William Renshaw
Encyclopedia
William "Willie" Charles Renshaw (3 January 1861 in Leamington, Warwickshire – 12 August 1904 in Swanage
, Dorset
) is one of the greatest British
male tennis players of all time, and a candidate for the greatest tennis player of all time. The right-hander was known for his power and technical ability which put him well ahead of competition at the time.
He won a total of twelve Wimbledon
titles. Seven of those were in singles, an all-time record he shares with Pete Sampras
. The first six were consecutive, an achievement which has never been equalled unto this day (although the five successive wins of Björn Borg
and Roger Federer
are considered the 'modern' record because in Renshaw's time the reigning champion had automatic entry to next year's final. Since 1922 the reigning champions have had to play in the main draw, making such feats considerably more difficult). In the Summer months he would compete in England and Ireland, while competing on the French Riviera during the winter months. In singles play he played brother Ernest three times (1882, 1883 and 1889) in the Wimbledon final, triumphing on all three occasions. The other five titles were in the Gentlemans' doubles, partnering with his twin
brother Ernest Renshaw
. Additionally, he and his brother dominated the sport for many years in a time when the only other Grand Slam
was the US Open, and by custom players did not travel far. The rise in popularity of tennis in this period became known as the 'Renshaw Rush'. In 1983, Renshaw was elected posthumously into the International Tennis Hall of Fame
.
Swanage
Swanage is a coastal town and civil parish in the south east of Dorset, England. It is situated at the eastern end of the Isle of Purbeck, approximately 10 km south of Poole and 40 km east of Dorchester. The parish has a population of 10,124 . Nearby are Ballard Down and Old Harry Rocks,...
, Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
) is one of the greatest British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
male tennis players of all time, and a candidate for the greatest tennis player of all time. The right-hander was known for his power and technical ability which put him well ahead of competition at the time.
He won a total of twelve 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...
titles. Seven of those were in singles, an all-time record he shares with Pete Sampras
Pete Sampras
Pete Sampras is a retired American tennis player and former world no. 1. During his 15-year tour career, he won 14 Grand Slam singles titles and became recognized as one of the greatest tennis players of all time....
. The first six were consecutive, an achievement which has never been equalled unto this day (although the five successive wins of Björn Borg
Björn Borg
Björn Rune Borg is a former world no. 1 tennis player from Sweden. Between 1974 and 1981 he won 11 Grand Slam singles titles. He won five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles and six French Open singles titles...
and Roger Federer
Roger Federer
Roger Federer is a Swiss professional tennis player who held the ATP no. 1 position for a record 237 consecutive weeks, and 285 weeks overall. As of 28 November 2011, he is ranked World No. 3 by the Association of Tennis Professionals . Federer has won a men's record 16 Grand Slam singles titles...
are considered the 'modern' record because in Renshaw's time the reigning champion had automatic entry to next year's final. Since 1922 the reigning champions have had to play in the main draw, making such feats considerably more difficult). In the Summer months he would compete in England and Ireland, while competing on the French Riviera during the winter months. In singles play he played brother Ernest three times (1882, 1883 and 1889) in the Wimbledon final, triumphing on all three occasions. The other five titles were in the Gentlemans' doubles, partnering with his twin
Twin
A twin is one of two offspring produced in the same pregnancy. Twins can either be monozygotic , meaning that they develop from one zygote that splits and forms two embryos, or dizygotic because they develop from two separate eggs that are fertilized by two separate sperm.In contrast, a fetus...
brother Ernest Renshaw
Ernest Renshaw
Ernest Renshaw was an English tennis player.Together with his twin brother William Renshaw, Ernest won the men's doubles at Wimbledon five times. He also won the singles championship at Wimbledon once, in 1888 and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1983...
. Additionally, he and his brother dominated the sport for many years in a time when the only other 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...
was the US Open, and by custom players did not travel far. The rise in popularity of tennis in this period became known as the 'Renshaw Rush'. In 1983, Renshaw was elected posthumously 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...
.
Wins (7)
| Year | Championship | Opponent in Final | Score in Final |
| 1881 | 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... |
 United Kingdom John Hartley |
6–0, 6–1, 6–1 |
| 1882 | Wimbledon (2) | United Kingdom Ernest Renshaw Ernest Renshaw Ernest Renshaw was an English tennis player.Together with his twin brother William Renshaw, Ernest won the men's doubles at Wimbledon five times. He also won the singles championship at Wimbledon once, in 1888 and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1983... |
6–1, 2–6, 4–6, 6–2, 6–2 |
| 1883 | Wimbledon (3) | United Kingdom Ernest Renshaw |
2–6, 6–3, 6–3, 4–6, 6–3 |
| 1884 | Wimbledon (4) | United Kingdom Herbert Lawford Herbert Lawford Herbert Lawford was a tennis player from Great Britain who won the men's singles championship at Wimbledon in 1887, and was runner-up five times.... |
6–0, 6–4, 9–7 |
| 1885 | Wimbledon (5) | United Kingdom Herbert Lawford |
7–5, 6–2, 4–6, 7–5 |
| 1886 | Wimbledon (6) | United Kingdom Herbert Lawford |
6–0, 5–7, 6–3, 6–4 |
| 1889 | Wimbledon (7) | United Kingdom Ernest Renshaw |
7–5, 6–2, 4–6, 7–5 |
Runner-ups (1)
| Year | Championship | Opponent in Final | Score in Final |
| 1890 | Wimbledon | United Kingdom Willoughby Hamilton Willoughby Hamilton Willoughby Hamilton was an Irish male tennis player.... |
6–8, 6–2, 3–6, 6–1, 6–1 |
Wins (5)
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
| 1884 | 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... |
United Kingdom Ernest Renshaw Ernest Renshaw Ernest Renshaw was an English tennis player.Together with his twin brother William Renshaw, Ernest won the men's doubles at Wimbledon five times. He also won the singles championship at Wimbledon once, in 1888 and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1983... |
United Kingdom E.W. Lewis United Kingdom E.L. Williams |
6–3, 6–1, 1-6, 6-4 |
| 1885 | Wimbledon (2) | United Kingdom Ernest Renshaw Ernest Renshaw Ernest Renshaw was an English tennis player.Together with his twin brother William Renshaw, Ernest won the men's doubles at Wimbledon five times. He also won the singles championship at Wimbledon once, in 1888 and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1983... |
United Kingdom C.E. Farrer United Kingdom A.J. Stanley |
6–3, 6–3, 10-8 |
| 1886 | Wimbledon (3) | United Kingdom Ernest Renshaw Ernest Renshaw Ernest Renshaw was an English tennis player.Together with his twin brother William Renshaw, Ernest won the men's doubles at Wimbledon five times. He also won the singles championship at Wimbledon once, in 1888 and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1983... |
United Kingdom C.E. Farrer United Kingdom A.J. Stanley |
6–3, 6–3, 4-6, 7-5 |
| 1888 | Wimbledon (4) | United Kingdom Ernest Renshaw Ernest Renshaw Ernest Renshaw was an English tennis player.Together with his twin brother William Renshaw, Ernest won the men's doubles at Wimbledon five times. He also won the singles championship at Wimbledon once, in 1888 and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1983... |
United Kingdom Herbert Wilberforce Herbert Wilberforce Herbert William Wrangham Wilberforce was a British male tennis player and chairman of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club . In 1887 he and Patrick Bowes-Lyon won the doubles in Wimbledon. He was the grandson of abolitionist William Wilberforce.... United Kingdom Patrick Bowes-LyonPatrick Bowes-Lyon Patrick Bowes-Lyon was a British male tennis player and uncle of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the mother of Elizabeth II.... |
2-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 |
| 1889 | Wimbledon (5) | United Kingdom Ernest Renshaw Ernest Renshaw Ernest Renshaw was an English tennis player.Together with his twin brother William Renshaw, Ernest won the men's doubles at Wimbledon five times. He also won the singles championship at Wimbledon once, in 1888 and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1983... |
United Kingdom E.W. Lewis United Kingdom George Hillyard George Hillyard Commander George Whiteside Hillyard, Royal Navy, was a male tennis player from the United Kingdom.Hillyard was born in Hanwell, Middlesex. He was a naval cadet aboard the HMS Bacchante in 1881.... |
6–4, 6–4, 3-6, 0-6, 6-1 |
Wimbledon
- Singles champion: 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1889
- Singles finalist: 1890
- Doubles champion: 1884, 1885, 1886, 1888, 1889