Doherty brothers

English tennis players

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Article History

Doherty brothers, English tennis players who dominated the sport from 1897 to 1906. As a team, Laurie Doherty (in full Hugh Lawrence Doherty; b. Oct. 8, 1875, London, Eng.—d. Aug. 21, 1919, Broadstairs, Kent) and Reggie Doherty (in full Reginald Frank Doherty; b. Oct. 14, 1872, London, Eng.—d. Dec. 29, 1910, London) held the record for the most doubles titles at Wimbledon, winning eight from 1897 to 1905.

Laurie held the Wimbledon record for most men’s titles altogether, with 13 between 1897 and 1905, winning British singles from 1902 to 1906. Reggie took Wimbledon singles from 1897 to 1900. The Dohertys also won the U.S. doubles championships in 1902 and 1903, and Laurie was the first foreigner to win the U.S. singles, in 1903.

The brothers were vital to British Davis Cup competition from 1902 to 1906, during which time Laurie achieved the best record ever in Davis finals, going 7–0 in singles and 5–0 in doubles. Between 1902 and 1906 Reggie lost one singles match outright, to Malcolm Whitman of the United States in 1902, and one by default, to Bill Larned in 1903.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.