Willoughby Hamilton

For badminton player, seeWilloughby Hamilton (born 1907).

Willoughby Hamilton

Full name	James Willoughby Hamilton
Born	(1864-12-09)9 December 1864 Monasterevin,County Kildare,Ireland
Died	27 September 1943(1943-09-27)(aged 78) Dublin,County Dublin,Ireland
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Turned pro	1884 (amateur)
Retired	1899
Singles
Career record	79–13 (85.8%)
Career titles	29
Grand Slam singles results
Wimbledon	W(1890)

Willoughby Hamilton(born asJames Willoughby Hamilton;9 December 1864 – 27 September 1943) was aco-world No. 1Irish maletennisplayer, afootballerand internationalbadmintonplayer.

Tennis career

Hamilton played his first tournament at the 1884Irish Championshipswhere he reached the quarter finals stage, before losing to Herbert Knox McKay. His significant major title wins include theNorthern Championships(1888, 1889), and theIrish Championships(1889). In the latter tournament he defeated the six time Wimbledon championWilliam Renshawin the all-comers final and then went on to defeat his brotherErnest Renshawin the challenge round. This made him one of the favorites for the 1889 Wimbledon title but he suffered a five set defeat in the semifinal againstHarry S. Barlow.

For the span 1889–90, Hamilton was ranked by many as the best tennis player in the world. Hamilton did not defend his Wimbledon title in the 1891 challenge round.He won the Gentlemen's Singles title at the 1890Wimbledon Championships,defeating William Renshaw in five sets, and becoming the first Irish player to win the tournament. The previous year, he had won both theNorthern Championshipsand theIrish Championships.

His other career singles titles highlights include winning theFitzwilliam Club Championshipsfive times (1886–1890), theEast of Ireland ChampionshipsatHowthfour times (1886–1889), theWelsh Championshipsthree times (1888–1890), theWest of Ireland Championshipsthree times (1885–1886, 1888), theSouth of Ireland Championshipstwo times (1885–1886), theCounty Dublin Championshipsone time (1887).In 1899 Hamilton played his last tournament at theNetherlands International Championships.

He was given the nickname "The Ghost" due to his pale complexion.

Grand Slam finals

Singles (1 title)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Opponent	Score
Win	1890	Wimbledon	Grass	William Renshaw	6–8, 6–2, 3–6, 6–1, 6–1

Football career

Hamilton was educated atTrinity College Dublinand he played association football for bothDublin University A.F.C.and forDublin Association F.C.Hamilton also played forIrelandin an1885game againstWales.Among his teammates was his brotherWilliam Hamilton.

Personal

Hamilton was born on 9 December 1864 in Monasterevin,County Kildare,to Alfred Hamilton, aChurch of Irelandrector, and Henrietta Cole.Willougby came from a famous sporting playing family. Three brothers all excelled at sports;William Drummond Hamiltonrepresented Ireland at cricket and tennis, Francis Cole Lowry Hamilton played cricket for Ireland andBlayney Hamiltonrepresented Ireland at cricket and badminton. In addition three of his nephews and nieces (Blayney's children) were badminton internationals (Arthur Hamilton,Willoughby HamiltonandMavis Hamilton).He died in Sydenham House, Dundrum, Dublin, on 27 September 1943 at the age of 78.

External links

• Willoughby Hamiltonat theAssociation of Tennis Professionals