Oliver Campbell
Oliver Samuel Edward Michael Campbell (February 25, 1871 – July 11, 1953) was an American male tennis player who won the three consecutive singles titles at the U.S. Championships from 1890 through 1892.
 | |
| Full name | Oliver Samuel Edward Michael Campbell |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |  United States |
| Born | February 25, 1871 Brooklyn, NY, U.S. |
| Died | July 11, 1953 (aged 82) Campbellton, New Brunswick, Canada |
| Turned pro | 1886 (amateur tour) |
| Retired | 1892 |
| Int. Tennis HoF | 1955 (member page) |
| Singles | |
| Career titles | 17 |
| Highest ranking | No. 8 (1890, ITHF)[1] |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Wimbledon | 2R (1892) |
| US Open | W (1890, 1891, 1892) |
| Doubles | |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Wimbledon | SF (1892) |
| US Open | W (1890, 1891, 1892) |
Education
Campbell was educated at Columbia College, graduating in 1891 and was posthumously inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010.[2]
Career
For over a century, Campbell had the honour of being the youngest male player to win the U.S. singles title. He did it as a 19-year, 6 months and 9 days old student in 1890. That record went to fellow American Pete Sampras, 19 years and 28 days, when he won the title in 1990.[3]
Campbell defended his title in the challenge round matches in 1891, defeating Clarence Hobart, and in 1892, defeating Fred Hovey, but did not defend it in 1893 and thereby defaulted the title to Robert Wrenn. The challenge round against Clarence Hobart was the first title match played over five sets.[4][5]
In addition to his singles titles Campbell won the men's doubles titles at the U.S. National Championships in 1888, 1891 and 1892.[6]
His other career singles highlights include winning the Tropical Championships on hard courts at the St. Augustine, Florida on four occcasions (1889–1891, 1894). he also won the Englewood Open twice (1987–1888). He won single events at the New York Tennis Club Open (1886), the Orange Spring Tournament (1887), the Westchester Lawn Tennis Club (Invitation) (1888), the Elberon Casino Invitation (1888), New Hamburg Invitation (1888), the Nahant Invitation (1890), South Side Field Club (1890) and the Narragansette Pier Open (1890). In addition he was a finalist at the Flushing Athletic Club Open (1889).
Campbell was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1955.
Grand Slam finals
Singles (3 titles)
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1890 | U.S. Championships | Grass | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Henry Slocum | 6–2, 4–6, 6–3, 6–1 |
| Win | 1891 | U.S. Championships | Grass | Clarence Hobart | 2–6, 7–5, 7–9, 6–1, 6–2 |
| Win | 1892 | U.S. Championships | Grass | Fred Hovey | 7–5, 3–6, 6–3, 7–5 |
Doubles (3 titles, 2 runner-ups)
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1888 | U.S. Championships | Grass | Valentine Hall | Clarence Hobart Edward MacMullen | 6–4, 6–2, 6–4 |
| Loss | 1889 | U.S. Championships | Grass | Valentine Hall | Henry Slocum Howard Taylor | 1–6, 3–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 1891 | U.S. Championships | Grass | Bob Huntington | Valentine Hall Clarence Hobart | 6–3, 6–4, 8–6 |
| Win | 1892 | U.S. Championships | Grass | Bob Huntington | Edward L. Hall Valentine Hall | 6–4, 6–2, 4–6, 6–3 |
| Loss | 1893 | U.S. Championships | Grass | Bob Huntington | Clarence Hobart Fred Hovey | 3–6, 4–6, 6–4, 2–6 |
References
- International Tennis Hall of Fame Inductee Page
- "Oliver Campbell (2010) - Hall of Fame". Columbia University Athletics. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
- Collins, Bud (2010). The Bud Collins History of Tennis (2nd ed.). [New York]: New Chapter Press. p. 488. ISBN 978-0942257700.
- "In The Tennis Court" (PDF). The New York Times. August 27, 1891. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
- Collins, Bud (2010). The Bud Collins History of Tennis (2nd ed.). [New York]: New Chapter Press. p. 455. ISBN 978-0942257700.
- "Campbell and Huntington" (PDF). The New York Times. August 25, 1892. Retrieved 3 June 2012.