Doherty, Laurence

Laurence Hugh Doherty “Laurie, Little Do”
Born: October 08, 1875
Died: August 21, 1919
Hometown: Wimbledon, Surrey, United Kingdom
Citizenship: United Kingdom
Inducted: 1980

Grand Slam Record

Wimbledon Singles 1902-06
Singles finalist 1896
Doubles 1897-1901, 03-05
Doubles finalist 1902, 06

U.S. Singles 1903
Doubles 1902-3
Doubles finalist 1902, 06

Tournament Record

Davis Cup Team Member 1902-06

Olympics Gold Doubles 1900
Gold Singles 1900

Laurie, or “Little Do,” born Hugh Laurence Doherty, was the shorter, at 5-foot-10, younger, and probably better, of the Cambridge (Trinity College)-educated Doherty brothers who illuminated the tennis skies in their native England and at Wimbledon at the turn of the century. Although Laurie lost the 1898 Wimbledon final to Reggie, 6-1, in the fifth, he won the title five straight times, beginning in 1902.

The brothers carried Britain to its first four Davis Cups, beginning in 1903, by taking it from the U.S., 4-1, in Boston after falling short, 3-2, the previous year in Brooklyn. He never lost a Cup match, winning seven singles and five doubles.

The Dohertys, who parted their dark wavy hair in the middle, also devised the more aggressive doubles formation of parting the pair, with the receiver’s partner at the net, to be joined by the receiver.

As the first serious foreign contenders for the U.S. singles crown, the brothers failed in 1902 at Newport. Laurie sportingly defaulted to Reggie rather than face him in the semis, whereupon Reggie beat Malcolm Whitman in the all-comers final, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-0, but lost the challenge round to the defender, Bill Larned, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 8-6.

But in 1903, after Reggie returned the default courtesy to his brother in the quarters, Laurie became the initial alien male champ of the U.S., beating Bill Clothier in the all-comers, 6-3, 6-2, 6-3, and unseating Larned, 6-0, 6-3, 10-8. The Brothers D took the U.S. doubles both years, and had been gold medalists in the 1900 Olympics, winning the doubles, and Laurie taking the singles as well. Laurie was born in London October 8, 1875, and died August 21, 1919, in Broadstairs, England. He accompanied his brother into the Hall of Fame in 1980.

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