Laurence Doherty
Encyclopedia
Hugh Laurence "Laurie" Doherty (8 October 1875 in Wimbledon, London
– 21 August 1919 in Broadstairs
, Kent
) was an English tennis player and younger brother of Reggie Doherty
. He was an Olympic gold medalist in the sport.
Doherty was the shorter of the two brothers, at 5-foot-10, who played championship tennis in their native England and at Wimbledon
at the turn of the century.
He was educated at Trinity Hall
, Cambridge
, where he played for the Cambridge University Lawn Tennis Club
.
Known as "Little Do", Doherty won Wimbledon five consecutive times in singles and eight times in doubles with his brother. In 1903, he became the first tennis player to win a Grand Slam
tournament outside of his native country by beating defending champion William Larned
at the U.S. Championships 6–0, 6–3, 10–8. He also won Queens indoor six times in a row (1901–1906) and The South of France Championships (Nice) seven times in a row (1900–1906). He gave up tennis for golf in 1906 and distinguished himself in that sport as well.
In World War I, Doherty served in the Anti-Aircraft branch of the Royal Navy Reserves but was released due to ill health.
The brothers were reportedly urged to play tennis by their father, for health reasons. The brothers apparently had respiratory problems.
The brothers co-wrote R.F. and H.L. Doherty on Lawn Tennis (1903).
Doherty was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame
in 1980.
Wimbledon, London
Wimbledon is a district in the south west area of London, England, located south of Wandsworth, and east of Kingston upon Thames. It is situated within Greater London. It is home to the Wimbledon Tennis Championships and New Wimbledon Theatre, and contains Wimbledon Common, one of the largest areas...
– 21 August 1919 in Broadstairs
Broadstairs
Broadstairs is a coastal town on the Isle of Thanet in the Thanet district of east Kent, England, about south-east of London. It is part of the civil parish of Broadstairs and St Peter's, which includes St. Peter's and had a population in 2001 of about 24,000. Situated between Margate and...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
) was an English tennis player and younger brother of Reggie Doherty
Reginald Doherty
Reginald "Reggie" or "R.F." Frank Doherty was a British male tennis player, and the older brother of Laurie Doherty...
. He was an Olympic gold medalist in the sport.
Doherty was the shorter of the two brothers, at 5-foot-10, who played championship tennis in their native England and at Wimbledon
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...
at the turn of the century.
He was educated at Trinity Hall
Trinity Hall, Cambridge
Trinity Hall is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the fifth-oldest college of the university, having been founded in 1350 by William Bateman, Bishop of Norwich.- Foundation :...
, Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, where he played for the Cambridge University Lawn Tennis Club
Cambridge University Lawn Tennis Club
Cambridge University Lawn Tennis Club in England is one of the oldest lawn tennis clubs in the world.-Overview:The club was founded in 1881, seven years before the Lawn Tennis Association of Great Britain was founded...
.
Known as "Little Do", Doherty won Wimbledon five consecutive times in singles and eight times in doubles with his brother. In 1903, he became the first tennis player to win a Grand Slam
Grand Slam (tennis)
The four Major tennis tournaments, also called the Slams, are the most important tennis events of the year in terms of world tour ranking points, tradition, prize-money awarded, strength and size of player field, and public attention. They are the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and...
tournament outside of his native country by beating defending champion William Larned
William Larned
William Augustus Larned was an American male tennis player.-Biography:He was raised in Summit, New Jersey on the estate of his father, William Zebedee Larned. Larned Road in Summit honors both father and son. William came from a family that could trace its American roots to shortly after the...
at the U.S. Championships 6–0, 6–3, 10–8. He also won Queens indoor six times in a row (1901–1906) and The South of France Championships (Nice) seven times in a row (1900–1906). He gave up tennis for golf in 1906 and distinguished himself in that sport as well.
In World War I, Doherty served in the Anti-Aircraft branch of the Royal Navy Reserves but was released due to ill health.
The brothers were reportedly urged to play tennis by their father, for health reasons. The brothers apparently had respiratory problems.
The brothers co-wrote R.F. and H.L. Doherty on Lawn Tennis (1903).
Doherty was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame
International Tennis Hall of Fame
The International Tennis Hall of Fame is located in Newport, Rhode Island, United States. The hall of fame and honors players and contributors to the sport of tennis and includes a museum, grass tennis courts, an indoor tennis facility, and a court tennis facility.-History:The hall of fame and...
in 1980.
Grand Slam record
- WimbledonThe Championships, WimbledonThe 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...
- Singles champion: 1902-1906 (5 times)
- Singles runner-up: 1898
- Men's Doubles champion: 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1903, 1904, 1905
- Men's Doubles runner-up: 1902, 1906
- U.S. Championships
- Singles champion: 1903
- Men's Doubles champion: 1902, 1903
- Men's Doubles runner-up: 1902, 1906