Doherty, Reginald

Reginald Frank Doherty “Reggie”
Born: October 14, 1872
Died: December 29, 1910
Hometown: Wimbledon, Surrey, United Kingdom
Citizenship: United Kingdom
Inducted: 1980

Grand Slam Record

Wimbledon Singles 1897-1900
Singles finalist 1901
Doubles 1897-1901, 1903-05
Doubles finalist 1896, 02, 06

U.S. Singles finalist 1902
Doubles 1902-03
Doubles finalist 1902, 06

Tournament Record

Intercollegiate Singles 1902

Davis Cup Team Member 1902-06

Olympics Gold Medal – Doubles 1900, 1908
Gold Medal – Mixed 1900

The appealing and dominant Doherty brothers Reggie and Laurie, Cambridge (Trinity College) men, enhanced the popularity of tennis and Wimbledon in their homeland, England, at turn of the century, and were the backbone of Britain’s first four Davis Cup triumphs, 1903-06. Reginald Frank Doherty, the older and known “Big Do,” at 6-foot-1, only 140 pounds, was frequently ill with digestive problems, and wasn’t considered as good as Laurie, but did win four straight Wimbledons (1897-1900), beating sibling in the 1898 final, 6-1 in the fifth.

Contesting a record 10 straight doubles finals together (1897-1906), they won a record eight, losing only in 1896 to the Baddeley brothers, Herbert and Wilfred, and in 1902 and 1906 to Smith and Frank Riseley. Reggie, who played left court with his brother, was in 11 straight, losing with Harold Nesbit in 1897. They won all five Davis Cup doubles together, clinching the 1904, 1905 and 1906 Cups. Reggie was born October 1, 1872, in London and died December 29, 1910. They entered the Hall of Fame together in 1980.

This entry was posted on Friday, September 26th, 2008 at 9:06 am and is filed under Hall of Famer. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.