Phoebe Holcroft Watson

Phoebe Catherine Holcroft Watson (née Holcroft; 7 October 1898 – 20 October 1980) was a tennis player from the United Kingdom whose best result in singles was reaching the final of the U.S. Championships in 1929, losing to Helen Wills in straight sets.[1] According to A. Wallis Myers of The Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail, Watson was ranked in the world top 10 in 1926 and from 1928 through 1930, reaching a career high of World No. 2 in 1929.[2]

Phoebe Holcroft Watson
Full namePhoebe Catherine Holcroft Watson
Country (sports) United Kingdom
Born(1898-10-07)7 October 1898
Died20 October 1980(1980-10-20) (aged 82)
Singles
Highest rankingNo. 2 (1929)
Grand Slam Singles results
French OpenQF (1929, 1930)
WimbledonQF (1927, 1928)
US OpenF (1929)
Doubles
Grand Slam Doubles results
French OpenW (1928)
WimbledonW (1928, 1929)
US OpenW (1929)
Grand Slam Mixed Doubles results
WimbledonSF (1927)
US OpenSF (1930)
Team competitions
Wightman CupW (1928, 1930)

Watson won the women's doubles title at Wimbledon in 1928 and 1929 and at the US Championships in 1929, all with partner Peggy Saunders Michell.[3][1] Her other Grand Slam title was the women's doubles at the French Championships in 1928 with partner Eileen Bennett.

She was part of the British team that won the Wightman Cup against the United States in 1928 and 1930.

Grand Slam finals

Singles: 1 (1 runner-up)
Outcome Year Championship Surface Opponent Score
Runner-up1929U.S. ChampionshipsGrass Helen Wills4–6, 2–6

Doubles: 5 (4 titles, 1 runners-up)
Outcome Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Runner-up1927 French Championships Clay Peggy Saunders Michell Irene Bowder Peacock
Bobbie Heine		 2–6, 1–6
Winner1928 French Championships Clay Eileen Bennett Suzanne Deve
Sylvie Jung		 6–0, 6–2
Winner1928 Wimbledon Championships Grass Peggy Saunders Michell Ermyntrude Harvey
Eileen Bennett		 6–2, 6–3
Winner1929 Wimbledon Championships Grass Peggy Saunders Michell Phyllis Covell
Dorothy Shepherd		 6–4, 8–6
Winner1929 US National Championships Grass Peggy Saunders Michell Phyllis Covell
Dorothy Shepherd		 2–6, 6–3, 6–4

Grand Slam singles tournament timeline
Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# A NH
(W) Won; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (A) absent; (NH) not held. SR=strike rate (events won/competed)
Tournament19231924192519261927192819291930Career SR
Australia A A A A A A A A 0 / 0
France1 A NH A A 3R 2R QF QF 0 / 4
Wimbledon 1R 3R 1R 3R QF QF 3R 1R 0 / 8
United States A A A A A A F A 0 / 1
SR 0 / 1 0 / 1 0 / 1 0 / 1 0 / 2 0 / 2 0 / 3 0 / 2 0 / 13

SR = the ratio of the number of Grand Slam singles tournaments won to the number of those tournaments played.

1Until 1923, the French Championships were open only to French nationals. The World Hard Court Championships (WHCC), actually played on clay in Paris or Brussels, began in 1912 and were open to all nationalities. The results from the 1923 edition of that tournament are shown here. The Olympics replaced the WHCC in 1924, as the Olympics were held in Paris. Beginning in 1925, the French Championships were open to all nationalities, with the results shown here beginning with that year.

See also

References
  1. "Helen Wills Takes Sixth National Title". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. 25 August 1929. p. 1, Part 2.
  2. Collins, Bud (2008). The Bud Collins History of Tennis: An Authoritative Encyclopedia and Record Book. New York, N.Y: New Chapter Press. pp. 695, 701. ISBN 0-942257-41-3.
  3. "Wimbledon players archive – Phoebe Holcroft-Watson (Watson)". www.wimbledon.com. AELTC.
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