Herbert Lawford

Herbert Fortescue Lawford (15 May 1851 – 20 April 1925) was a former world No. 1 tennis player from Scotland who won the Men's Singles championship at Wimbledon in 1887, and was runner-up a record five times (shared with Arthur Gore).

Career

File:Lawford vs Renshaw, Wimbledon in the 1880s.jpg

The 5th round All Comers' match between H.F. Lawford (left) and W. C. Renshaw at Wimbledon, won by Renshaw who went on to claim the All Comers' title on 12 July 1881.

In the 1887 final, the native of Bayswater defeated Ernest Renshaw (also of Great Britain) in five sets: 1–6, 6–3, 3–6, 6–4, 6–4. He reached the finals of Wimbledon in 1880, 1884–86, and 1888.

Lawford won the first major men's doubles tennis tournament, the Oxford University Men's Doubles Championship, in 1879 partnering Lestocq Robert Erskine. This event was a precursor to the Wimbledon men's doubles championship, introduced in 1884, and it was played over the best of seven sets ending in a score of 4–6, 6–4, 6–5, 6–2, 3–6, 5–6, 7–5.Template:Efn In 1885 he won the singles title at the inaugural British Covered Court Championships.

Birth of the topspin: the Lawford-stroke

Lawford is said to be the first person to introduce "topspin" to the game of tennis. His formidable forehand was called 'the Lawford stroke'. Lawford made a more substantial contribution in technically advancing the game. He unveiled the “Lawford forehand,” introducing topspin into the sport with that revolutionary shot. Aggressive and unwavering, he was equipped with power, speed and uncanny accuracy. He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2006.

Grand Slam finals

Singles (1 title, 5 runners-up)

Result	Date	Championship	Surface	Opponent	Score
Loss	1880	Wimbledon	Grass	Template:Flagicon John Hartley	3–6, 2–6, 6–2, 3–6
Loss	1884	Wimbledon	Grass	Template:Flagicon William Renshaw	0–6, 4–6, 7–9
Loss	1885	Wimbledon	Grass	Template:Flagicon William Renshaw	5–7, 2–6, 6–4, 5–7
Loss	1886	Wimbledon	Grass	Template:Flagicon William Renshaw	0–6, 7–5, 3–6, 4–6
Win	1887	Wimbledon	Grass	Template:Flagicon Ernest Renshaw	1–6, 6–3, 3–6, 6–4, 6–4
Loss	1888	Wimbledon	Grass	Template:Flagicon Ernest Renshaw	3–6, 5–7, 0–6

External links

• Template:Tennis Hall of Fame
• Template:ATP