Arthur William Charles Wentworth Gore (2 January 1868 – 1 December 1928) was a British tennis player.[3]

Arthur Gore
Full nameArthur William Charles Wentworth Gore
Country (sports) United Kingdom
Born(1868-01-02)2 January 1868
Lyndhurst, England
Died1 December 1928(1928-12-01) (aged 60)
Kensington, England
Turned pro1888 (amateur tour)
Retired1927
PlaysRight-handed (one-handed backhand)
Int. Tennis HoF2006 (member page)
Singles
Career record373–127 (74.6%)[1]
Career titles51[1]
Highest rankingNo. 1 (1901, ITHF)[2]
Grand Slam singles results
WimbledonW (1901, 1908, 1909)
US OpenSF (1900)
Other tournaments
WHCC2R (1912, 1914)
WCCC1R (1921)
Doubles
Grand Slam doubles results
WimbledonW (1909)
Other doubles tournaments
WHCCF (1914)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Wimbledon2R (1913, 1922)
Team competitions
Davis CupW (1912)
Medal record
Representing  Great Britain
Tennis, Summer Olympics
Gold medal – first place 1908 London Indoor Singles
Gold medal – first place 1908 London Indoor Doubles

He is best known for winning three singles titles at the Wimbledon Championship and was runner-up a record 5 times (shared with Herbert Lawford). He also won gold medals at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, England, winning the Men's Indoor Singles and the Men's Indoor Doubles (with Herbert Barrett). He also competed at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden.[4] Gore's Wimbledon win in 1909, at age 41, makes him the oldest player to date to hold the Wimbledon Gentlemen's Singles title.[5]

Early life

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Gore was born in Lyndhurst, Hampshire, and grew up in France, the third son of Captain Augustus Frederick Wentworth Gore and Hon. Emily Anne Curzon. His father was the sole surviving son of noted novelist Catherine Gore and Charles Arthur Gore.[6] His mother was a member of the Curzon family, the daughter of MP Robert Curzon and granddaughter of Viscount Curzon.[7]

Career

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He played his first tournament at London Athletic Club in 1887,[8] and his first title came at a grass court tournament in Stevenage in August 1888.[9] Gore won the singles title at the Scottish Championships in 1892 and successfully defended the title in the Challenge Round in 1893.[10] In 1894 he won the North London Championships[11] on grass, a tournament that he won five times (1894, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1906).[9] He won the singles title at the Kent Championships on two occasions; in 1900 by defeating Harold Mahony in the final in straight sets, and in 1906 against A.L. Bentley, also in straight sets. In 1900 and 1908 he won the singles title at the British Covered Court Championships, played at the Queen's Club in London. In May 1908 he won the singles title at the British Covered Court Championships, played at the Queen's Club in London, defeating New Zealander Anthony Wilding in the Challenge Round in four sets.[12] Gore had the longest ever span (34 years) in the Wimbledon men's singles (he entered a record 30 times in singles from 1888 to 1922).,[13] In addition he also won the Leicestershire Championships three times (1913, 1914, 1919) and the Nottinghamshire Championships four times (1905, 1910, 1912, 1913).[9] He also holds the all-time record for the longest tennis career of any player between their first and last titles, that being 30 years, 11 months and one day.[14] Gore was a successful all surface player winning 51 singles titles and reaching the finals of 26 other tournaments on clay, grass and hard asphalt & wood courts from 1888 to 1919.[9]

Gore was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2006.

Grand Slam finals

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Singles: 8 (3 titles, 5 runner-ups)

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Result Date Championship Surface Opponent Score
Loss 1899 Wimbledon Grass   Reginald Doherty 6–1, 6–4, 3–6, 3–6, 3–6 [15]
Win 1901 Wimbledon Grass   Reginald Doherty 4–6, 7–5, 6–4, 6–4 [15]
Loss 1902 Wimbledon Grass   Laurence Doherty 4–6, 3–6, 6–3, 0–6 [15]
Loss 1907 Wimbledon Grass   Norman Brookes 4–6, 2–6, 2–6 [15]
Win 1908 Wimbledon Grass   Herbert Roper Barrett 6–3, 6–2, 4–6, 3–6, 6–4 [15]
Win 1909 Wimbledon Grass   Major Ritchie 6–8, 1–6, 6–2, 6–2, 6–2 [15]
Loss 1910 Wimbledon Grass   Anthony Wilding 4–6, 5–7, 6–4, 2–6 [15]
Loss 1912 Wimbledon Grass   Anthony Wilding 4–6, 4–6, 6–4, 4–6 [15]

Doubles: 3 (1 title, 2 runner-ups)

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Result Date Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 1908 Wimbledon Grass   Herbert Roper Barrett   Major Ritchie
  Anthony Wilding
1–6, 2–6, 6–1, 7–9 [16]
Win 1909 Wimbledon Grass   Herbert Roper Barrett   Stanley Doust
  Harry Parker
6–2, 6–1, 6–4 [16]
Loss 1910 Wimbledon Grass   Herbert Roper Barrett   Major Ritchie
  Anthony Wilding
1–6, 1–6, 2–6 [16]

Performance timeline

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Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# DNQ A NH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.

Events with a challenge round: (WC) won; (CR) lost the challenge round; (FA) all comers' finalist

1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 '16–'18 1919 1920 1921 1922 SR W–L Win %
Grand Slam tournaments 3 / 31 67–27 71.28
French only for French club members 0 / 0 0–0
Wimbledon 2R 1R 1R 2R QF 2R 1R A 1R 2R SF CR FA WC CR 2R QF SF FA F W WC CR 4R CR 4R QF not held 1R 2R 1R 1R 3 / 30 64–26 71.1
U.S. A A A A A A A A A A A A 4R A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A 0 / 1 3–1 75.0
Australian not held A A A A A A A A A A A NH A A A A 0 / 0 0–0
Win–loss 0–1 0–1 0–1 1–1 2–1 1–1 0–1 0–0 0–1 1–0 3–1 5–1 7–2 6–0 0–1 1–1 2–1 4–1 5–1 5–1 6–0 1–0 0–1 3–1 6–1 3–1 4–1 0–0 0–0 0–1 1–1 0–1 0–1
National representation
Olympics Not held A Not held A Not held A Not held A G Not held A 2R Not held A Not held 1 / 2 3–2 60.0

Career finals

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Gore at the 1912 World Hard Court Championships in Paris.

Singles 77 (51 titles, 26 runner-ups)

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Legend
Grand Slam/Important tournaments (3–5)
Olympic Games (1–0)
Titles by surface
Hard (6–5)
Clay (11–1)
Grass (32–18)
Titles by location
Outdoors (45–21)
Indoors (5–4)
Result No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Win 1. 1888 Stevenage LTC Championships Grass   George Ernest Brown 0–6, 6–1, 6–4[9]
Win 2. 1888 Hitchin LTC Championships Grass   Arthur Hallward 3–6, 6–3, 6–3[9]
Win 3. 1889 Dinard Challenge Cup Clay   Réginald Forbes 6–4, 6–3, 6–3[9]
Win 4. 1890 Chingford Open Championships[17] Clay   Charles Gladstone Eames 3–6, 6–3, 7–5, 4–6, 6–2[9]
Win 5. 1890 Dinard Challenge Cup Clay   Horace Chapman 6–3, 3–6, 7–5, 6–4[9]
Loss 1. 1891 Kent Championships Grass   Ernest George Meers 0–6, 2–6, 2–6[9]
Win 6. 1891 Chingford Open Championships Clay   Charles Eames 10–12, 2–6, 6–2, 6–3, 6–3[9]
Win 7. 1891 Dinard Challenge Cup Clay   Horace Chapman 11–9 ret.[9]
Win 8. 1892 Scottish Championships Grass   Robert Millar Watson 6–3, 6–3, 6–0[9]
Win 9. 1892 Chingford Open Championships Clay   Charles Eames 6–4, 6–2, 6–1[9]
Win 10. 1892 Dinard Challenge Cup Clay   Archdale Palmer 6–3, 6–2, 1–6, 5–7, 6–3[9]
Win 11. 1893 Scottish Championships Grass   Robert Millar Watson 6–3, 7–5, 4–6, 7–5[9]
Win 12. 1893 Dinard Challenge Cup Clay   Archdale Palmer 3–6, 6–4, 0–6, 8–6, 6–3[9]
Win 13. 1894 North London Championships Grass   Arthur Hallward 4–6, 6–2, 6–3, 6–2[9]
Loss 3. 1896 North London Championships Grass   Herbert Roper Barrett 3–6 4–6 6–3 2–6[9]
Win 14. 1898 North London Championships Grass   Herbert Roper Barrett 6–3, 2–6, 6–3, 6–3[9]
Win 15. 1898 Dinard Challenge Cup Clay   E. K. Harvey 6–2, 6–2, 6–0[9]
Loss 4. 1899 Wimbledon Championships Grass   Reginald Doherty 6–1, 6–4, 3–6, 3–6, 3–6[9]
Win 16. 1899 North London Championships Grass   Herbert Roper Barrett 6–2, 8–6, 9–7[9]
Loss 5. 1896 London Championships Grass   Harold Mahony 10–8, 2–6, 5–7, 1–6[9]
Loss 6. 1899 Dinard Challenge Cup Clay   Harold Mahony 4–6 2–6 4–6[9]
Win 17. 1900 British Covered Court Championships Hard (i)   Major Ritchie 6–1, 7–5, 6–3[9]
Loss 7. 1900 Irish Championships Grass   Harold Mahony 4–6, 5–7, 9–7, 3–6[9]
Loss 8. 1900 Middlesex Championships Grass   Harold Mahony 2–6 4–6 2–6[9]
Win 18. 1900 Kent Championships Grass   Harold Mahony 6–4, 6–4, 6–4[9]
Win 19. 1900 North London Championships Grass   Herbert Roper Barrett 6–3, 6–4, 6–0[9]
Loss 9. 1900 Queen's Club Championships Grass   Arthur W. Lavy 6–0, 6–2, 6–3[9]
Loss 10. 1901 British Covered Court Championships Hard (i)   Laurence Doherty 3–6, 1–6, 1–6[9]
Loss 11. 1901 Kent Championships Grass   Laurence Doherty 1–6, 3–6, 6–3, 4–6[9]
Win 20. 1901 Wimbledon Championships Grass   Reginald Doherty 4–6, 7–5, 6–4, 6–4[9]
Loss 12. 1902 Wimbledon Championships Grass   Laurence Doherty 4–6, 3–6, 6–3, 0–6[9]
Loss 13. 1903 Kent Championships Grass   Laurence Doherty 1–6, 2–6, 3–6[9]
Win 21. 1903 All England Plate Grass   Clarence Hobart 7–5, 6–3[9]
Win 22. 1903 Etretat LTC Championships Clay   Archdale Palmer 6–2, 6–3, 6–1[9]
Win 23. 1903 London Covered Court Championships Hard (i)   Major Ritchie 8–6, 1–6, 7–5, 6–4[9]
Win 24. 1904 Paris International Championships Clay   Max Decugis 3–6, 5–7, 6–3, 7–5, 6–2[9]
Loss 14. 1904 London Covered Court Championships Hard (i)   Max Decugis 2–6 6–3, 6–0, 1–6, 4–6[9]
Loss 15. 1905 Kent Championships Grass   Norman Brookes 3–6, 7–9, 2–6[9]
Win 25. 1905 East Surrey Championships Grass   Anthony Wilding 6–3, 6–3, 6–1[9]
Win 26. 1905 Nottinghamshire Championships Grass   Roy Allen w.o.[9]
Win 27. 1905 Crystal Palace Open Grass   Anthony Wilding 6–4, 6–2.[9]
Win 28. 1905 Shanklin LTC Championships Grass   Anthony Wilding 6–2, 6–3, 4–6, 6–1[9]
Win 29. 1905 London Covered Court Championships Hard (i)   Major Ritchie 2–6 6–3, 6–0, 1–6, 4–6[9]
Loss 16. 1906 British Covered Court Championships Hard (i)   Laurence Doherty 2–6, 4–6, 6–8[9]
Win 30. 1906 East Surrey Championships Grass   Sydney Adams 6–2, 6–3, 6–4[9]
Win 31. 1906 Kent Championships Grass   A. L. Bentley 6–0 6–2 6–1[9]
Win 32. 1906 North London Championships Grass   Herbert Roper Barrett 4–6, 7–5, 7–5, 3–0, ret.[9]
Win 33. 1906 Nottinghamshire Championships Grass   Herbert Snook 6–2, 6–4, 6–3[9]
Win 34. 1906 Crystal Palace Open Grass   George Allen Thomas 6–1, 6–3[9]
Win 35. 1906 Shanklin LTC Championships Grass   George Caridia 6–1, 6–4, 6–4[9]
Win 37. 1906 Sussex Championships Grass   Major Ritchie 6–2, 6–3, 6–3[9]
Win 38. 1907 Kent Coast Championships Hard   Major Ritchie 7–5, 6–2, 4–6, ret.[9]
Win 39. 1907 Surrey Championships Hard   Major Ritchie 6–3, 6–2, 6–3[9]
Loss 17. 1906 East of Surrey Championships Grass   Major Ritchie 6–0, 6–2, 2–6, 3–6, 3–6[9]
Loss 18. 1907 Kent Championships Grass   Anthony Wilding 7–9, 2–6, 6–3, 6–0, 1–6[9]
Loss 19. 1907 Wimbledon Championships Grass   Norman Brookes 4–6, 2–6, 2–6[9]
Win 40. 1907 Shanklin LTC Championships Grass   Charles Henry Ridding 7–5, 6–2, 6–1[9]
Loss 20. 1907 Kent Coast Championships Hard   Herbert Roper Barrett 4–6 4–6 6–4 7–9[9]
Win 41. 1908 British Covered Court Championships Hard (i)   Anthony Wilding 4–6, 8–6, 6–0, 8–6[9]
Win 42. 1908 Olympic Championships Hard (i)   George Caridia 6–3, 7–5, 6–4[9]
Loss 21. 1908 Surrey Championships Grass   Major Ritchie 3–6, 4–6, 2–6[9]
Win 43. 1908 Northern Championships Grass   James Cecil Parke 6–3, 4–6, 6–1, 6–8, 6–4[9]
Win 44. 1908 Wimbledon Championships Grass   Herbert Roper Barrett 6–3, 6–2, 4–6, 3–6, 6–4[9]
Loss 22. 1909 British Covered Court Championships Hard (i)   Major Ritchie 5–7, 6–8, 3–6[9]
Win 45. 1909 Wimbledon Championships Grass   Major Ritchie 6–8, 1–6, 6–2, 6–2, 6–2[9]
Loss 23. 1910 Wimbledon Championships Grass   Anthony Wilding 4–6, 5–7, 6–4, 2–6[9]
Win 46. 1910 Nottinghamshire Championships Grass ? ?[9]
Win 47. 1911 Leicestershire Championships Grass   Rodney Heath 6–4, 6–1[9]
Loss 24. 1912 Wimbledon Championships Grass   Anthony Wilding 4–6, 4–6, 6–4, 4–6[9]
Win 48. 1912 Nottinghamshire Championships Grass   Charles P. Dixon 1–6, 11–9, 6–3[9]
Loss 25. 1912 Kent Coast Championships Hard   Theodore Mavrogordato 7–9, 6–8. ret.[9]
Win 49. 1913 Leicestershire Championships Grass   George Hillyard 7–5, 4–6, ret.[9]
Loss 26. 1913 Nottinghamshire Championships Grass   Stanley Doust 6–3, 3–6, 3-36, 9–7, 4–6[9]
Win 50. 1914 Nottinghamshire Championships Grass   Charles P. Dixon 6–2, 4–6, 4–6, 6–4, 6–4[9]
Win 51. 1919 Leicestershire Championships Grass   George Fletcher 6–2, 6–2, 6–4[9]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Arthur Gore:Career match record". thetennisbase.com. Tennis Base. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  2. ^ International Tennis Hall of Fame Inductee
  3. ^ "Arthur Gore". Olympedia. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  4. ^ "Arthur Gore Olympic Results". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  5. ^ "Wimbledon Men's Trivia". all-about-tennis.com. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  6. ^ "Obituary: Mr. A. W. Gore". The Times. The Times Digital Archive. December 1928. p. 3.
  7. ^ "Marriages". The Times. The Times Digital Archive. 25 September 1861. p. 1.
  8. ^ Garcia, Gabriel. "Arthur Gore: Hall of fame: Player Information". thetennisbase.com. Madrid, Spain: Tennismem SL. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca Garcia, Gabriel. "Arthur Gore: Tournament results". thetennisbase.com. Madrid, Spain: Tennismem SL. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  10. ^ Robertson, George (1995). Tennis in Scotland : 100 Years of the Scottish Lawn Tennis Association, 1895-1995. Edinburgh: SLTA. p. 269. ISBN 095257540X.
  11. ^ "TENNIS". The Mercury. Hobart, Tas. 7 June 1920. p. 3. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  12. ^ "COVERED COURT TENNIS". The Advertiser. Adelaide. 7 May 1908. p. 7 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "GRAND SLAM TENNIS STATISTICS What are the men's singles Grand Slam records?". Archived from the original on 17 June 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  14. ^ Garcia, Gabriel. "Record: Longest Career between First and Last Title". app.thetennisbase.com. Madrid, Spain: Tennismem SL. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h "Wimbledon Rolls of Honour / Gentlemen's Singles". Wimbledon official tournament website. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  16. ^ a b c "Wimbledon Rolls of Honour / Gentlemen's Doubles". Wimbledon official tournament website. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  17. ^ "LAWN TENNIS. FIXTURES FOR JULY. 20. Galashiels. 2O. Leicester, Leicester Open. Chiswick (Middlesex Championships). 22. Chingford Open Championships, Connaught Grounds". Sporting Life. London, England: British Newspaper Archive. 20 July 1889. p. 3. Retrieved 17 April 2023.

Further reading

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  • Sculthorpe, Derek. Never Say Die Arthur 'Baby' Gore The Oldest Wimbledon Champion. Chichester, Pitch Publishing (2024) ISBN 978-1-80150-725-7
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