Wilfred Milne (tennis)

Wilfred Milne
Country (sports) GBR
BornMarch 1857
Chertsey, Surrey, England
DiedJune 1919 (age 62)
Mutford, Suffolk, England
Turned pro1881 (amateur tour)
Retired1903
Singles
Career record53–33[1]
Career titles3[1]
Grand Slam singles results
WimbledonQF (1884, 1887)
Doubles
Grand Slam doubles results
WimbledonSF (1886, 1891)

Wilfred Milne (March 1857 – June 1919) was an English tennis player. He was twice a singles quarter finalist at the Wimbledon Championships in 1884 and 1887,[2] and twice a doubles semi-finalist in 1886 and 1891.[3] He was active from 1881 to 1903 and won 3 career singles titles.[1]

Tennis career

Wilfred Milne was born in Chertsey, Surrey, England in March 1857.[4] In 1881 he played and won first event at St George's Hill Open in Weybridge, Surrey.[1] He competed at the Wimbledon Championships in 13 editions between 1881 and 1900.[5] He had an impressive record at the Championships.

In the gentleman's singles he took part in seven consecutive tournaments where his best results were reaching the quarter finals stage in 1884 where he lost to Ernest Renshaw, and in 1887 where he lost to Charles Lacy Sweet.[6]

In the gentleman's doubles he took part in nine tournaments between 1884 and 1900.[7] He was a five time quarter finalist in 1884, 1887, 1888 1892 and 1898.[8] In addition he was a twice semi-finalist in 1886 partnering with Charles Hoadley Ashe Ross when they lost to Patrick Bowes-Lyon and Herbert Wilberforce,[9] and in 1891 when he partnered with Arthur Stanley where they lost to Harry S. Barlow and Ernest Renshaw.[10]

His other career singles highlights include winning the Teignmouth and Shaldon Open in 1885 and the Houndiscombe Open in 1888, that was held in the grounds of Houndiscombe House[11] at Plymouth.[1] He was also a losing finalist at the West of England Championships in 1883 to Ernest Brown,[1] the Torquay Open in 1887 where he lost to Ernest Wool Lewis,[1] the West of England Championships in 1889 where he lost to James Baldwin, the Torquay Open in 1890 when he was beaten by Edward James Avory. He was also a losing semi-finalist at the North of England Championships in 1891.[1] Milne played his final singles event at the Teignmouth Open in 1903 after which he retired.[1]

Wilfred Milne died in June 1919 at Mutford, Suffolk, England age 62.[12]

Career finals

Singles:8 (3 titles, 5 runners-up)

Category + (Titles)
Major (0)
National (0)
Regional (0)
County (0)
Regular (3)
Titles by Surface
Clay – Outdoor (0)
Grass – Outdoor (3)
Hard – Outdoor (0)
Wood – Indoor (0)
Outcome No. Date Tournament Location Surface Opponent Score
Winner 1.[1] 1881 St George's Hill Open Weybridge Grass United Kingdom B. Hawes 3 sets to 0
Runner-up 1.[1] 1883 West of England Championships Bristol Grass Ireland Ernest Browne 3–6, 2–6, 3–6
Winner 2.[1] 1884 Teignmouth and Shaldon Open Teignmouth Grass United Kingdom H.C. Kent 6–3, 6–5, 6–2
Runner-up 2.[1] 1887 Torquay Open Torquay Grass United Kingdom Ernest Wool Lewis 5–7, 2–6, 5–7
Runner-up 3.[1] 1887 Teignmouth and Shaldon Open Teignmouth Grass United Kingdom Ernest Wool Lewis 3–6, 6–1, 2–6, 3–6
Winner 3.[1] 1888 Houndiscombe Open Plymouth Grass United Kingdom C.R. Broad 6–1, 6–0
Runner-up 4.[1] 1889 West of England Championships Bristol Grass United Kingdom James Baldwin 5–7, 4–6, 4–6
Runner-up 5.[1] 1890 Torquay Open Torquay Grass United Kingdom Edward James Avory 3–6, 3–6

Family

Wilfred was the twin brother of Oswald Milne also a lawn tennis player.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Players: Milne, Wilfred". The Tennis Base. Madrid: Tennismem SL. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Wilfred Milne (GBR) – Gentlemen's Singles" (PDF). Wimbledon. AELTC. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Wilfred Milne (GBR) – Gentlemen's Doubles" (PDF). Wimbledon. AELTC. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  4. ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  5. ^ "Player – Wilfred Milne". www.wimbledon.com. AELTC. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Wilfred Milne (GBR) – Gentlemen's Singles" (PDF). Wimbledon. AELTC. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  7. ^ "Wilfred Milne (GBR) – Gentlemen's Doubles" (PDF). Wimbledon. AELTC. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  8. ^ AELTC
  9. ^ AELTC
  10. ^ AELTC
  11. ^ Clerkin, Paul (4 January 2013). "1859 – Houndiscombe House, Plymouth, Devon built by James Hines". archiseek.com. Archi Seek. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  12. ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  13. ^ National Lawn Tennis Association, United States (1899). American Lawn Tennis. New York: American Lawn Tennis Publishing Company. p. 55.