Tennis at the 1908 Summer Olympics – Men's outdoor singles

The men's (outdoor) singles was one of six lawn tennis events on the Tennis at the 1908 Summer Olympics programme. The tournament was played on grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.[1] There were 31 competitors from 9 nations.[1] Nations could enter up to 12 players.[2] The event was won by Major Ritchie of Great Britain, the nation's third victory in four Games. Otto Froitzheim earned Germany's first medal in the event with his silver. Another Briton, Wilberforce Eaves, took bronze.

Men's outdoor singles tennis
at the Games of the IV Olympiad
Major Ritchie
VenueAll England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
Dates6 July (rounds 1–3)
7 July (rounds 2 and 3)
8 July (round 3)
9 July (quarterfinals)
10 July (semifinal)
11 July (semifinal, final)
Competitors31 from 9 nations
Medalists
1st place, gold medalist(s) Major Ritchie
 Great Britain
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Otto Froitzheim
 Germany
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Wilberforce Eaves
 Great Britain
← 1904
1912 →
Men's outdoor singles
Tennis at the 1908 Summer Olympics
Events
Outdoor
Singles men women
Doubles men
Indoor
Singles men women
Doubles men
← 1904 · Summer Olympics · 1912 →

Background

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This was the fourth appearance of the men's singles tennis. The event has been held at every Summer Olympics where tennis has been on the program: from 1896 to 1924 and then from 1988 to the current program. Demonstration events were held in 1968 and 1984. In 1908, for the first time of two, an indoor version was held concurrently.

The top players did not compete in this event. Arthur Gore played only in the indoor event. William Larned, Norman Brookes, Anthony Wilding, and Laurence Doherty were noted absences.[1][3] Major Ritchie was a solid player, having gone deep into Wimbledon multiple times but never having won in singles (he took doubles titles in 1908 and 1910 with Wilding).

Austria, Bohemia, Canada, the Netherlands, and South Africa each made their debut in the event. France, Germany, and Great Britain each made their third appearance, tied for most among all nations.

Competition format

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The competition was a single-elimination tournament. For the first time at the Olympics, a bronze medal match was played. All matches were best-of-five sets.

Schedule

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The schedule was impacted by rain, with matches adjourned overnight on occasion.

The Olympics started three days after the end of the 1908 Wimbledon Championships, a scheduling issue which the Official Report recommended avoiding in the future.[3]

Date Time Round
Monday, 6 July 1908 Round of 64
Round of 32
Round of 16
Tuesday, 7 July 1908 Round of 32
Round of 16
Wednesday, 8 July 1908 Round of 16
Quarterfinals
Thursday, 9 July 1908 Round of 16
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Friday, 10 July 1908 Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Saturday, 11 July 1908 Bronze medal match
Final

Draw

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Finals

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Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
                     
  Maurice Germot (FRA) 0 0r
  Major Ritchie (GBR) 6 4
  Major Ritchie (GBR) 2 6 6 6
  Wilberforce Eaves (GBR) 6 1 4 1
  Charles Dixon (GBR) 3 5 3
  Wilberforce Eaves (GBR) 6 7 6
  Major Ritchie (GBR) 7 6 6
  Otto Froitzheim (GER) 5 3 4
  Otto Froitzheim (GER) 6 6 5 6
  George Caridia (GBR) 4 1 7 1
  Otto Froitzheim (GER) 2 6 6 6 Third place
  John Richardson (RSA) 6 1 4 4
  John Richardson (RSA) 6 6 6   Wilberforce Eaves (GBR) 6 6 6
  Claude Russell-Brown (CAN) 3 1 0   John Richardson (RSA) 2 2 3

Top half

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Section 1

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First round Second round Third round Quarterfinals
  V Károly (BOH)
  H Suckling (CAN) w/o
  V Károly (BOH) w/o
  M Germot (FRA)
  M Germot (FRA) 7 6 6
  H Schomburgk (GER) 5 4 2
  M Germot (FRA) 0 0r
  M Ritchie (GBR) 6 4
  M Ritchie (GBR) 6 6 6
  V Gauntlett (RSA) 1 4 1
  M Ritchie (GBR) 6 6 6
  W Crawley (GBR) 1 4 1
  W Crawley (GBR)
  G Hillyard (GBR) w/o

Section 2

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First round Second round Third round Quarterfinals
  D Lauber (HUN) 1 0 0
  C Dixon (GBR) 6 7 6   C Dixon (GBR) 6 6 6
  F Rahe (GER) 2 5 4   C Dixon (GBR) 6 6 6
  B Hykš (BOH)   B Hykš (BOH) 1 2 3
  O Schmid (HUN) w/o   B Hykš (BOH) 7 6 3 6
  J Zsigmondy (HUN)   J Zsigmondy (HUN) 5 4 6 0
  L Ivánka (HUN) w/o   C Dixon (GBR) 3 5 3
  M von Bissing (GER)   W Eaves (GBR) 6 7 6
  G Ball-Greene (GBR) w/o   M von Bissing (GER) 6 6 6
  A Zborzil (AUT)   A Zborzil (AUT) 1 4 4
  A Gore (GBR) w/o   M von Bissing (GER) 6 5 5
  K von Wessely (AUT)   W Eaves (GBR) 8 7 7
  HR Barrett (GBR) w/o   K von Wessely (AUT) w/o
  W Eaves (GBR) 6 6 6   W Eaves (GBR)
  R Kinzl (AUT) 3 1 0

Bottom half

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Section 3

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First round Second round Third round Quarterfinals
  E Tóth (HUN) 6 2
  J Mičovský (BOH) 3 1r   E Tóth (HUN) 1 3 2
  JC Parke (GBR)   JC Parke (GBR) 6 6 6
  J Rössler-Ořovský (BOH) w/o   JC Parke (GBR) 4 9 4
  O Kreuzer (GER) 6 6 6   O Froitzheim (GER) 6 11 6
  F Pipes (AUT) 3 1 4   O Kreuzer (GER) 2 3 3
  O Froitzheim (GER) 6 6 6   O Froitzheim (GER) 6 6 6
  K Powell (GBR) 3 1 4   O Froitzheim (GER) 6 6 5 6
  R Powell (CAN) 6 6 6   G Caridia (GBR) 4 1 7 1
  C van Lennep (NED) 4 1 2   R Powell (CAN) 2 6 6 6
  L Žemla (BOH)   L Žemla (BOH) 6 0 4 1
  L Doherty (GBR) w/o   R Powell (CAN) 4 6 4 2
  G Caridia (GBR) 6 3 6 6
  G Caridia (GBR) 6 6 6
  H Kitson (RSA) 1 3 1

Section 4

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First round Second round Third round Quarterfinals
  J Foulkes (CAN) 6 6 6
  R van Lennep (NED) 2 4 3
  J Foulkes (CAN) 2 4 3
  J Richardson (RSA) 6 6 6
  J Richardson (RSA)
  M Decugis (FRA) w/o
  J Richardson (RSA) 6 6 6
  C Brown (CAN) 3 1 0
  D Slíva (BOH)
  J Žemla (BOH) w/o
  D Slíva (BOH) 2 1 2
  C Brown (CAN) 6 6 6
  C Brown (CAN)
  Z Žemla (BOH) w/o

Results summary

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Rank Player Nation Round of 64 Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
  Major Ritchie   Great Britain Bye   V Gauntlett (RSA)
W 6–1, 6–4, 6–1
  W Crawley (GBR)
W 6–1, 6–4, 6–1
  M Germot (FRA)
W 6–0, 6–4r
  W Eaves (GBR)
W 2–6, 6–1, 6–4, 6–1
  O Froitzheim (GER)
W 7–5, 6–3, 6–4
  Otto Froitzheim   Germany   K Powell (GBR)
W 6–3, 6–1, 6–4
  O Kreuzer (GER)
W 6–2, 6–3, 6–3
  JC Parke (GBR)
W 6–4, 11–9, 6–4
  G Caridia (GBR)
W 6–4, 6–1, 5–7, 6–1
  J Richardson (RSA)
W 2–6, 6–1, 6–4, 6–4
  M Ritchie (GBR)
L 7–5, 6–3, 6–4
  Wilberforce Eaves   Great Britain   R Kinzl (AUT)
W 6–3, 6–1, 6–0
  K von Wessely (AUT)
W w/o
  M von Bissing (GER)
W 8–6, 7–5, 7–5
  C Dixon (GBR)
W 6–3, 7–5, 6–3
  M Ritchie (GBR)
L 2–6, 6–1, 6–4, 6–1
  J Richardson (RSA)
W 6–2, 6–2, 6–3
4 John Richardson   South Africa Bye   M Decugis (FRA)
W w/o
  J Foulkes (CAN)
W 6–2, 6–4, 6–3
  C Brown (CAN)
W 6–3, 6–1, 6–0
  O Froitzheim (GER)
L 2–6, 6–1, 6–4, 6–4
  W Eaves (GBR)
L 6–2, 6–2, 6–3
5 George Caridia   Great Britain Bye   H Kitson (RSA)
W 6–1, 6–3, 6–1
  R Powell (CAN)
W 6–4, 3–6, 6–4, 6–2
  O Froitzheim (GER)
L 6–4, 6–1, 5–7, 6–1
did not advance
Charles P. Dixon   Great Britain   F Rahe (GER)
W 6–2, 7–5, 6–4
  D Lauber (HUN)
W 6–1, 6–0, 6–0
  B Hykš (BOH)
W 6–1, 6–2, 6–3
  W Eaves (GBR)
L 6–3, 7–5, 6–3
did not advance
Maurice Germot   France Bye   H Schomburgk (GER)
W 7–5, 6–4, 6–2
  V Károly (BOH)
W w/o
  M Ritchie (GBR)
L 6–0, 6–4r
did not advance
Claude Russell-Brown   Canada Bye   Z Žemla (BOH)
W w/o
  D Slíva (BOH)
W 6–2, 6–1, 6–2
  J Richardson (RSA)
L 6–3, 6–1, 6–0
did not advance
9 Moritz von Bissing   Germany   G Ball-Greene (GBR)
W w/o
  A Zborzil (AUT)
W 6–1, 6–4, 6–4
  W Eaves (GBR)
L 8–6, 7–5, 7–5
did not advance
Walter Crawley   Great Britain Bye   G Hillyard (GBR)
W w/o
  M Ritchie (GBR)
L 6–1, 6–4, 6–1
did not advance
J. F. Foulkes   Canada Bye   R van Lennep (NED)
W 6–2, 6–4, 6–3
  J Richardson (RSA)
L 6–2, 6–4, 6–3
did not advance
Bohuslav Hykš   Bohemia   O Schmid (HUN)
W w/o
  J Zsigmondy (HUN)
W 7–5, 6–4, 3–6, 6–0
  C Dixon (GBR)
L 6–1, 6–2, 6–3
did not advance
James Cecil Parke   Great Britain   J Rössler-Ořovský (BOH)
W w/o
  E Tóth (HUN)
W 6–1, 6–3, 6–2
  O Froitzheim (GER)
L 6–4, 11–9, 6–4
did not advance
Robert Powell   Canada   C van Lennep (NED)
W 6–4, 6–1, 6–2
  L Žemla (BOH)
W 2–6, 6–0, 6–4, 6–1
  G Caridia (GBR)
L 6–4, 3–6, 6–4, 6–2
did not advance
David Slíva   Bohemia Bye   J Žemla (BOH)
W w/o
  C Brown (CAN)
L 6–2, 6–1, 6–2
did not advance
16 Victor Gauntlett (tennis)   South Africa Bye   M Ritchie (GBR)
L 6–1, 6–4, 6–1
did not advance
Harold Kitson   South Africa Bye   G Caridia (GBR)
L 6–1, 6–3, 6–1
did not advance
Oscar Kreuzer   Germany   F Pipes (AUT)
W 6–3, 6–1, 6–4
  O Froitzheim (GER)
L 6–2, 6–3, 6–3
did not advance
Dezső Lauber   Hungary Bye   C Dixon (GBR)
L 6–1, 6–0, 6–0
did not advance
Heinrich Schomburgk   Germany Bye   M Germot (FRA)
L 7–5, 6–4, 6–2
did not advance
Ede Tóth   Hungary   J Mičovský (BOH)
W 6–3, 2–1r
  JC Parke (GBR)
L 6–1, 6–3, 6–2
did not advance
Roelof van Lennep   Netherlands Bye   JF Foulkes (CAN)
L 6–2, 6–4, 6–3
did not advance
Arthur Zborzil   Austria   A Gore (GBR)
W w/o
  M von Bissing (GER)
L 6–1, 6–4, 6–4
did not advance
Ladislav Žemla   Bohemia   L Doherty (GBR)
W w/o
  R Powell (CAN)
L 2–6, 6–0, 6–4, 6–1
did not advance
Jenő Zsigmondy   Hungary   L Ivánka (HUN)
W w/o
  B Hykš (BOH)
L 7–5, 6–4, 3–6, 6–0
did not advance
26 Kenneth Powell   Great Britain   O Froitzheim (GER)
L 6–3, 6–1, 6–4
did not advance
Rolf Kinzl   Austria   W Eaves (GBR)
L 6–3, 6–1, 6–0
did not advance
Josef Mičovský   Bohemia   E Tóth (HUN)
L 6–3, 2–1r
did not advance
Felix Pipes   Austria   O Kreuzer (GER)
L 6–3, 6–1, 6–4
did not advance
Friedrich Wilhelm Rahe   Germany   C Dixon (GBR)
L 6–2, 7–5, 6–4
did not advance
Christiaan van Lennep   Netherlands   R Powell (CAN)
L 6–4, 6–1, 6–2
did not advance
Herbert Roper Barrett   Great Britain   K von Wessely (AUT)
L w/o
did not advance
G Ball-Greene   Great Britain   M von Bissing (GER)
L w/o
did not advance
Max Decugis   France Bye   J Richardson (RSA)
L w/o
did not advance
Laurence Doherty   Great Britain   L Žemla (BOH)
L w/o
did not advance
Arthur Gore   Great Britain   A Zborzil (AUT)
L w/o
did not advance
George Hillyard   Great Britain Bye   W Crawley (GBR)
L w/o
did not advance
L. Ivánka   Hungary   J Zsigmondy (HUN)
L w/o
did not advance
Vitus Károly   Bohemia Bye   H Suckling (CAN)
W w/o
  M Germot (FRA)
L w/o
did not advance
Josef Rössler-Ořovský   Bohemia   JC Parke (GBR)
L w/o
did not advance
Ödön Schmid   Hungary   B Hykš (BOH)
L w/o
did not advance
Hedley Suckling   Canada Bye   Vitus Károly (BOH)
L w/o
did not advance
Kurt von Wessely   Austria   HR Barrett (GBR)
W w/o
  W Eaves (GBR)
L w/o
did not advance
Jaroslav Žemla   Bohemia Bye   D Slíva (BOH)
L w/o
did not advance
Zdeněk Žemla   Bohemia Bye   C Brown (CAN)
L w/o
did not advance

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Singles, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  2. ^ Official Report, p. 35.
  3. ^ a b Official Report, p. 209.
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