Cup
The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation and is contested between teams of players from competing countries in a knock-out format. The competition began in 1900 as a challenge between Britain and the United States. By...
.
Biography
He was born on 7 February 1873 in Grantham, Lincolnshire. At the 1908 Summer Olympics1908 Summer Olympics
The 1908 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the IV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in 1908 in London, England, United Kingdom. These games were originally scheduled to be held in Rome. At the time they were the fifth modern Olympic games...
in London he won a bronze medal in the men's doubles event. In the 1912 Summer Olympics
1912 Summer Olympics
The 1912 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Stockholm, Sweden, between 5 May and 27 July 1912. Twenty-eight nations and 2,407 competitors, including 48 women, competed in 102 events in 14 sports...
he won three medals in the indoor tennis events: gold in the mixed doubles, silver in men's singles and bronze in men's doubles.
From 1929 to 1932 he represented the International Club of Great Britain against France at Queens
Queen's Club Championships
The Queen's Club Championships is an annual tournament for male tennis players, held on grass courts at the Queen's Club in West Kensington, London. Between 1970 and 1989 it was part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit. The event is now an ATP World Tour 250 series tournament on the Association of...
and at Ateuil in 1932 and 1933. After retiring from tournaments, he coached juniors and umpired at Wimbledon, becoming President of the Umpire's Association. He died on 29 April 1939.
Tennis tournaments
Dixon was born in 1873, the year that Major Walter Clopton WingfieldWalter Clopton Wingfield
Major Walter Clopton Wingfield was a British army officer who was one of the pioneers of lawn tennis. Inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1997, an example of the original equipment for the sport and a bust of Wingfield himself can be seen at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis...
defined the first rules for lawn tennis. Dixon participated in games played during those early years. His early career included victories in international tournaments overseas:
- 1905 Ostend International tournament - won
- 1908 Doubles at the Championship of Dieppe (Championnat de Diepper) - won partnering with J. G. Ritchie
Dixon was better known at the time for his many successes when representing Britain in the Davis Cup
Davis Cup
The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation and is contested between teams of players from competing countries in a knock-out format. The competition began in 1900 as a challenge between Britain and the United States. By...
: starting in the 1909 Cup in Philadelphia
1909 International Lawn Tennis Challenge
The 1909 International Lawn Tennis Challenge was the ninth edition of what is now known as the Davis Cup. For the second straight year, only the British Isles and the United States would challenge Australasia for the Cup. After defeating the British in Philadelphia, the US traveled to Sydney, only...
,
he led the British team to victory in the 1912 Cup in Australia
1912 International Lawn Tennis Challenge
The 1912 International Lawn Tennis Challenge was the 11th edition of what is now known as the Davis Cup. After a six-year hiatus, France rejoined the competition, however the United States pulled out of the competition. In the final, the British Isles would regain the Cup from Australasia...
.
He was a member of the English Drive Club team in South Africa in 1910-1911, and reached the final of the Wimbledon Tennis Championship
The Championships, Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors...
later that year. He was runner-up to Herbert Roper Barrett, his partner in the Davis Cup, and with whom he won the doubles at Wimbledon in 1912 and 1913.
Other sports
He represented HaileyburyHaileybury and Imperial Service College
Haileybury and Imperial Service College, , is a prestigious British independent school founded in 1862. The school is located at Hertford Heath, near Hertford, from central London, on of parkland occupied until 1858 by the East India College...
and Cambridge at racquets
Racquets (sport)
Rackets or Racquets is an indoor racket sport played in the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada...
, winning the silver medal in 1891. He was also a keen prize-winning golfer, and represented Britain in international fencing
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
in Paris.
His brother, J A Dixon, was captain of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club
Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club
Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Nottinghamshire, and the current county champions. Its limited overs team is called the Nottinghamshire Outlaws...
.
In 1897 he married Louise Robinson , and until his death they lived at Chestnut Road, West Norwood.
He died on 29 April 1939 in West Norwood
West Norwood
West Norwood is a place in the London Borough of Lambeth.It is primarily a residential suburb of south London but with some light industry near Knights Hill in the south....
, London.
After cremation his ashes were buried nearby at the Robinson family plot in West Norwood Cemetery
West Norwood Cemetery
West Norwood Cemetery is a cemetery in West Norwood in London, England. It was also known as the South Metropolitan Cemetery.One of the first private landscaped cemeteries in London, it is one of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries of London, and is a site of major historical, architectural and...
.