Beals Wright
 |
| Full name |
Beals Coleman Wright |
| Country |
 United States |
| Born |
December 19, 1879
Boston, MA, USA |
| Died |
August 23, 1961(1961-08-23) (aged 81)
Alton, IL, USA |
| Plays |
Left-handed (1-handed backhand) |
| Int. Tennis HOF |
1956 (member page) |
| Singles |
| Highest ranking |
No. 2 (1905, Karoly Mazak)[1] |
| Grand Slam Singles results |
| Wimbledon |
F (1910) |
| US Open |
W (1905) |
| Other tournaments |
| Olympic Games |
 Gold Medal (1904) |
| Doubles |
| Grand Slam Doubles results |
| US Open |
W (1904, 1905, 1906) |
| Other Doubles tournaments |
| Olympic Games |
Gold Medal (1904) |
|
Last updated on: September 11, 2012.
|
Beals Coleman Wright (December 19, 1879 - August 23, 1961), was an American male tennis player.
Biography [edit]
Beals was born in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, the son of Cincinnati Red Stockings great George Wright and nephew of Cincinnati Red Stockings team founder Harry Wright. In 1890 Beals Wright travelled with his father George to California where he played at the Delmonte Tennis Championship in Monterey. George Wright managed the team the same year he coached at Harvard. Two Harvard University players participated in the DelMonte Tournament-the first time east coast players took on California tennis champions. (Source:David Sentance, SCCA Cricket historian-research in progress.)
Wright played at the 1904 St. Louis Olympics and won Gold medals in both the singles and doubles competition. He also won three consecutive singles titles (1904–1906) at the tournament now known as the Cincinnati Masters, and reached the doubles final (with Edgar Leonard) in 1904.
Wright won the Canadian Tennis Championship, played in Niagara-on-the-Lake, in 1902, 1903 and 1904.[2] In 1902 he won the Niagara International Tennis Tournament, also played in Niagara-on-the-Lake, by defeating Harold Hackett in the final in five sets and the default of Raymond Little in the challenge round.[3]
Wright's most important victory came in 1905 when he won the men's singles title at the U.S. National Championships by defeating reigning champion Holcombe Ward in the Challenge Round in straight sets 6–2, 6–1, 11–9.[4]
Beals was the brother of Irving Wright, the 1917 and 1918 U.S. Championship men's doubles champion. Together they won the men's doubles title at the Canadian Tennis Championship four times (1902, 1903, 1904, 1905).[2]
Beals Wright was inducted in the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1956. He died in Alton, Illinois.[5]
Playing style [edit]
In their book R.F. and H.L. Doherty - On Lawn Tennis (1903) multiple Wimbledon champions Reginald and Lawrence Doherty described Wright's playing style:
| “ |
Beals Wright is certainly the best in America at low volleys, and is very good overhead. His volleying is distinctly superior to his ground strokes, and his forehand somewhat stronger than his backhand. He has a good service, which he follows up to the net. |
” |
On Lawn Tennis - 1903[6]
Grand Slam record [edit]
U.S. National Championships [edit]
- Singles champion: 1905
- Singles finalist: 1901, 1906, 1908
- Doubles champion: 1904, 1905, 1906
- Doubles finalist: 1901, 1908, 1918
Grand Slam singles finals [edit]
Titles (1) [edit]
Runner-ups (3) [edit]
Grand Slam doubles finals [edit]
Titles (3) [edit]
Runners-up (3) [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ Mazak, Karoly (2010). The Concise History of Tennis, p. 33.
- ^ a b "Wright Brothers Win at Tennis" (PDF). The New York Times. July 13, 1902.
- ^ Ohnsorg, Roger W. Robert Lindley Murray: The Reluctant U.S. Tennis Champion. Victoria, BC: Trafford On Demand Pub. p. 339. ISBN 978-1-4269-4514-4.
- ^ Collins, Bud (2010). The Bud Collins History of Tennis (2nd ed. ed.). [New York]: New Chapter Press. p. 456. ISBN 978-0942257700.
- ^ "Hall of Famers - Beals Wright". 1 International Tennis Hall of Fame. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
- ^ Doherty, R.F. (1903). R.F. and H.L. Doherty on Lawn Tennis (1st ed.). London: Lawn Tennis. p. 63.
External links [edit]
| Persondata |
| Name |
Wright, Beals |
| Alternative names |
|
| Short description |
American tennis player |
| Date of birth |
December 19, 1879 |
| Place of birth |
Boston, USA |
| Date of death |
August 23, 1961 |
| Place of death |
Alton, Illinois, USA |
United States
Gold Medal (1904)
Holcombe Ward
Fred Alexander
