Wilfred Baddeley


Wilfred Baddeley was a British male tennis player and the elder of the Baddeley twins.

Career

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)

ResultYearChampionshipSurfaceOpponentScore
Win1891WimbledonGrass Joshua Pim6–4, 1–6, 7–5, 6–0
Win1892WimbledonGrass Joshua Pim4–6, 6–3, 6–3, 6–2
Loss1893WimbledonGrass Joshua Pim6–3, 1–6, 3–6, 2–6
Loss1894WimbledonGrass Joshua Pim8–10, 2–6, 6–8
Win1895WimbledonGrass W. V. Eaves4–6, 2–6, 8–6, 6–2, 6–3
Loss1896WimbledonGrass Harold Mahony2–6, 8–6, 7–5, 6–8, 3–6

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

ResultYearChampionshipSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Win1891WimbledonGrass Herbert Baddeley Joshua Pim
Frank Stoker
6–1, 6–3, 1–6, 6–2
Loss1892WimbledonGras Herbert Baddeley Ernest Lewis
Harold Barlow
6–4, 2–6, 6–8, 4–6
Win1894WimbledonGrass Herbert Baddeley Harold Barlow
Ernest Lewis
5–7, 7–5, 4–6, 6–3, 8–6
Win1895WimbledonGrass Herbert Baddeley Ernest Lewis
Herbert Wilberforce
8–6, 5–7, 6–4, 6–3
Win1896WimbledonGrass Herbert Baddeley Reginald Doherty
Harold Nisbet
1–6, 3–6, 6–4, 6–2, 6–1
Loss1897WimbledonGrass Herbert Baddeley Reginald Doherty
Laurence Doherty
4–6, 6–4, 6–8, 4–6