The 1890 Women's Tennis Season was a tennis tournament circuit composed of 81 major, national, regional, county, and regular tournaments. The season began in January 1890 in Chepauk, India, and ended in January 1891 in Dunedin, New Zealand.
Summary of season From 1888 until 1912 Britain's Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), grew in status and influence to become the de facto international tennis governing body before the proper International Lawn Tennis Federation commenced operations. Despite the United States National Lawn Tennis Association (USNLTA) forming in 1881 a good seven years before the LTA, it was the British body that set laws, settled disputes and organized the increasingly complicated tournament calendar before the International Lawn Tennis Federation (ILTF) formed in March, 1913.Lake. p.343.
After the formation of the ILTF the world tennis circuit going forward was a highly organised and structured network of national and international tournaments. Most tennis tournaments were usually mixed events for men and women, and the women's international tennis circuit certainly up to 1923 was composed mainly of tournaments on the British and European Circuits.Someren p.35. After the USNLTA joined the ILTF this would later change with more and more tournaments being staged globally. Women tennis players on the world circuit up to the open era were funded by their national associations enabling them to travel and take part in international tournaments.Someren p.31.
1890 sees an increase in the number women's singles events being held as the tennis circuit continues to form.Berry. David (2020). A people's history of tennis. (2) Feminists. Pluto Books London . p.39. The 1890 women's tennis season began on 8 January with the first Southern India Championships staged at Madras, India. In May 1890 at the first major event of the year the Irish Championships played at the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin, Ireland. Ireland's Louisa Martin wins the singles title beating fellow countrywoman Lena Rice, she also picks up the ladies doubles event partnered with Florence Stanuell, and completes a clean sweep by winning the mixed doubles with Grainger Chaytor.
In mid June 1890 the change in scheduling is continued when the U.S. National Championships are held at the Philadelphia Cricket Club, PA, defending champion Bertha Townsend loses her title to Ellen Roosevelt in straight sets.
Later the same month the third major tournament of the year the Northern Championships played at the Liverpool Cricket Club in Liverpool Mary Steedman is the new Northern Champion beating Beatrice Wood in two sets, in the women's doubles event final Florence Mardall and Mary Steedman defeat Miss Quin and Miss Scrivener in straight sets, and the All England Mixed Doubles Championship event, is won by Katherine Hill and James Baldwin who defeat Mary Steedman and George Hillyard in the final.
In July at the fourth and final major event of the season the 1890 Wimbledon Championships the world's first major tennis tournament, Irish player Lena Rice reaches the final for the second year, but this time takes the title, when she defeats May Jacks in the final. The season ended on 3 January 1891 at the New Zealand Championships, held in Dunedin, New Zealand which began on 30 December 1890 and was played on grass.
In terms of draw sizes the Northumberland Championships with 18 entrants was the largest open ladies singles draw for 1890, the Irish Championships with 27 entrants across three disciplines singles, doubles and mixed was the largest major event of the year and was the joint largest open event of the year along with the Sussex Championships and South of England Championships also with 27 entrants. The largest event outside of Europe was the New South Wales Championships.
Season results Prior to the creation of the International Lawn Tennis Federation and the establishment of its world championship events in 1913 the Wimbledon Championships, the U.S. National Championships, the Irish Lawn Tennis Championships and the Northern Championships were considered by players and historians as the four most important tennis tournaments to win, together effectively making an early incarnation of the Grand Slam events we know today.
Key Important. National Provincial/State/Regional County Regular
January EndedTournamentWinnerFinalistSemifinalistQuarterfinalist18 JanSouth India ChampionshipsMadras Gymkhana ClubMadras, IndiaClaySingles - Doubles Edith Morgan 6–2, 4–6, 6–4 Margaret Benson Margaret Benson Hilda Wilkieson Edith Morgan Margaret Benson6–4, 6–4 Hilda Wilkieson Mrs J.K. Smethurst Edith Morgan Harry Grove6–3, 4–6, 7–5 Margaret Benson Charles Lacy Sweet
February EndedTournamentWinnerFinalistSemi finalistQuarter finalist22 Feb. Otago LTA TournamentCarisbrook Club GroundDunedin, New ZealandGrassSingles - Doubles Ruth Orbell9–7 L. Mackerras Miss Grant Miss G. Rattray Miss Morris Pau International Tournament(later Pau Championships)Trinquet Club de BeaumontPau FranceClaySingles - Doubles Edith Austindef. May Geary Miss MacFarlane Mrs Bruce-Johnston
March EndedTournamentWinnerFinalistSemifinalistQuarterfinalist 15 MarQueen's Club Covered Court ChampionshipQueen's ClubLondon, EnglandWood (i)Singles - Doubles May Jacks6–0, 6–2 Mary Pick Alice Arbuthnot May Arbuthnot Ivy Arbuthnot 27 Mar.Auckland Association ChampionshipsAuckland, New ZealandGrassSingles - Doubles Miss Spiersdef Miss Cay 29 Mar.Cannes Réunion Club TournamentRéunion ClubCannes, FranceClaySingles - Doubles Miss Leighdef. Miss Miles Miss Maguire Countess Sophie of Merenberg Cpt. Arthur H. Pryce-Harrison6–3, 3–6, 6–2 Miss Halford Michael Gallwey McNamara
April EndedTournamentWinnerFinalistSemifinalistQuarterfinalist5 Apr.Natal ChampionshipsDurban, Colony of NatalGrassSingles - Doubles Norah Hickman6–3, 3–6, 6–3 Mabel Grant 12 AprSouth Australian ChampionshipsAdelaide Oval Courts Adelaide, AustraliaAsphaltSingles - Doubles Maisie ParrWon ? 13 AprCeylon ChampionshipsThe Hill ClubNuwara Eliya, CeylonClay Singles - Doubles Miss Wynniatt6–1, 6–1 Miss Watson 19 AprBritish Covered Court ChampionshipsHyde Park LTCLondon, EnglandWood (i)Singles - Doubles May Jacks6–0, 6–1 Maud Shackle Moss Vale TournamentMossvale TCMoss Vale, AustraliaGrassSingles - Doubles K. Nicholson6–4, 6–4 Mrs. Green 26 Apr.Singapore LLTC Spring OpenSingapore, Straits SettlementGrassSingles - Doubles Mrs. Edwardes6–1, 6–5 Mrs. Salzmann
May EndedTournamentWinnerFinalistSemifinalistQuarterfinalist 14 MayNew South Wales ChampionshipsMoore Park Sydney, AustraliaGrassSingles - Doubles Ellen Mayne8–6, 6–1 Ellen Blaxland Eliza Fitzgerald Edith Fox Miss Dransfield Mrs Lindon Mabel ShawChallenger Zilla Scott Ellen Mayne Mabel Shaw6–4, 7–5 Zilla Scott Dransfield Ellen Mayne Dudley Webb6–4, 6–2 Robert Fitzgerald Eliza Fitzgerald 27 MayNorton Lawn Tennis Open TournamentNorton Cricket Club GroundsHexham, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Jane Corder8–6, 6–0 Helen Jackson 30 MayIrish ChampionshipsFitzwilliam LTCDublin, IrelandGrassSingles - Doubles Louisa Martin9–7, 6–4 Lena Rice G. Crofton Helen Jackson A. Becher B. Becher Connie Butler Florence Stanuell Louisa Martin Florence Stanuell6–4, 6–2 Blanche Hillyard D. Meldon Louisa Martin Grainger Chaytor6–1, 6–3, 6–3 Helen Jackson Arthur J. de Courcy Wilson
June EndedTournamentWinnerFinalistSemifinalistQuarterfinalist1 JunEaling ChampionshipsEaling LTCEaling, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Alice Brown8–6, 6–0 Charlotte Copper 2 JunNew York Tennis Club OpenNew York TCNew York, United StatesClaySingles - Doubles No Ladies Singles Miss Burdette Miss Mowry1–6, 6–2, 6–4 Mrs Badgley Mabel Cahill Miss Burdette Carroll J. Post jr.5–7, 6–3, 6–3 Mabel Cahill Russell R. Perkins 7 JunLondon ChampionshipsQueen's ClubLondon, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles May Jacks6–2, 6–1 Elsie Pinckney Edith Austin Cordelia Phillimore Mrs H. Anderson Beatrice LangrisheChallenger Maud Shackle Championship of the West of EnglandBath, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Louisa Martin6–3, 8–6 N Pope Constance Bryan Miss Stoddart Connie Butler Miss Langley Alice Parr Florence Stanuell Louisa Martin Florence Stanuell6–3, 6–3 Constance Bryan N Pope Louisa Martin James Baldwin6–3, 6–1 Constance Bryan Henry Guy Nadin 14 Jun U.S. National ChampionshipsPhiladelphia, United StatesGrassSingles - Doubles Ellen Roosevelt6–2, 6–2 Bertha Townsend Margarette Ballard Mabel Cahill D.F. Butterfield F.K. Gregory Rebecca H. Lycett S. Day Ellen Roosevelt Grace Roosevelt6–1, 6–2 Margarette Ballard Bertha Townsend Surrey County ChampionshipsBerrylands LTCSurbiton, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles May Arbuthnot6–2, 6–2 Elizabeth Mocatta Emily Looker G. Leeds-Paine Alice Arbuthnot Ivy Arbuthnot Miss Calder Elsie Lane May Jacks John Redfern Deykin6–4, 6–2 Elsie Pinckney Arthur Gore Whitehouse OpenWhitehouse LTCEdinburgh, ScotlandClaySingles - Doubles Lottie Paterson6–0, 8–6 Jane Corder Miss Meikle Lottie Paterson3–6, 7–5, 7–5 E. Ferguson Jane Meikle Lottie Paterson Edward Barnard Fuller6–1, 6–2 Miss Meikle Stanley Riseley East Gloucestershire ChampionshipsCheltenham LTCCheltenham, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Constance Bryan6–1, 6–0 Beatrice Wood Mary Agg Miss Crossley 15 JunChampionship of NebraskaKearney, United StatesGrassSingles - Doubles Miss Doolittle6–0, 7–5, 6–3 Mrs G.W. Frank 17 Jun Scottish ChampionshipsDyvours Lawn Tennis Club Edinburgh, ScotlandGrassSingles - Doubles Helen Jackson6–1, 6–0 Lottie Paterson Miss Crosby Mabel Shaw Jane Corder 21 JunKent All-Comers' ChampionshipsBeckenham LTCBeckenham, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles May Jacks4–6, 6–0, 6–4 G. Leeds-Paine Miss Howes Gertrude Mellersh Miss Blaker Miss CooperHolder Maud Shackle D.E. Payn G. Leeds-Paine4–6, 6–3, 6–3 Arthur Gore May Jacks Northern ChampionshipsLiverpool Cricket ClubLiverpool, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Mary Steedmanwalkover Beatrice Wood Miss Mills Miss Vicars Katherine HillHolder Lottie Dod Florence Mardall Bertha Steedman6–1, 6–1 Miss Quin Miss Scrivener Katherine Hill James Baldwin10–8, 6–2 Mary Steedman George Hillyard 23 JunNew Jersey ChampionshipsOrange LTCSouth Orange, United StatesGrassSingles - Doubles Mabel Cahillwalkover Gertrude Williams May Colby Miss Hitch Mabel Cahill Russell R. Perkins6–2, 6–0 May Colby S.M. Colgate 24 JunNorth of Ireland ChampionshipsCliftonville Cricket Ground Belfast, IrelandSingles - Doubles A. Kinahan6–2, 6–0 Miss Newett 26 Jun Orange Spring TournamentOrange LTCSouth Orange, United StatesGrassSingles - Doubles Mabel Cahill6–3, 6–1 Emma Leavitt-Morgan Mabel Cahill Russell R. Perkinsdef May Colby S.M. Colgate 27 JuneMidland Counties ChampionshipsEdgbaston CLTCEdgbaston, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles L. Johnstone6–2, 5–6, 6–4 Ethel Valentin 28 JunKings County Spring TournamentKings County LTCBrooklyn, United StatesGrassSingles - Doubles Helen Hellwig6–1, 6–3, 6–4 Juliette Atkinson Helen Hellwig A.M. Blaisdell6–2 Miss L.J. Cuddy E.A. Snyder 29 Jun Lansdowne Lawn Tennis TournamentLansdowne LTCDublin, IrelandGrassSingles - Doubles Lena Rice6–3, 6–1 Miss Wilson Miss Jackson
July