Tennis at the 1908 Summer Olympics – Men's outdoor singles

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Men's outdoor singles tennis
at the Games of the IV Olympiad
J.G.Ritchie.jpg
Major Ritchie
VenueAll England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
Dates6 July (rounds 1–3)
7 July (rounds 2 and 3)
8 July (round 3)
9 July (quarterfinals)
10 July (semifinal)
11 July (semifinal, final)
Competitors31 from 9 nations
Medalists
1st place, gold medalist(s) Major Ritchie
 Great Britain
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Otto Froitzheim
 Germany
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Wilberforce Eaves
 Great Britain
← 1904
1912 →
Men's outdoor singles
Tennis at the 1908 Summer Olympics
Events
Outdoor
Singles men women
Doubles men
Indoor
Singles men women
Doubles men
← 1904 · Summer Olympics · 1912 →

The men's (outdoor) singles was one of six lawn tennis events on the Tennis at the 1908 Summer Olympics programme. The tournament was played on grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.[1] There were 31 competitors from 9 nations.[1] Nations could enter up to 12 players.[2] The event was won by Major Ritchie of Great Britain, the nation's third victory in four Games. Otto Froitzheim earned Germany's first medal in the event with his silver. Another Briton, Wilberforce Eaves, took bronze.

Background[]

This was the fourth appearance of the men's singles tennis. The event has been held at every Summer Olympics where tennis has been on the program: from 1896 to 1924 and then from 1988 to the current program. Demonstration events were held in 1968 and 1984. In 1908, for the first time of two, an indoor version was held concurrently.

The top players did not compete in this event. Arthur Gore played only in the indoor event. William Larned, Norman Brookes, Anthony Wilding, and Laurence Doherty were noted absences.[1][3] Major Ritchie was a solid player, having gone deep into Wimbledon multiple times but never having won in singles (he took doubles titles in 1908 and 1910 with Wilding).

Austria, Bohemia, Canada, the Netherlands, and South Africa each made their debut in the event. France, Germany, and Great Britain each made their third appearance, tied for most among all nations.

Competition format[]

The competition was a single-elimination tournament. For the first time at the Olympics, a bronze medal match was played. All matches were best-of-five sets.

Schedule[]

The schedule was impacted by rain, with matches adjourned overnight on occasion.

The Olympics started three days after the end of the 1908 Wimbledon Championships, a scheduling issue which the Official Report recommended avoiding in the future.[3]

Date Time Round
Monday, 6 July 1908 Round of 64
Round of 32
Round of 16
Tuesday, 7 July 1908 Round of 32
Round of 16
Wednesday, 8 July 1908 Round of 16
Quarterfinals
Thursday, 9 July 1908 Round of 16
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Friday, 10 July 1908 Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Saturday, 11 July 1908 Bronze medal match
Final

Draw[]

Key[]

  • Q = Qualifier
  • WC = Wild card
  • LL = Lucky loser
  • Alt = Alternate
  • SE = Special exempt
  • PR = Protected ranking
  • ITF = ITF entry
  • JE = Junior exempt
  • w/o = Walkover
  • r = Retired
  • d = Defaulted

Finals[]

Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
                     
 Maurice Germot (FRA) 0 0r
 Major Ritchie (GBR) 6 4
 Major Ritchie (GBR) 2 6 6 6
 Wilberforce Eaves (GBR) 6 1 4 1
 Charles Dixon (GBR) 3 5 3
 Wilberforce Eaves (GBR) 6 7 6
 Major Ritchie (GBR) 7 6 6
 Otto Froitzheim (GER) 5 3 4
 Otto Froitzheim (GER) 6 6 5 6
 George Caridia (GBR) 4 1 7 1
 Otto Froitzheim (GER) 2 6 6 6 Bronze medal match
 John Richardson (RSA) 6 1 4 4
 John Richardson (RSA) 6 6 6  Wilberforce Eaves (GBR) 6 6 6
 Claude Russell-Brown (CAN) 3 1 0  John Richardson (RSA) 2 2 3

Top half[]

Section 1[]

First round Second round Third round Quarterfinals
 V Károly (BOH)
 H Suckling (CAN) w/o
 V Károly (BOH) w/o
 M Germot (FRA)
 M Germot (FRA) 7 6 6
 H Schomburgk (GER) 5 4 2
 M Germot (FRA) 0 0r
 M Ritchie (GBR) 6 4
 M Ritchie (GBR) 6 6 6
 V Gauntlett (RSA) 1 4 1
 M Ritchie (GBR) 6 6 6
 W Crawley (GBR) 1 4 1
 W Crawley (GBR)
 G Hillyard (GBR) w/o

Section 2[]

First round Second round Third round Quarterfinals
 D Lauber (HUN) 1 0 0
 C Dixon (GBR) 6 7 6  C Dixon (GBR) 6 6 6
 F Rahe (GER) 2 5 4  C Dixon (GBR) 6 6 6
 B Hykš (BOH)  B Hykš (BOH) 1 2 3
 O Schmid (HUN) w/o  B Hykš (BOH) 7 6 3 6
 J Zsigmondy (HUN)  J Zsigmondy (HUN) 5 4 6 0
 L Ivánka (HUN) w/o  C Dixon (GBR) 3 5 3
 M von Bissing (GER)  W Eaves (GBR) 6 7 6
 G Ball-Greene (GBR) w/o  M von Bissing (GER) 6 6 6
 A Zborzil (AUT)  A Zborzil (AUT) 1 4 4
 A Gore (GBR) w/o  M von Bissing (GER) 6 5 5
 K von Wessely (AUT)  W Eaves (GBR) 8 7 7
 HR Barrett (GBR) w/o  K von Wessely (AUT) w/o
 W Eaves (GBR) 6 6 6  W Eaves (GBR)
 R Kinzl (AUT) 3 1 0

Bottom half[]

Section 3[]

First round Second round Third round Quarterfinals
 E Tóth (HUN) 6 2
 J Mičovský (BOH) 3 1r  E Tóth (HUN) 1 3 2
 JC Parke (GBR)  JC Parke (GBR) 6 6 6
 J Rössler-Ořovský (BOH) w/o  JC Parke (GBR) 4 9 4
 O Kreuzer (GER) 6 6 6  O Froitzheim (GER) 6 11 6
 F Pipes (AUT) 3 1 4  O Kreuzer (GER) 2 3 3
 O Froitzheim (GER) 6 6 6  O Froitzheim (GER) 6 6 6
 K Powell (GBR) 3 1 4  O Froitzheim (GER) 6 6 5 6
 R Powell (CAN) 6 6 6  G Caridia (GBR) 4 1 7 1
 C van Lennep (NED) 4 1 2  R Powell (CAN) 2 6 6 6
 L Žemla (BOH)  L Žemla (BOH) 6 0 4 1
 L Doherty (GBR) w/o  R Powell (CAN) 4 6 4 2
 G Caridia (GBR) 6 3 6 6
 G Caridia (GBR) 6 6 6
 H Kitson (RSA) 1 3 1

Section 4[]

First round Second round Third round Quarterfinals
 J Foulkes (CAN) 6 6 6
 R van Lennep (NED) 2 4 3
 J Foulkes (CAN) 2 4 3
 J Richardson (RSA) 6 6 6
 J Richardson (RSA)
 M Decugis (FRA) w/o
 J Richardson (RSA) 6 6 6
 C Brown (CAN) 3 1 0
 D Slíva (BOH)
 J Žemla (BOH) w/o
 D Slíva (BOH) 2 1 2
 C Brown (CAN) 6 6 6
 C Brown (CAN)
 Z Žemla (BOH) w/o

Results summary[]

Rank Player Nation Round of 64 Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
1st place, gold medalist(s) Major Ritchie  Great Britain Bye  V Gauntlett (RSA)
W 6–1, 6–4, 6–1 		 W Crawley (GBR)
W 6–1, 6–4, 6–1 		 M Germot (FRA)
W 6–0, 6–4r 		 W Eaves (GBR)
W 2–6, 6–1, 6–4, 6–1 		 O Froitzheim (GER)
W 7–5, 6–3, 6–4
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Otto Froitzheim  Germany  K Powell (GBR)
W 6–3, 6–1, 6–4 		 O Kreuzer (GER)
W 6–2, 6–3, 6–3 		 JC Parke (GBR)
W 6–4, 11–9, 6–4 		 G Caridia (GBR)
W 6–4, 6–1, 5–7, 6–1 		 J Richardson (RSA)
W 2–6, 6–1, 6–4, 6–4 		 M Ritchie (GBR)
L 7–5, 6–3, 6–4
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Wilberforce Eaves  Great Britain  R Kinzl (AUT)
W 6–3, 6–1, 6–0 		 K von Wessely (AUT)
W w/o 		 M von Bissing (GER)
W 8–6, 7–5, 7–5 		 C Dixon (GBR)
W 6–3, 7–5, 6–3 		 M Ritchie (GBR)
L 2–6, 6–1, 6–4, 6–1 		 J Richardson (RSA)
W 6–2, 6–2, 6–3
4 John Richardson  South Africa Bye  M Decugis (FRA)
W w/o 		 J Foulkes (CAN)
W 6–2, 6–4, 6–3 		 C Brown (CAN)
W 6–3, 6–1, 6–0 		 O Froitzheim (GER)
L 2–6, 6–1, 6–4, 6–4 		 W Eaves (GBR)
L 6–2, 6–2, 6–3
5 George Caridia  Great Britain Bye  H Kitson (RSA)
W 6–1, 6–3, 6–1 		 R Powell (CAN)
W 6–4, 3–6, 6–4, 6–2 		 O Froitzheim (GER)
L 6–4, 6–1, 5–7, 6–1 		Did not advance
Charles P. Dixon  Great Britain  F Rahe (GER)
W 6–2, 7–5, 6–4 		 D Lauber (HUN)
W 6–1, 6–0, 6–0 		 B Hykš (BOH)
W 6–1, 6–2, 6–3 		 W Eaves (GBR)
L 6–3, 7–5, 6–3 		Did not advance
Maurice Germot  France Bye  H Schomburgk (GER)
W 7–5, 6–4, 6–2 		 V Károly (BOH)
W w/o 		 M Ritchie (GBR)
L 6–0, 6–4r 		Did not advance
Claude Russell-Brown  Canada Bye  Z Žemla (BOH)
W w/o 		 D Slíva (BOH)
W 6–2, 6–1, 6–2 		 J Richardson (RSA)
L 6–3, 6–1, 6–0 		Did not advance
9 Moritz von Bissing  Germany  G Ball-Greene (GBR)
W w/o 		 A Zborzil (AUT)
W 6–1, 6–4, 6–4 		 W Eaves (GBR)
L 8–6, 7–5, 7–5 		Did not advance
Walter Crawley  Great Britain Bye  G Hillyard (GBR)
W w/o 		 M Ritchie (GBR)
L 6–1, 6–4, 6–1 		Did not advance
J. F. Foulkes  Canada Bye  R van Lennep (NED)
W 6–2, 6–4, 6–3 		 J Richardson (RSA)
L 6–2, 6–4, 6–3 		Did not advance
Bohuslav Hykš  Bohemia  O Schmid (HUN)
W w/o 		 J Zsigmondy (HUN)
W 7–5, 6–4, 3–6, 6–0 		 C Dixon (GBR)
L 6–1, 6–2, 6–3 		Did not advance
James Cecil Parke  Great Britain  J Rössler-Ořovský (BOH)
W w/o 		 E Tóth (HUN)
W 6–1, 6–3, 6–2 		 O Froitzheim (GER)
L 6–4, 11–9, 6–4 		Did not advance
Robert Powell  Canada  C van Lennep (NED)
W 6–4, 6–1, 6–2 		 L Žemla (BOH)
W 2–6, 6–0, 6–4, 6–1 		 G Caridia (GBR)
L 6–4, 3–6, 6–4, 6–2 		Did not advance
David Slíva  Bohemia Bye  J Žemla (BOH)
W w/o 		 C Brown (CAN)
L 6–2, 6–1, 6–2 		Did not advance
16 Victor Gauntlett (tennis)  South Africa Bye  M Ritchie (GBR)
L 6–1, 6–4, 6–1 		Did not advance
Harold Kitson  South Africa Bye  G Caridia (GBR)
L 6–1, 6–3, 6–1 		Did not advance
Oscar Kreuzer  Germany  F Pipes (AUT)
W 6–3, 6–1, 6–4 		 O Froitzheim (GER)
L 6–2, 6–3, 6–3 		Did not advance
Dezső Lauber  Hungary Bye  C Dixon (GBR)
L 6–1, 6–0, 6–0 		Did not advance
Heinrich Schomburgk  Germany Bye  M Germot (FRA)
L 7–5, 6–4, 6–2 		Did not advance
Ede Tóth  Hungary  J Mičovský (BOH)
W 6–3, 2–1r 		 JC Parke (GBR)
L 6–1, 6–3, 6–2 		Did not advance
Roelof van Lennep  Netherlands Bye  JF Foulkes (CAN)
L 6–2, 6–4, 6–3 		Did not advance
Arthur Zborzil  Austria  A Gore (GBR)
W w/o 		 M von Bissing (GER)
L 6–1, 6–4, 6–4 		Did not advance
Ladislav Žemla  Bohemia  L Doherty (GBR)
W w/o 		 R Powell (CAN)
L 2–6, 6–0, 6–4, 6–1 		Did not advance
Jenő Zsigmondy  Hungary  L Ivánka (HUN)
W w/o 		 B Hykš (BOH)
L 7–5, 6–4, 3–6, 6–0 		Did not advance
26 Kenneth Powell  Great Britain  O Froitzheim (GER)
L 6–3, 6–1, 6–4 		Did not advance
Rolf Kinzl  Austria  W Eaves (GBR)
L 6–3, 6–1, 6–0 		Did not advance
Josef Mičovský  Bohemia  E Tóth (HUN)
L 6–3, 2–1r 		Did not advance
Felix Pipes  Austria  O Kreuzer (GER)
L 6–3, 6–1, 6–4 		Did not advance
Friedrich Wilhelm Rahe  Germany  C Dixon (GBR)
L 6–2, 7–5, 6–4 		Did not advance
Christiaan van Lennep  Netherlands  R Powell (CAN)
L 6–4, 6–1, 6–2 		Did not advance
— Herbert Roper Barrett  Great Britain  K von Wessely (AUT)
L w/o 		Did not advance
G Ball-Greene  Great Britain  M von Bissing (GER)
L w/o 		Did not advance
Max Decugis  France Bye  J Richardson (RSA)
L w/o 		Did not advance
Laurence Doherty  Great Britain  L Žemla (BOH)
L w/o 		Did not advance
Arthur Gore  Great Britain  A Zborzil (AUT)
L w/o 		Did not advance
George Hillyard  Great Britain Bye  W Crawley (GBR)
L w/o 		Did not advance
L. Ivánka  Hungary  J Zsigmondy (HUN)
L w/o 		Did not advance
Vitus Károly  Bohemia Bye  H Suckling (CAN)
W w/o 		 M Germot (FRA)
L w/o 		Did not advance
Josef Rössler-Ořovský  Bohemia  JC Parke (GBR)
L w/o 		Did not advance
Ödön Schmid  Hungary  B Hykš (BOH)
L w/o 		Did not advance
Hedley Suckling  Canada Bye  Vitus Károly (BOH)
L w/o 		Did not advance
Kurt von Wessely  Austria  HR Barrett (GBR)
W w/o 		 W Eaves (GBR)
L w/o 		Did not advance
Jaroslav Žemla  Bohemia Bye  D Slíva (BOH)
L w/o 		Did not advance
Zdeněk Žemla  Bohemia Bye  C Brown (CAN)
L w/o 		Did not advance

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "Singles, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  2. ^ Official Report, p. 35.
  3. ^ a b Official Report, p. 209.

External links[]

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