1891 U.S. National Championships – Women's singles

Mabel Cahill won the singles tennis title by defeating reigning champion Ellen Roosevelt 6–4, 6–1, 4–6, 6–3 in the Challenge Round of the 1891 U.S. Women's National Singles Championship. Cahill had won the right to challenge Ellen Roosevelt by defeating her sister Grace Roosevelt 6–3, 7–5 in the final of the All Comers' competition. The event was played on outdoor grass courts and held at the Philadelphia Cricket Club in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia from June 23 through June 27, 1891.^[1]

Women's singles
1891 U.S. National Championships
Champion	Mabel Cahill[1]
Runner-up	Ellen Roosevelt[1]
Score	6–4, 6–1, 4–6, 6–3
Draw	8(+CR)
Seeds	–

Main article: 1891 U.S. National Championships (tennis)

The event is notable for its change from a best-of-three to a best-of-five format in the final round, a format that continued until 1901, excluding 1893. This was, and still is, unusual for a women's tournament, and was the only stretch of time where a best-of-five format was played at a women's grand slam event.^[2]

Draw

Challenge round

	Challenge Round
	Ellen Roosevelt		4	1	6	3
	Mabel Cahill		6	6	4	6

All Comers' finals

	Preliminary Round							First round							Semi-finals							Final
								Adelaide Clarkson		6	6
								Emma Leavitt Morgan		0	0
															Adelaide Clarkson		1	1
															Grace Roosevelt		6	6
								Grace Roosevelt		3	6	6
	Helen Day Harris		5	6	6			Helen Day Harris		6	3	4
	Fannie K. Gregory		6	5	1																	Grace Roosevelt		3	5
																						Mabel Cahill		6	7
								Mabel Cahill		6	6
								Annabella Wistar		5	4
															Mabel Cahill		6	6
															Lida Voorhees		1	0
								Lida Voorhees		4	6	6
								Amy Williams		6	3	3

References

1. Collins, Bud (2016). The Bud Collins History of Tennis (3rd ed.). New York: New Chapter Press. p. 494. ISBN 978-1-937559-38-0.
2. Gibbs, Lindsay (May 27, 2016). "Why Women Don't Play Best-Of-Five Matches At Grand Slams". Think Progress. Retrieved January 17, 2022.

Preceded by 1891 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles	Grand Slam women's singles	Succeeded by 1892 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles