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British badminton and tennis player From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sydney Howard Smith (3 February 1872 – 27 March 1947) was a British tennis and badminton player.
| |
| Full name | Sydney Howard Smith |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |  United Kingdom |
| Born | 3 February 1872 Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK |
| Died | 27 March 1947 (aged 75) Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK |
| Turned pro | 1891 (amateur tour) |
| Retired | 1906 |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 318–56 (85.03%)[1] |
| Career titles | 52[1][2] |
| Highest ranking | 3 |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Wimbledon | F (1899, 1900Ch, 1905) |
| US Open | 2R (1904) |
| Other tournaments | |
| Doubles | |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Wimbledon | W (1902, 1906) |
| Team competitions | |
| Davis Cup | W (1905, 1906) |
Sydney Smith was the first All England Badminton Men's Singles champion in 1900. He reached his first Wimbledon singles final in 1899, beating Herbert Roper Barrett in an epic five set semi final before losing the all comers final to Arthur Gore in four sets.[3] In 1900 Smith beat Gore in the all comers final at Wimbledon, before losing to Reginald Doherty in the challenge round in four sets. In 1905, Smith beat Holcombe Ward, Wilberforce Eaves, William Larned and Major Ritchie before losing the all comers final in five sets to Norman Brookes.[3] Smith and partner Frank Riseley won the Gentlemen's Doubles title at Wimbledon in 1902 and 1906. He was a member of the British Davis Cup team in 1905 and 1906.
His other career highlights included winning the Welsh Championships singles title ten times (1896–1906), the Midland Counties Championships at Edgbaston nine times from (1896–1898, 1900–1905), the Northern Championships singles title seven consecutive times (1899–1905) and the Sussex Championships six times (1899–1902, 1904–1905), the Burton-on-Trent Open three times (1897–1899).[4]
The Mixed Doubles Trophy, a silver challenge cup and cover presented to the winners of the mixed doubles at Wimbledon, was gifted to the All England Club by Smith's family.[5]
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1900 | Wimbledon | Grass | Reginald Doherty | 8–6, 3–6, 1–6, 2–6 | [6] |
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1902 | Wimbledon | Grass | Frank Riseley | Reginald Doherty Laurence Doherty | 4–6, 8–6, 6–3, 4–6, 11–9 | [7] |
| Loss | 1903 | Wimbledon | Grass | Frank Riseley | Reginald Doherty Laurence Doherty | 4–6, 4–6, 4–6 | [7] |
| Loss | 1904 | Wimbledon | Grass | Frank Riseley | Reginald Doherty Laurence Doherty | 1–6, 2–6, 4–6 | [7] |
| Loss | 1905 | Wimbledon | Grass | Frank Riseley | Reginald Doherty Laurence Doherty | 2–6, 4–6, 8–6, 3–6 | [7] |
| Win | 1906 | Wimbledon | Grass | Frank Riseley | Reginald Doherty Laurence Doherty | 6–8, 6–4, 5–7, 6–3, 6–3 | [7] |
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