Harold Mahony

Harold Segerson Mahony (13 February 1867 – 27 June 1905) was a Scottish-born Irish tennis player who is best known for winning the singles title at the Wimbledon Championships in 1896. His career lasted from 1888 until his death in 1905. Mahony was born in Scotland but lived in Ireland for the majority of his life; his family were Irish including both of his parents, the family home was in County Kerry, Southwestern Ireland. He was the last Scottish born man to win Wimbledon until the victory of Andy Murray at the 2013 championships.[1]

For the Australian footballer, see Harold Mahony (footballer).

Harold Mahony
Full nameHarold Segerson Mahony
Country (sports)United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland United Kingdom
Born(1867-02-13)13 February 1867
Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Died27 June 1905(1905-06-27) (aged 38)
County Kerry, Ireland
Height1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Turned pro1890 (amateur tour)
Retired1905 (death)
Singles
Career titles43
Grand Slam singles results
WimbledonW (1896)
US Open4R (1903)
Doubles
Grand Slam doubles results
WimbledonF (1892, 1903)
US OpenF (1897)
Medal record
Representing  Great Britain
Silver medal – second place 1900 Paris Singles
Bronze medal – third place 1900 Paris Doubles
Representing a Mixed team
Silver medal – second place 1900 Paris Mixed doubles

Career

Mahony was born at 21 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh to Richard John Mahony, an Irish barrister and prominent landowner. The family had a home in Scotland but spent most of their time at Dromore Castle, in County Kerry, Ireland. Harold trained on a specially built tennis court at Dromore.[2]

Mahony made his Wimbledon debut in 1890 exiting in the first round.[3] He reached the semifinal in 1891 and 1892.[2] Mahony spent some time in America in the mid-1890s, before returning to England and finally taking the Wimbledon crown in 1896. In the final he beat Wilfred Baddeley of Great Britain in five sets.[2] Under the challenger system Mahony was entitled to defend the Wimbledon title in 1897 but this time he was beaten in the Challenge Round in three straight sets by Reginald Doherty.[3] He was the last Scottish-born player to win a grand slam until Andy Murray won the US Open in 2012 and win Wimbledon until Murray won it in 2013. He was recognised as the third and last Irishman to win the Wimbledon singles.[4]

He won the singles title at the British Covered Court Championships, played at the Queen's Club in London, in 1893 and successfully defended his title the following year. In 1895 Mahony forfeited the defence of his title due to illness.[5] In 1898 he won the singles titles at the prestigious Irish Championships. That same year Mahony, who was a regular competitor in Germany and spoke fluent German, also won the singles title at the German Championships.[6]

At the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris he won a silver medal in the men's singles event and a bronze medal in the doubles competition (for Great Britain and Ireland), as well as a silver medal in the mixed doubles event with Hélène Prévost from France.[7] Mahony won the Kent Championships in 1899, defeating Wilberforce Eaves in the final, and in 1904, defeating Brame Hillyard in the final.[8]

Mahony was a member of the 1903 British Isles Davis Cup team that won the against the United States at the Longwood Cricket Club in Boston but did not play in the event. When four-time Wimbledon champion Reginald Doherty had a shoulder injury the British team captain William Collins elected to forfeit his first match, instead of letting Mahony play, so that Doherty would be allowed to play the reverse singles match later in the event.[9]

Mahony was 1.91m (6 ft 3in) tall and possessed a formidable backhand. His forehand was less notable: his fellow player, George Hillyard, wrote that he "never did acquire the right method of hitting the ball on the forehand".[2]

Mahony was killed on 27 June 1905, aged 38, in a bicycling accident while descending a steep hill near Caragh Lake in County Kerry.[2][5]

Grand Slam finals

Singles
Result Year Championship Surface Opponent Score
Win1896WimbledonGrassUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Wilfred Baddeley6–2, 6–8, 5–7, 8–6, 6–3
Loss1897WimbledonGrassUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Reginald Doherty4–6, 4–6, 3–6

Doubles
Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 1897 U.S. Championships Grass United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Harold Nisbet United States George Sheldon
United States Leo Ware		 13–11, 2–6, 7–9, 6–1, 1–6

Olympic finals

Singles: 1 (1 silver medal)
Result Year Olympics Surface Opponent Score
Silver 1900 Paris Clay United Kingdom Laurence Doherty 4–6, 2–6, 3–6

Mixed Doubles: 1 (1 silver medal)
Result Year Olympics Surface Partner Opponents Score
Silver1900ParisClayFrance Yvonne PrévostUnited Kingdom Charlotte Cooper
United Kingdom Reginald Doherty		2–6, 4–6

Challenge Rounds

Challenge Round: the final round of a tournament, in which the winner of a single-elimination phase (final) faces the previous year's champion, who plays only that one match. The challenge round was used in the early history of tennis (from 1877 through 1921),[10] in some tournaments not all. (**) denotes challenge round

Career finals

Singles 86 (43 titles, 43 runner-ups)
Legend (43–43)
Win
Loss
No. Result Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
1. Loss May 1888 Fitzwilliam Club Championships[11] Grass Ireland Tom Campion 9–7, 7–5, 5–7, 6–0
2. Loss Jun 1889 Northern Championships Grass Ireland Willoughby Hamilton 6–3, 3–6, 6–1, 6–2
3. Win Jun 1889 Dublin University LT Championships[12] Hard Ireland Hume R. Jones 9–7, 7–5, 5–7, 6–0
4. Loss May 1890 Dublin University LT Championships[13] Hard Ireland Grainger Chaytor 6–3, 3–6, 8–6, 6–1
5. Win Jun 1890 East Gloucestershire Championships[14] Grass United Kingdom James Baldwin 6–4, 1–6, 6–1, 6–4
6. Loss Jul 1890 Middlesex Championships Grass England Ernest Lewis 6–1, 6–4, 6–2
7. Loss Aug 1890 South Saxons Open Tournament[15] Grass Ireland Joshua Pim 3–6, 6–1, 6–4, 6–4
8. Loss Jun 1891 Welsh Championships Grass United Kingdom Harry S. Barlow 5–7, 6–2, 7–5, 0–6, 6–1
9. Loss Jul 1891 Queens Challenge Cup[16] Grass Ireland Joshua Pim 2–6, 6–1, 6–2, 6–3
10. Loss Jul 1891 Warwickshire Championships Grass Ireland Joshua Pim 8–10, 6–2, 6–3, 6–2
11. Win Jul 1891 Leicestershire Championships Grass Ireland Joshua Pim 7–5, 6–2, 2–6, 4–6, 6–4
12. Win Aug 1891 Northumberland Championships Grass Ireland Tom Chaytor 6–2, 6–4, 6–3
13. Loss Apr 1892 British Covered Court Championships Hard (i) United Kingdom Ernest George Meers 6–2, 6–4, 6–3
14. Win Jul 1892 Leicestershire Championships Grass Ireland Joshua Pim 6–1, 6–2, 6–1
15. Loss Jul 1892 Northumberland Championships Grass Ireland Tom Chaytor 6–0, 10–8, 6–2
14. Win Apr 1893 British Covered Court Championships Hard (i) United Kingdom Ernest George Meers 6–2, 6–2, 6–4
15. Win Jue 1893 Middlesex Championships Grass United Kingdom Ernest Lewis w.o
16. Win Apr 1893 Queens Covered Court Championship Hard (i) United Kingdom Horace Chapman 6–0, 2–6, 6–1
17. Win Apr 1893 British Covered Court Championships Hard (i) England Ernest George Meers 6–2, 6–2, 6–4
18. Win Jun 1893 Middlesex Championships Grass United Kingdom Horace Chapman 6–3, 6–4, 6–4
19. Loss Jun 1893 Northern Championships Grass Ireland Joshua Pim 4–6, 6–3, 7–5, 6–2
20. Loss Jun 1893 Yorkshire Championships Grass Ireland Joshua Pim 3–6, 6–2, 6–3, 8–6
21. Loss Jul 1893 Championship of London Grass Ireland Joshua Pim 9–7, 1–6, 6–1, 6–8, 6–3
22. Loss Jul 1893 Wimbledon Championships[17] Grass Ireland Joshua Pim 9–7, 6–3, 6–0
23. Win Aug 1893 Darlington Open Tournament Grass Ireland David Chaytor w.o
24. Win Apr 1894 Queens Covered Court Championship Hard (i) Ireland Guy Brabazon Pilkington 6–4, 8–10, 6–2
25. Win Apr 1894 British Covered Court Championships Hard (i) United Kingdom Ernest George Meers 6–4, 8–10, 6–2
26. Loss May 1894 Irish Championships Grass Ireland Thomas Chaytor 6–2, 5–7, 6–3, 2–6, 6–1
27. Loss Jun 1894 Middlesex Championships Grass United Kingdom Harry S. Barlow 3–6, 6–3, 7–5, 6–1 **
28. Win Jun 1894 Leicestershire Championships Grass England Edward Roy Allen w.o.
29. Win Jun 1894 Championship of London Grass Ireland Joshua Pim 6–4, 8–10, 6–2 **
30. Win Jun 1894 Nottinghamshire Championships Grass England Edward Roy Allen 8–6, 6–3, 9–7
31. Win Aug 1894 Northumberland Championships Grass England Harry Barlow 6–3, 6–3, 8–6
32. Loss Apr 1895 British Covered Court Championships Hard (i) England Edward Roy Allen w.o.
33. Loss Jun 1895 Irish Championships Grass England Wilberforce Eaves 6–3, 6–8, 6–2, 6–4
34. Loss Jun 1895 Middlesex Championships Grass England Turketil G. P. Greville 6–2, 7–5, 6–4
35. Loss Jun 1895 Neighborhood (u.s.) Clay Ireland Joshua Pim 6–4, 6–8, 4–6, 6–4, 6–3
36. Loss Jul 1895 Warwickshire Championships Grass England Edward Roy Allen 6–2, 6–4
37. Win Aug 1895 Derbyshire Championships Grass Ireland David Chaytor 6–2, 3–6, 2–6, 7–5, 6–3
38. Loss Apr 1896 British Covered Court Championships Hard (i) England Wilberforce Eaves 2–6, 6–2, 7–5, 6–3
39. Loss May 1896 Irish Championships Grass England Wilfred Baddeley 6–1, 6–2, 3–6, 6–3
40. Win Jun 1896 Middlesex Championships Grass United Kingdom Edwin A. Barlow 6–2, 7–5, 6–4 **
41. Loss Jun 1896 Northern Championships Grass England Wilfred Baddeley 6–1, 10–12, 7–5, 6–4 **
42. Win Jun 1896 Championship of London Grass England Reginald Doherty 11–9, 6–4, 6–4
43. Win Jul 1896 West of England Championships Grass United States William Larned 6–3, 6–3, 6–3
44. Win Jul 1896 Wimbledon Championships[18] Grass England Wilfred Baddeley 6–2, 6–8, 5–7, 8–6, 6–3 **
45. Loss Apr 1897 British Covered Court Championships Hard (i) England Wilberforce Eaves 6–3, 6–3, 6–0
46. Loss Jul 1897 Wimbledon Championships Grass England Reginald Doherty 6–4, 6–4, 6–3 **
47. Win May 1898 Irish Championships Grass England Wilberforce Eaves 6–1, 5–7, 9–7, 8–6 **
48. Win Jun 1898 Middlesex Championships Grass England Turketil G. P. Greville 4–6, 6–4, 7–5, 6–2 **
49. Loss Jun 1898 Kent Championships Grass England Wilberforce Eaves 6–3, 7–5, 6–3
50. Loss Jun 1898 Wimbledon Championships[19] Grass England Laurence Doherty 6–1, 6–2, 4–6, 2–6, 14–12
51. Loss Jul 1898 London Championships Grass England Laurence Doherty 6–3, 6–4, 9–7
52. Win Jul 1898 Midland Counties Championships Grass England Captain Ernest D. Black 3–6, 6–4, 6–2, 7–5
53. Win Aug 1898 German International Championships Clay England George Hillyard w.o. **
54. Loss Sep 1898 Sussex Championships Grass Ireland David Chaytor 7–5, 0–6, 4–6, 6–2, 6–4
55. Win Sep 1898 Welsh Covered Court Championships Hard (i) England Laurence Doherty 5–7, 6–4, 7–5, 6–4
56. Loss Apr 1899 British Covered Court Championships Hard (i) England Wilberforce Eaves 6–2, 6–4, 6–8, 3–6, 6–4 **
57. Loss May 1899 Irish Championships Grass England Reginald Doherty 6–3, 6–4, 5–7, 6–4 **
58. Win Jun 1899 Middlesex Championships Grass England Turketil G. P. Greville 5–7, 2–6, 6–1, 6–1, 6–4 **
59. Win Jun 1899 Kent Championships[20] Grass England Wilberforce Eaves 6–1, 6–1, 6–8, 3–6, 8–6 **
60. Win Jul 1899 London Championships Grass England Arthur Gore 8–10, 6–2, 7–5, 6–1
61. Win Jul 1899 Northumberland Championships Grass England Arthur Gore 8–6, 6–3
62. Win Jul 1899 European Championships Clay England Reginald Doherty w.o.
63. Loss Sep 1899 South of England Championships Grass England Sydney Howard Smith 6–3, 6–3, 6–1 **
64. Win Sep 1899 Dinard LTC International Clay England Arthur Gore 6–4, 6–2, 6–4
65. Loss Apr 1900 French Covered Court Championships Hard (i) United Kingdom George Caridia 3–6, 11–9, 6–3
66. Win Jun 1900 Middlesex Championships Grass England Arthur Gore 6–2, 6–4, 6–2
67. Loss Jun 1900 Kent Championships[20] Grass England Arthur Gore 6–4, 6–4, 6–4 **
68. Loss Jun 1900 Summer Olympics – Paris[21][22] Clay England Laurence Doherty 6–4, 6–2, 6–3
69. Loss Sep 1900 Dinard LTC International Clay England Laurence Doherty 4–6, 6–1, 8–6, 7–5
70. Loss Jun 1901 Middlesex Championships Grass England Turketil G. P. Greville 7–5, 6–1, 4–6, 6–3
71. Loss Sep 1901 South of England Championships Grass England Sydney Howard Smith 6–3, 7–9, 4–6, 6–4, 1–0. rt.
72. Loss Sep 1901 Portuguese International Championships Clay England George Hillyard 6–0, 6–4
73. Win Jun 1902 Leicestershire Championships[23] Grass England Laurence Doherty w.o.
74. Loss Jun 1902 Kent Championships Grass England George Miéville Simond 6–4, 6–0, 6–3 **
75. Loss Jun 1902 Northern Championships Grass England Sydney Howard Smith 7–5, 7–5, 3–6, 10–8
76. Loss Oct 1902 European Championships Hard (i) England Laurence Doherty 4–6, 6–4, 6–3, 6–1
77. Loss Apr 1903 British Covered Court Championships Hard (i) England George Hillyard 6–3, 7–9, 6–4, 6–3
78. Win Jun 1903 Middlesex Championships Grass United Kingdom Brame Hillyard 3–6, 6–2, 6–3, 3–6, 6–3
79. Win Jul 1903 Berkshire Championships Grass United Kingdom Alfred E. Crawley 6–3, 8–6
80. Win Jun 1904 Middlesex Championships Grass United Kingdom Frederick Payn 3–6, 6–1, 6–2, 6–4
81. Win Jun 1904 Kent Championships[20] Grass United Kingdom Brame Hillyard 3–6, 6–1, 6–2, 6–4
82. Win Jul 1904 North London Championships (Gipsy) Grass United Kingdom Alfred Beamish 6–1, 5–7, 6–2, 6–1
83. Loss Jul 1904 Championship of London Grass United Kingdom Josiah Ritchie 6–3, 7–9, 6–4, 6–3
84. Win Jul 1904 Berkshire Championships Grass United Kingdom Walter Crawley 5–7, 6–1, 6–4
85. Win Aug 1904 Crystal Palace Grass United Kingdom Ernest Parton 6–3, 6–2
86. Loss Jun 1905 Kent Championships Grass Australia Norman Brookes w.o.

References
  1. The Today Programme, BBC Radio 4, 8 July 2013
  2. David Randall (31 January 2010). "Scotland's only winner of a Grand Slam. So far". The Independent. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
  3. "Wimbledon players archive – Harold Mahony". AELTC.
  4. Devastating backhand nets glory for Mahony By Ryle Dwyer, The Irish Examiner, 1 August 2012
  5. "ME. H. S. MAHONY KILLED". Bunbury Herald (WA : 1892 – 1919). WA: National Library of Australia. 14 August 1905. p. 1.
  6. "Scottish Wimbledon champion that history forgot". The Scotsman. 13 July 2007.
  7. "Harold Mahony". Olympedia. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  8. "Harold Mahony Olympic Results". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  9. Randy Walker (2 March 2015). "Brothers Vs. Brothers In A USA Vs. Britain Davis Cup? It's Happened Before…". World Tennis Magazine.
  10. "Abolition of Challenge Rounds". Evening Post. Vol. CIII, no. 65. 20 March 1922. Retrieved 11 December 2016 – via paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  11. "FITZWILLIAM CLUB CH. Tournament Draw". The Tennis Base. 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  12. "DUBLIN UNIVERSITY CH. Tournament Draw 1889". The Tennis Base. 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  13. "DUBLIN UNIVERSITY CH. Tournament Draw". The Tennis Base. 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  14. "CHELTENHAM Tournament Draw". Tennis Base. 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  15. "ST. LEONARDS-ON-SEA Tournament Draw". Tennis Base. 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  16. "QUEENS CHALLENGE CUP Tournament Draw". Tennis Base. 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  17. "The Championships 1893, Gentlemen's All-Comers' Singles" (PDF). wimbledon.com. All England Lawn Tennis Club, 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  18. "The Championships 1896, Gentlemen's All-Comers' Singles" (PDF). wimbledon.com. All England Lawn Tennis Club, 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  19. "The Championships 1898, Gentlemen's All-Comers' Singles" (PDF). wimbledon.com. All England Lawn Tennis Club, 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  20. "Beckenham Lawn Tennis Club: Kent Championships". Beckenham Lawn Tennis Club. 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  21. "Hugh Lawrence DOHERTY - Olympic Tennis Great Britain". International Olympic Committee. 14 June 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  22. "Harold MAHONY - Olympic Tennis". International Olympic Committee. 14 June 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
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