Anthony Wilding Won Wimbledon Title 50 Years Ago

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29246, 2 July 1960, Page 5

Anthony Wilding Won Wimbledon Title 50 Years Ago

r pODAY' at' Wimbledon another holder of the most honoured title, °f tennis will be proclaimed. Many of those who have won it, like Jack Kramer, Frank Sedgp\an' and Lewis Hoad, are well known to most, even to those who have only a passing interest in ■.ennis. But 50 years ago on the corresponding day that title was won the first of four time* by a New Zealander, born in Opawa, of whom most New Zealanders, even those in his native Canterbury, now know little. Notwithstanding the achievements of the Kramers, Sedgmans an .d Hoads, Anthony Frederick Wilding Still ranks as one of the greatest Wimbledon winners, one of the world’s great sportsmen. He was remarkable not only for his ability at a game but‘for his character and personality. Born in 1883, Anthony Wilding played tennis from boyhood on the court of his father, Mr Frederick Wilding. K.C., at their beautiful, home. "Fownhope,” Opawa. Mr Wilding, keenly interested in sports, was himself holder of the New Zealand doubles title five times from 1887. Educated at Wilson’s School, Christchurch, and for a few months at Canterbury University College, Anthony Wilding was at first more interested in cricket than in tennis and he represented Canterbury at that sport. But promise of his future in tennis was given when he won the Canterbury championship in the 1900-01 season at the age of 17.

Wilding went to England in 1902 and entered Trinity College, Cambridge, to study law. Although an all-round athlete, he concentrated on tennis, and after winning the Cambridge freshmen’s tournament he soon gained his Blue. At the same time he completely reorganised the university tennis club as its secretary.

From then he embarked on a career in lawn tennis that has not been equalled by any other New Zealander and by only a few overseas players. When he returned to New Zealand in 1906 after graduating from Cambridge he had won many trophies at English tournaments visited

during his summer vacations, and and a half, and almost a year in that year he won the New Zea- New Zealand in 1909 would seem land title for the first time, sub- to< have been a welcome rest sequently winning again in 1908 which prepared him to win the and 1909. coveted Wimbledon singles in ' 1910 at his fifth attempt. At that ' To the young New Zealander time the holder- at the title did physical fitness was almost a not have to play through the religion; he did not drink or tournament but was required to smoke. His great stamina and play the challenge round against his enthusiasm for tennis and: for the winner of the all-comers* motor-cycling were demonstrated elimination contest, as in the in two strenuous years—l9o7 and Davis Cup. 1908. Leaving New Zealand early in 1907 he played in turn on the Riviera, in Paris, London ( (where he won all three covered court titles), Germany, Austria and Wimbledon, and then shuttled twice between Austria and England, the whole programme stretching from March to September. Extensive Travel

The next year he engaged in an even more intensive campaign of tennis and travel. On his motor-cycle he journeyed to many parts of the Continent to attend tournaments, often travelling at night on roads which bore little resemblance to those of today. After two months on’ the Riviera he again toured ihe Continent, retained his doubles title at Wimbledon, gained a gold medal in a motorcycle trial from Land’s End to John o’Groats, played in Austria and Germany and then voyaged to Melbourne to help retain the Davis Cup for Australasia with Norman Brookes. The next spring he was back in Melbourne, beating Brookes in the Victorian championship and in less than a year he was at Johannesburg winning the South African championship.

Few tennis players at that time packed so much into two years

year he beat Gore again but the 1913 match was the most memorable of his victories. He beat the American, M. E. McLoughlin, by superb confidence and grim determination before a very fast service. He lost the title to Brookes in 1914. y Wilding and Brookes proved a grand Davis Cup team. Their first attempt was in 1905 when Wilding was still at Cambridge and in 1907 they won the cup, beating England ih the challenge round. They successfully defended the cup in 1908 at Melbourne and 4h 1909 at Sydney. Partly because he entered the wood and pulp business, which kept him in Europe. Wilding did not play in the cup again until 1914, when Australasia regained - the trophy after beating Germany, England and then AmericaAt the outbreak of war in 1914, Anthony Wilding obtained a commission in the Royal Marines before being transferred to Headquarters Intelligence Corps and then to the Naval Air Service which embraced armoured cars, a unit for which he Was well" suited becouse of his mechanical interest. On May 9, 1915, Captain Anthony Wilding was killed during an attack in which his section was involved. Wilding’s death was mourned by thousands who knew him throughout the world. His qualities of physical sturdiness, courage, frankness, perfect temper and sportsmanship had brought him the admiration of people like Winston Churchill, A. J. Balfour and King Gustav of Sweden, a keen tennis player. One of the best tributes came from his partner and opponent, Norman Brookes: “Without doubt one of the finest specimens of manhood physically, he was blessed as well with an ability and steadfastness of character which helped him to reach the highest pinnacle of the lawn tennis world, and his bright, cheery nature made him beloved by all followers of the game.”