Wilfred Baddeley

Wilfred Baddeley (11 January 1872 – 24 January 1929) was a British male tennis player and the elder of the Baddeley twins.

Career

File:The Lawn Tennis Championship at Wimbledon 1891, Messrs W Baddeley and J Pim competing for the Finals.jpg

The Lawn Tennis Championship at Wimbledon 1891, Messrs Baddeley and Pim competing for the Finals

Wilfred, the better-known competitor, made his debut at Wimbledon in 1889 and he went on to win singles title three times in 1891, 1892 and 1895. His 6–4, 1–6, 7–5, 6–0 win over Joshua Pim in 1891 at the age of 19 years and five months made him, until Boris Becker in 1985, the youngest men's singles champion at Wimbledon. He was also runner-up in 1893, 1894 and 1896. With Herbert, he won four doubles championships at Wimbledon in 1891, 1894 – 1896. The twins retired from competitive lawn tennis after the 1897 Wimbledon Championships to pursue their law careers but made a reappearance in the doubles event at Wimbledon in 1904 and 1905. In total he participated in eight Wimbledon singles tournaments and eleven doubles tournaments between 1889 and 1905.

Baddeley was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2013.

Professional life

In February 1895 the brothers qualified in London as solicitors. They joined their uncle and father Thomas and E. P. Baddeley in Leadenhall Street at the family firm, founded by their great-grandfather in 1790. The brothers remained partners in the firm until 1919, when they retired leaving their cousin, Cyril Baddeley, to carry on in the family name.

Grand Slam finals

Singles: 6 (3 titles, 3 runners-up)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Opponent	Score
Win	1891	Wimbledon	Grass	Template:Flagicon Joshua Pim	6–4, 1–6, 7–5, 6–0
Win	1892	Wimbledon	Grass	Template:Flagicon Joshua Pim	4–6, 6–3, 6–3, 6–2
Loss	1893	Wimbledon	Grass	Template:Flagicon Joshua Pim	6–3, 1–6, 3–6, 2–6
Loss	1894	Wimbledon	Grass	Template:Flagicon Joshua Pim	8–10, 2–6, 6–8
Win	1895	Wimbledon	Grass	Template:Flagicon W. V. Eaves	4–6, 2–6, 8–6, 6–2, 6–3
Loss	1896	Wimbledon	Grass	Template:Flagicon Harold Mahony	2–6, 8–6, 7–5, 6–8, 3–6

Doubles: 6 (4 titles, 2 runner-ups)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Win	1891	Wimbledon	Grass	Template:Flagicon Herbert Baddeley	Template:Flagicon Joshua Pim Template:Flagicon Frank Stoker	6–1, 6–3, 1–6, 6–2
Loss	1892	Wimbledon	Gras	Template:Flagicon Herbert Baddeley	Template:Flagicon Ernest Lewis Template:Flagicon Harold Barlow	6–4, 2–6, 6–8, 4–6
Win	1894	Wimbledon	Grass	Template:Flagicon Herbert Baddeley	Template:Flagicon Harold Barlow Template:Flagicon Ernest Lewis	5–7, 7–5, 4–6, 6–3, 8–6
Win	1895	Wimbledon	Grass	Template:Flagicon Herbert Baddeley	Template:Flagicon Ernest Lewis Template:Flagicon Herbert Wilberforce	8–6, 5–7, 6–4, 6–3
Win	1896	Wimbledon	Grass	Template:Flagicon Herbert Baddeley	Template:Flagicon Reginald Doherty Template:Flagicon Harold Nisbet	1–6, 3–6, 6–4, 6–2, 6–1
Loss	1897	Wimbledon	Grass	Template:Flagicon Herbert Baddeley	Template:Flagicon Reginald Doherty Template:Flagicon Laurence Doherty	4–6, 6–4, 6–8, 4–6

External links

• Template:Tennis Hall of Fame