Kreigh Collins
Encyclopedia
Kreigh Collins was an outstanding tennis player from Chicago
at the turn of the 20th century. He was ranked No. 5 in singles in the United States
in 1899, 1900, 1903 and 1904.
In 1903, he reached the doubles final with L. Harry Waidner
at the U.S. National Championships (now known as the U.S. Open
).
At the tournament now known at the Cincinnati Masters
, the oldest tournament in the U.S. played in its original city, Collins won the singles title in 1903 and reached singles finals in 1901, 1902 and 1905. He also was a doubles finalist in 1901 and 1903 (both times with L. Harry Waidner
), and a mixed doubles finalist in 1901 (with Carrie Neely).
He also won eight singles titles and four doubles titles at the Western Tennis Championship.
He married Ruth Howells Coffin in 1898. In 1906, he went with the United States Davis Cup
team to England
, but did not compete due to trouble with his eyesight. By the next year, his poor eyesight had forced him completely out of competitive tennis. He died in November, 1909, after being struck by an electric street car in Chicago
.
He has been inducted into the USTA/Midwest Hall of Fame.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
at the turn of the 20th century. He was ranked No. 5 in singles in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1899, 1900, 1903 and 1904.
In 1903, he reached the doubles final with L. Harry Waidner
L. Harry Waidner
L. Harry Waidner was an outstanding amateur tennis player in the early 20th Century.In 1903, Waidner teamed with Kreigh Collins to reach the doubles final of the U.S. Nationals, only to fall to Reginald F. Doherty and Hugh L. Donate, 7–5, 6–3, 6–3....
at the U.S. National Championships (now known as the U.S. Open
U.S. Open (tennis)
The US Open, formally the United States Open Tennis Championships, is a hardcourt tennis tournament which is the modern iteration of one of the oldest tennis championships in the world, the U.S. National Championship, which for men's singles was first contested in 1881...
).
At the tournament now known at the Cincinnati Masters
Cincinnati Masters
The Cincinnati Open is an annual outdoor hardcourts tennis event held in the Cincinnati suburb of Mason, Ohio, USA. The event started on September 18, 1899 and is the oldest tennis tournament in the United States played in its original city., Between...
, the oldest tournament in the U.S. played in its original city, Collins won the singles title in 1903 and reached singles finals in 1901, 1902 and 1905. He also was a doubles finalist in 1901 and 1903 (both times with L. Harry Waidner
L. Harry Waidner
L. Harry Waidner was an outstanding amateur tennis player in the early 20th Century.In 1903, Waidner teamed with Kreigh Collins to reach the doubles final of the U.S. Nationals, only to fall to Reginald F. Doherty and Hugh L. Donate, 7–5, 6–3, 6–3....
), and a mixed doubles finalist in 1901 (with Carrie Neely).
He also won eight singles titles and four doubles titles at the Western Tennis Championship.
He married Ruth Howells Coffin in 1898. In 1906, he went with the United States 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...
team to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, but did not compete due to trouble with his eyesight. By the next year, his poor eyesight had forced him completely out of competitive tennis. He died in November, 1909, after being struck by an electric street car in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
.
He has been inducted into the USTA/Midwest Hall of Fame.