Dorothea Douglass Chambers
Encyclopedia
Dorothea Katherine Lambert Chambers (née Douglas) (3 September 1878 – 7 January 1960) was an English
female tennis player who was born in Guayamas, Ealing
in the United Kingdom
.
. Three years later, she won her first of seven ladies singles
titles. In 1907, she married Robert Lambert Chambers and was thereafter known by her married surname Lambert Chambers.
She wrote Tennis for Ladies, which was published in 1910. The book contained photographs of tennis techniques. It also contained advice on attire and equipment.
In 1911, Lambert Chambers won the women's final at Wimbledon 6–0, 6–0. The only other female player who won a Grand Slam
singles final without losing a game was Steffi Graf
when she defeated Natalia Zvereva in the 1988 French Open
final.
In 1919, Lambert Chambers played the longest Wimbledon final up to that time: 44 games against Frenchwoman Suzanne Lenglen
. Lambert Chambers held two match points at 6–5 in the third set but eventually lost to Lenglen 8–10, 6–4, 9–7.
Lambert Chambers retired from singles play in 1921 but continued to compete in doubles until 1927. From 1924 to 1926, she captained Britain's Wightman Cup
team and in 1928 turned to professional coaching.
Lambert Chambers was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame
in 1981. She died in Kensington
, London
.
1This was actually the all-comers final as Muriel Robb
did not defend her 1902 Wimbledon title, which resulted in the winner of the all-comers final winning the challenge round and, thus, Wimbledon in 1903 by walkover.
2This was actually the all-comers final as Ethel Thomson Larcombe did not defend her 1912 Wimbledon title, which resulted in the winner of the all-comers final winning the challenge round and, thus, Wimbledon in 1913 by walkover.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
female tennis player who was born in Guayamas, Ealing
Ealing
Ealing is a suburban area of west London, England and the administrative centre of the London Borough of Ealing. It is located west of Charing Cross and around from the City of London. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically a rural village...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Biography
She was born in 1878 as Dorothea Katherine Douglass. In 1900, Douglass made her debut at WimbledonThe 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...
. Three years later, she won her first of seven ladies singles
Singles (tennis)
Traditionally, tennis is played between two people in a singles match, or two pairs in a doubles match.-Standard types of match:Singles involves two players competing against each other, usually two men or two women, although games between a man and a woman may be played on an informal...
titles. In 1907, she married Robert Lambert Chambers and was thereafter known by her married surname Lambert Chambers.
She wrote Tennis for Ladies, which was published in 1910. The book contained photographs of tennis techniques. It also contained advice on attire and equipment.
In 1911, Lambert Chambers won the women's final at Wimbledon 6–0, 6–0. The only other female player who won a Grand Slam
Grand Slam (tennis)
The four Major tennis tournaments, also called the Slams, are the most important tennis events of the year in terms of world tour ranking points, tradition, prize-money awarded, strength and size of player field, and public attention. They are the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and...
singles final without losing a game was Steffi Graf
Steffi Graf
Steffi Graf is a former World No. 1 German tennis player.In total, Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, second among male and female players only to Margaret Court's 24...
when she defeated Natalia Zvereva in the 1988 French Open
1988 French Open
List of the 1988 French Open champions:-Men's singles: Mats Wilander def. Henri Leconte, 7–5, 6–2, 6–1*It was Wilander's 6th career Grand Slam title, and his 3rd French Open title.-Women's singles: Steffi Graf def...
final.
In 1919, Lambert Chambers played the longest Wimbledon final up to that time: 44 games against Frenchwoman Suzanne Lenglen
Suzanne Lenglen
Suzanne Rachel Flore Lenglen was a French tennis player who won 31 Championship titles between 1914 and 1926...
. Lambert Chambers held two match points at 6–5 in the third set but eventually lost to Lenglen 8–10, 6–4, 9–7.
Lambert Chambers retired from singles play in 1921 but continued to compete in doubles until 1927. From 1924 to 1926, she captained Britain's Wightman Cup
Wightman Cup
The Wightman Cup was a team tennis competition for women contested from 1923 through 1989 between teams from the United States and Great Britain. U.S. player Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman wanted to generate international interest in women's tennis the way Davis Cup did for men's...
team and in 1928 turned to professional coaching.
Lambert Chambers was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame
International Tennis Hall of Fame
The International Tennis Hall of Fame is located in Newport, Rhode Island, United States. The hall of fame and honors players and contributors to the sport of tennis and includes a museum, grass tennis courts, an indoor tennis facility, and a court tennis facility.-History:The hall of fame and...
in 1981. She died in Kensington
Kensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Grand Slam record
- Wimbledon
- Singles champion: 1903, 1904, 1906, 1910, 1911, 1913, 1914
- Singles runner-up: 1905, 1907, 1919, 1920
- Women's Doubles runner-up: 1913, 1919, 1920
- Mixed Doubles runner-up: 1919
Wins (7)
| Year | Championship | Opponent in Final | Score in Final |
| 19031 | Wimbledon |  Ethel Thomson LarcombeEthel Thomson Larcombe Ethel Larcombe was a former British female tennis player... |
4–6, 6–4, 6–2 |
| 1904 | Wimbledon (2) | Charlotte Cooper Sterry |
6–0, 6–3 |
| 1906 | Wimbledon (3) |  May Sutton Bundy |
6–3, 9–7 |
| 1910 | Wimbledon (4) | Dora Boothby Dora Boothby Penelope Dora Harvey Boothby was a former English female tennis player. She was born in Finchley, Middlesex. She is best remembered for her ladies' singles title at the 1909 Wimbledon Championships.-Biography:... |
6–2, 6–2 |
| 1911 | Wimbledon (5) | Dora Boothby |
6–0, 6–0 |
| 19132 | Wimbledon (6) | Winifred Slocock McNair |
6–0, 6–4 |
| 1914 | Wimbledon (7) | Ethel Thomson Larcombe |
7–5, 6–4 |
1This was actually the all-comers final as Muriel Robb
Muriel Robb
Muriel Evelyn Robb was a former British female tennis player. She is best remembered for her ladies' singles title at the 1902 Wimbledon Championships...
did not defend her 1902 Wimbledon title, which resulted in the winner of the all-comers final winning the challenge round and, thus, Wimbledon in 1903 by walkover.
2This was actually the all-comers final as Ethel Thomson Larcombe did not defend her 1912 Wimbledon title, which resulted in the winner of the all-comers final winning the challenge round and, thus, Wimbledon in 1913 by walkover.
Runner-ups (4)
| Year | Championship | Opponent in Final | Score in Final |
| 1905 | Wimbledon | May Sutton Bundy |
6–3, 6–4 |
| 1907 | Wimbledon | May Sutton Bundy |
6–1, 6–4 |
| 1919 | Wimbledon |  Suzanne LenglenSuzanne Lenglen Suzanne Rachel Flore Lenglen was a French tennis player who won 31 Championship titles between 1914 and 1926... |
10–8, 4–6, 9–7 |
| 1920 | Wimbledon | Suzanne Lenglen |
6–3, 6–0 |