Holcombe Ward

Holcombe Ward

Country (sports)	United States
Born	November 23, 1878 New York, NY, USA
Died	January 23, 1967 (aged 88) Red Bank, NJ, USA
Turned pro	1895 (amateur tour)
Retired	1905 (brief comeback in 1917)
Plays	Right-handed (1-handed backhand)
Int. Tennis HoF	1956 (member page)
Singles
Highest ranking	No. 4 (1904, Karoly Mazak)[1]
Grand Slam Singles results
Wimbledon	1R (1905)
US Open	W (1904)
Doubles
Grand Slam Doubles results
Wimbledon	F (1901)
US Open	W (1899, 1900, 1901, 1904, 1905, 1906)

Holcombe Ward (November 23, 1878 – January 23, 1967) was an American male tennis player who was active during the last years of the 19th century and the first decade of the 20th. He won the US National Championships singles title in 1904 and additionally won six doubles titles at the Grand Slam event.

Biography

Ward is best remembered for winning the men's singles title at the US National Championships in 1904 after defeating William Clothier in straight sets in the all-comer's final.^[2]

In 1905 Ward won the London Grass Court Championships, now known as Queen's Club Championships, after a walkover in the final against compatriot Beals Wright.^[3]

Ward was a member of the USA Davis Cup Team in 1900, 1902, 1905 and 1906. In 1900 and 1902 he played the doubles match in the challenge round which the US team won against the British Isles. In total Ward played 14 Davis Cup matches in seven ties and compiled a 7–7 win-loss record.^[4]

After his active career Ward became President of the USLTA (U.S. Lawn Tennis Association) from 1937 to 1947.^[5]

Grand Slam finals

Singles: 2 (1 title, 1 runner-up)

Outcome	Year	Championship	Surface	Opponent	Score	Ref
Winner	1904	U.S. National Championships	Grass	William Clothier	10–8, 6–4, 9–7	[6]
Runner-up	1905	U.S. National Championships	Grass	Beals Wright	2–6, 1–6, 9–11	[6]

Doubles: 9 (6 titles, 3 runners-up)

Outcome	Year	Championship	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score	Ref
Runner-up	1898	U.S. National Championships	Grass	Dwight F. Davis	George Sheldon Leo Ware	6–1, 5–7, 4–6, 6–4, 5–7	[7]
Winner	1899	U.S. National Championships	Grass	Dwight F. Davis	George Sheldon Leo Ware	6–4, 6–4, 6–3	[7]
Winner	1900	U.S. National Championships	Grass	Dwight F. Davis	Fred Alexander Raymond Little	6–4, 9–7, 12–10	[7]
Runner-up	1901	Wimbledon	Grass	Dwight F. Davis	Laurence Doherty Reginald Doherty	6–4, 2–6, 3–6, 7–9	[8]
Winner	1901	U.S. National Championships	Grass	Dwight F. Davis	Leo Ware Beals Wright	6–3, 9–7, 6–1	[7]
Runner-up	1902	U.S. National Championships	Grass	Dwight F. Davis	Laurence Doherty Reginald Doherty	9–11, 10–12, 4–6	[7]
Winner	1904	U.S. National Championships	Grass	Beals Wright	Kreigh Collins Raymond Little	1–6, 6–2, 3–6, 6–4, 6–1	[7]
Winner	1905	U.S. National Championships	Grass	Beals Wright	Fred Alexander Harold Hackett	6–4, 6–4, 6–1	[7]
Winner	1906	U.S. National Championships	Grass	Beals Wright	Fred Alexander Harold Hackett	6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 6–3	[7]

References

1. Mazak, Karoly (2010). The Concise History of Tennis, p. 32.
2. Collins, Bud (2010). The Bud Collins History of Tennis (2nd ed.). [New York]: New Chapter Press. p. 456. ISBN 978-0942257700.
3. McKelvie, Roy (1986). The Queen's Club Story, 1886-1986. London: Stanley Paul. p. 32. ISBN 0091660602.
4. "Davis Cup - Profile Holcombe Ward". ITF. Retrieved April 18, 2012.
5. "Hall of Famers - Profile Holcombe Ward". International Tennis Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 18, 2012.
6. "US Open Past Champions / Men's Singles". US Open official website. Retrieved 2015-10-11.
7. "US Open Past Champions / Men's Doubles". US Open official website. Retrieved 2015-10-11.
8. "Wimbledon Rolls of Honour / Gentlemen's Doubles". Wimbledon official tournament website. Retrieved 2015-10-11.

External links

• Holcombe Ward at the International Tennis Hall of Fame
• Holcombe Ward at the International Tennis Federation
• Holcombe Ward at the Davis Cup