Career
Reggie Doherty began tennis early in life and as a boy at Westminster School showed great promise. At age 14 he won the boys' singles title at an open championship in Llandudno. Doherty was educated at the University of Cambridge (Trinity Hall), where he played for the Cambridge University Lawn Tennis Club. In 1895 and 1895 he was part of the Cambridge team that beat Oxford and won the Scottish and Essex championships.
Grand Slams
Doherty played in his first Wimbledon Championships in 1894 and lost in the first round to Clement Cazalet in four sets. In 1897 Doherty won his first singles Wimbledon title after beating reigning champion Harold Mahony in three straight sets (6-4, 6-4, 6-3). He successfully defended his title for the next three years (1898, 1899, 1900). In 1898 he did so by beating his brother in the Challenge Round in five sets (6-3, 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1). In 1901 he finally lost his Wimbledon crown when he was defeated in the Challenge Round by Arthur Gore in four sets (6-4, 5-7, 4-6, 4-6). He was also a runner-up at the U.S. Championships in 1902 where he was beaten by the defending American champion William Larned in four sets (6-4, 2-6, 4-6, 6-8). Together with his brother Laurie he won eight Wimbledon Championships doubles titles and two U.S. Championship doubles titles.
Davis Cup
Doherty represented the British Isles in the prestigious Davis Cup contest from 1902 to 1906. In 1902 he won the doubles match with his brother but lost the final and decisive singles match against American Malcolm Whitman in straight sets (1-6, 5-7, 4-6). In 1903 he contributed significantly to his team's his first Davis Cup title against the United States by winning the doubles match and the decisive singles match against Robert Wrenn. Doherty won the Davis Cup trophy a further three times (1904, 1905, 1906) although in these years he only competed, and won, in the doubles matches.
Olympics
Doherty won the doubles title (gold medals were not given at the 1900 Games) at the 1900 Olympic Games in Paris with his brother. He also competed in the singles tournament and reached the semi-final where he was scheduled to play against his brother. Reggie withdrew, since the brothers refused to play each other before the final. He also won the mixed doubles title with five-time Wimbledon champion Charlotte Cooper. Doherty did not compete in the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis. In the 1908 Olympics in London Reggie again won the doubles title, this time with compatriot George Hillyard.
R.F. Doherty was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1980 together with his brother.
Read more about this topic: Reginald Doherty
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