Blanche Bingley
Encyclopedia
Blanche Bingley was an English tennis player
.
Born in Greenford
in the London Borough of Ealing
, Blanche Bingley was a member of the "Ealing Lawn Tennis & Archery Club." In 1884, she competed in the first ever Wimbledon championships
for women and two years later captured the first of her six singles titles. A seven time runner-up, Bingley's thirteen finals remain a Wimbledon record as is the fourteen year time span between her first and last title.
Bingley's Wimbledon record suggests that she was the second strongest female player of her day, being inferior only to Lottie Dod
, who defeated her in no fewer than five finals.
As tradition in her era dictated, once married Bingley was recorded with her husband's name and is usually listed in various records as Blanche Bingley Hillyard. At age thirty-seven, she made it to the Wimbledon finals and continued to compete until age forty-eight, playing in her last Wimbledon tourney in 1912.
During her career, Blanche Bingley also won the Irish championships on three occasions and the German title twice.
Blanche Bingley Hillyard died in London in 1946.
Her husband Commander George Whiteside Hillyard
was one of the foremost men's players on the international tennis circuit between 1886 and 1914. He also played first class cricket for Middlesex and Leicestershire. From 1907 to 1925, he was secretary of the All England Lawn Tennis Club and director of The Championships at Wimbledon between 1907 and 1925. He died in Bramfold, Pulborough, on Wednesday, 24 March 1943.
1This was actually the all-comers final as Lottie Dod
did not defend her 1888 Wimbledon title, which resulted in the winner of the all-comers final winning the challenge round and, thus, Wimbledon in 1889 by walkover.
2This was actually the all-comers final as Lottie Dod did not defend her 1893 Wimbledon title, which resulted in the winner of the all-comers final winning the challenge round and, thus, Wimbledon in 1894 by walkover.
1This was actually the all-comers final as Helena Rice did not defend her 1890 Wimbledon title, which resulted in the winner of the all-comers final winning the challenge round and, thus, Wimbledon in 1891 by walkover.
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
.
Born in Greenford
Greenford
Greenford is a large suburb in the London Borough of Ealing in west London, UK. It was historically an ancient parish in the former county of Middlesex. The most prominent landmarks in the suburb are the A40, a major dual-carriageway; Horsenden Hill, above sea level; the small Parish Church of...
in the London Borough of Ealing
London Borough of Ealing
The London Borough of Ealing is a borough in west London.-Location:The London Borough of Ealing borders the London Borough of Hillingdon to the west, the London Borough of Harrow and the London Borough of Brent to the north, the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham to the east and the London...
, Blanche Bingley was a member of the "Ealing Lawn Tennis & Archery Club." In 1884, she competed in the first ever Wimbledon championships
The Championships, Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors...
for women and two years later captured the first of her six singles titles. A seven time runner-up, Bingley's thirteen finals remain a Wimbledon record as is the fourteen year time span between her first and last title.
Bingley's Wimbledon record suggests that she was the second strongest female player of her day, being inferior only to Lottie Dod
Lottie Dod
Charlotte "Lottie" Dod was an English sportswoman best known as a tennis player. She won the Wimbledon Ladies' Singles Championship five times, the first one when she was only fifteen, in the summer of 1887...
, who defeated her in no fewer than five finals.
As tradition in her era dictated, once married Bingley was recorded with her husband's name and is usually listed in various records as Blanche Bingley Hillyard. At age thirty-seven, she made it to the Wimbledon finals and continued to compete until age forty-eight, playing in her last Wimbledon tourney in 1912.
During her career, Blanche Bingley also won the Irish championships on three occasions and the German title twice.
Blanche Bingley Hillyard died in London in 1946.
Her husband Commander George Whiteside Hillyard
George Hillyard
Commander George Whiteside Hillyard, Royal Navy, was a male tennis player from the United Kingdom.Hillyard was born in Hanwell, Middlesex. He was a naval cadet aboard the HMS Bacchante in 1881....
was one of the foremost men's players on the international tennis circuit between 1886 and 1914. He also played first class cricket for Middlesex and Leicestershire. From 1907 to 1925, he was secretary of the All England Lawn Tennis Club and director of The Championships at Wimbledon between 1907 and 1925. He died in Bramfold, Pulborough, on Wednesday, 24 March 1943.
Grand Slam record
- Wimbledon
- Singles champion: 1886, 1889, 1894, 1897, 1899, 1900
- Singles runner-up: 1885, 1887, 1888, 1891, 1892, 1893, 1901
Wins (6)
| Year | Championship | Opponent in Final | Score in Final |
| 1886 | Wimbledon |  Maud WatsonMaud Watson Maud Watson was an English tennis player.Born in Harrow, London, the daughter of a local vicar, she began playing competitive tennis in 1881. Undefeated in tournament play, in 1884 the nineteen-year-old Watson won the first ever Ladies’ Singles title at Wimbledon... |
6–3, 6–3 |
| 18891 | Wimbledon (2) | Helena Rice |
4–6, 8–6, 6–4 |
| 18942 | Wimbledon (3) | Edith Austin Greville |
6–1, 6–1 |
| 1897 | Wimbledon (4) | Charlotte Cooper Sterry |
5–7, 7–5, 6–2 |
| 1899 | Wimbledon (5) | Charlotte Cooper Sterry |
6–2, 6–3 |
| 1900 | Wimbledon (6) | Charlotte Cooper Sterry |
4–6, 6–4, 6–4 |
1This was actually the all-comers final as Lottie Dod
Lottie Dod
Charlotte "Lottie" Dod was an English sportswoman best known as a tennis player. She won the Wimbledon Ladies' Singles Championship five times, the first one when she was only fifteen, in the summer of 1887...
did not defend her 1888 Wimbledon title, which resulted in the winner of the all-comers final winning the challenge round and, thus, Wimbledon in 1889 by walkover.
2This was actually the all-comers final as Lottie Dod did not defend her 1893 Wimbledon title, which resulted in the winner of the all-comers final winning the challenge round and, thus, Wimbledon in 1894 by walkover.
Runner-ups (7)
| Year | Championship | Opponent in Final | Score in Final |
| 1885 | Wimbledon |  Maud WatsonMaud Watson Maud Watson was an English tennis player.Born in Harrow, London, the daughter of a local vicar, she began playing competitive tennis in 1881. Undefeated in tournament play, in 1884 the nineteen-year-old Watson won the first ever Ladies’ Singles title at Wimbledon... |
6–1, 7–5 |
| 1887 | Wimbledon | Lottie Dod Lottie Dod Charlotte "Lottie" Dod was an English sportswoman best known as a tennis player. She won the Wimbledon Ladies' Singles Championship five times, the first one when she was only fifteen, in the summer of 1887... |
6–2, 6–0 |
| 1888 | Wimbledon | Lottie Dod |
6–3, 6–3 |
| 18911 | Wimbledon | Lottie Dod |
6–2, 6–1 |
| 1892 | Wimbledon | Lottie Dod |
6–1, 6–1 |
| 1893 | Wimbledon | Lottie Dod |
6–8, 6–1, 6–4 |
| 1901 | Wimbledon | Charlotte Cooper Sterry |
6–2, 6–2 |
1This was actually the all-comers final as Helena Rice did not defend her 1890 Wimbledon title, which resulted in the winner of the all-comers final winning the challenge round and, thus, Wimbledon in 1891 by walkover.