1905 International Lawn Tennis Challenge

The 1905 International Lawn Tennis Challenge was the fifth edition of what is now known as the Davis Cup. As defending champions, the British Isles team played host to the competition. The World Group ties were played at Queen's Club in London, England from 13–19 July, and the final was played on 21–24 July. Britain retained the Cup for their third championship.

Teams

Australasia, a combined Australia-New Zealand team, and Austria joined the competition for the first time.^[1] The United States returned after a 1-year hiatus, and France would return for their second year. For the first time, a "World Group" tournament was held to determine which team would challenge the British Isles for the cup.

Draw

Quarterfinals

Semifinals 13–15 July[2][3]

Final 17–19 July[4][5]

France

bye

France

0

United States

5

United States

w/o^1[2]

Belgium

United States

5

Australasia

0

bye

Australasia

Australasia

5

Austria

0

bye

Austria

¹ The match was scratched and the United States were advanced to the semifinals as Belgium were unable to field a team due to player illness.

Semifinals

France vs. United States

France 0	Queen's Club, London, England 13–15 July 1905[2] grass		United States 5
1 2 3 4 5 1 Maurice Germot Holcombe Ward 2 6 2 6 1 6      [6] 2 Max Décugis William Clothier 3 6 4 6 4 6      [6] 3 Max Décugis / Maurice Germot Holcombe Ward / Beals Wright 2 6 2 6 2 6      [7] 4 Max Décugis Holcombe Ward 2 6 2 6 1 6      [3] 5 Maurice Germot William Clothier 3 6 7 5 1 6 3 6    [3]

Austria vs. Australasia

Austria 0	Queen's Club, London, England 13–15 July 1905[2] grass		Australasia 5
1 2 3 4 5 1 Rolf Kinzl Norman Brookes 0 6 1 6 2 6      [6] 2 Kurt von Wessely Tony Wilding 6 4 3 6 5 7 1 6    [6] 3 Rolf Kinzl / Kurt von Wessely Norman Brookes / Alfred Dunlop 7 9 2 6 5 7      [7] 4 Kurt von Wessely Norman Brookes 0 6 2 6 2 6      [3] 5 Rolf Kinzl Tony Wilding 3 6 6 4 2 6 4 6    [3]

Final

United States vs. Australasia

United States 5	Queen's Club, London, England 17–19 July 1905[4][5] grass		Australasia 0
1 2 3 4 5 1 Beals Wright Norman Brookes 12 10 5 7 12 10 6 4    [4] 2 William Larned Tony Wilding 6 3 6 2 6 4      [4] 3 Holcombe Ward / Beals Wright Norman Brookes / Alfred Dunlop 6 4 7 5 5 7 6 2    [8] 4 Beals Wright Tony Wilding 6 3 6 3        [5] 5 William Larned Norman Brookes 14 12 6 0 6 3      [5]

Challenge round

Great Britain 5	Wimbledon, London, England[8] 21–24 July 1905[5][9] grass		United States 0
1 2 3 4 5 1 Lawrence Doherty Holcombe Ward 7 9 4 6 6 1 6 2 6 0  [10] 2 Sidney Smith William Larned 6 4 6 4 5 7 6 4    [10] 3 Lawrence Doherty / Reggie Doherty Holcombe Ward / Beals Wright 8 10 6 2 6 2 4 6 8 6  [11] 4 Lawrence Doherty William Larned 6 4 2 6 6 8 6 4 6 2  [9] 5 Sidney Smith William Clothier 6 1 6 4 6 3      [9]

References

1. Richardson, Len; Richardson, Shelley (2005). Anthony Wilding, A Sporting Life. Canterbury: Canterbury University Press. pp. 98–99. ISBN 978-1877257018.
2. "Miss Sutton Wins Abroad.; American Tennis Team Has Walkover in First of International Cup Series." (PDF). New York Times. 1905-07-05. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
3. "American Win Place in International Final; Tennis Experts, Wards and Clothing, Again Beat Frenchmen. Doherty Brothers Beaten Australasians Take Exhibition Doubles, Causing Britons to Fear Loss of Davis Cup." (PDF). New York Times. 1905-07-16. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
4. "Larned and Wright take Tennis Final; Americans Outplay Australasians in Brilliant Matches. English Defenders Named Defeat of Brookes by Wright Yields Remarkable Contest on Queens Club Courts." (PDF). New York Times. 1905-07-18. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
5. "Americans Sweep Finals; Challengers for International Tennis Cup Win Every Match." (PDF). New York Times. 1905-07-20. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
6. "American Tennis Team Beats French Players; Ward and Clothier Take First International Matches. Victories in Three Sets Australasians Also Win Over Austrians in Ties for Davis Challenge Cup." (PDF). New York Times. 1905-07-14. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
7. "American Tennis Pair Beat French Players; Take Doubles Match of International Series at Queen's Club. Wright's Intricate Service Will Meet Australasians Next Week to Decide Challengers for Davis Cup." (PDF). New York Times. 1905-07-15. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
8. "Americans First at Tennis.; Ward and Wright Capture Doubles at Queen's Club." (PDF). New York Times. 1905-07-19. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
9. "Americans Beaten Again.; England Takes Final Matches for Davis International Cup." (PDF). New York Times. 1905-07-25. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
10. "American Tennis Team Beaten by Englishmenn; Ward and Larned Defeated in Singles for Davis Cup. King Edward TO Attend Hugh L. Doherty Loses Two Sets to Ward in Opening Match on Wimbledon Courts." (PDF). New York Times. 1905-07-22. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
11. "England Wins Match on Wimbledon Courts; Ward and Wright Defeated in Hard-Fought Tennis Match. Dhertys Show Fine Form Americans Lead in Deciding Set, but Ward Misplays at Critical Point and Loses." (PDF). New York Times. 1905-07-23. Retrieved 2010-02-02.