Watson Washburn

Watson McLean Washburn (June 13, 1894 – December 2, 1973) was an American tennis player who was in the top 10 in the US seven times between 1914 and 1922. He was also one of the founders of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, to which he was inducted in 1965.[1][2] He also competed at the 1924 Summer Olympics.[3]

Watson Washburn
Full nameWatson McLean Washburn
Country (sports) United States
Born(1894-06-13)June 13, 1894
New York City, New York, United States
DiedDecember 2, 1973(1973-12-02) (aged 79)
New York City, New York, United States
Turned pro1910 (amateur tour
Retired1937
PlaysRight-handed (one-handed backhand)
Int. Tennis HoF1965 (member page)
Singles
Highest rankingNo. 5 (U.S. ranking)
Grand Slam Singles results
WimbledonQF (1924)
US OpenQF (1911, 1912, 1913, 1916, 1920)
Doubles
Grand Slam Doubles results
WimbledonF (1924)
US OpenF (1921, 1923)
Other doubles tournaments
Team competitions
Davis CupW (1921)
Thomas Bundy, Maurice Evans McLoughlin, Gustave F. Touchard and Watson Washburn circa 1914-1915

Biography

He was born in Manhattan on June 13, 1894.[2]

He was primarily a doubles player and teamed with Richard Norris Williams to take the Davis Cup in 1921. Also with Williams, he reached two US Championship finals and one at Wimbledon. He won the US Intercollegiate Doubles Championship in 1913 and the Indoor Doubles Championship in 1915. In July 1915, Washburn and Williams won the doubles title at the Eastern Tennis Championship in Brookline defeating Irving C. Wright and Wallace F. Johnson in four sets.[4]

In 1917, Washburn joined the American Expeditionary Forces and served during World War I in France as a captain in the artillery.[5][6]

In 1921, Washburn defeated Richard Norris Williams in the final of the Newport Casino Invitational in five sets.[7]

After his tennis career, he became an assistant state prosecutor.[2]

Grand Slam finals

Doubles (3 runners-up)
Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss1921U.S. National ChampionshipsGrass Richard Norris Williams Vincent Richards
Bill Tilden		11–13, 10–12, 1–6
Loss1923U.S. National ChampionshipsGrass Richard Norris Williams Brian Norton
Bill Tilden		6–3, 2–6, 3–6, 7–5, 2–6
Loss1924WimbledonGrass Richard Norris Williams Frank Hunter
Vincent Richards		3–6, 6–3, 10–8, 6–8, 3–6

References
  1. "Watson Washburn". International Tennis Hall of Fame.
  2. "Watson Washburn, Tennis Star On Davis Cup Team in '20's, Dies". The New York Times. December 3, 1973. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
  3. "Watson Washburn". Olympedia. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  4. "Eastern Tennis Championship" (PDF). The New York Times. August 1, 1915. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
  5. "Watson Washburn Writes of Flourishing Tennis Prospects in European Lands". Washington Daily News. January 21, 1919. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
  6. Paul B. Williams (1921). United States Lawn Tennis Association and the World War. Robert Hamilton Company. p. 2.
  7. "Washburn Victor in Tennis Final" (PDF). The New York Times. August 7, 1921. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
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