Blanche Bingley
Blanche Bingley (
November 3,
1863 &ndash
August 6,
1946) was an
English tennis player.
Born in
Greenford in the
London Borough of Ealing, Blanche Bingley was a member of the "Ealing Lawn Tennis & Archery Club." In 1884, she competed in the first ever
Wimbledon championships for women and two years later captured the first of her six singles titles. A seven time runner-up, Bingley's thirteen finals remain a Wimbledon record as is the fourteen year time span between her first and last title.
Bingley's Wimbledon record suggests that she was the second strongest female player of her day, being inferior only to
Lottie Dod, who defeated her in no fewer than five finals.
As tradition in her era dictated, once married Bingley was recorded with her husband's name and is usually listed in various records as Blanche Bingley Hillyard. At age thirty-seven, she made it to the Wimbledon finals and continued to compete until age forty-eight, playing in her last Wimbledon tourney in 1912.
During her career, Blanche Bingley also won the
Irish championships on three occasions and the
German title twice.
Blanche Bingley Hillyard died in
London in 1946.
*
Wimbledon Championships**
Singles champion:
1886,
1889,
1894,
1897,
1899,
1900**Singles finalist: 1885, 1887, 1888, 1891, 1892, 1893, 1901
Wins (6)
Runner-ups (7)
| Year | Championship | Opponent in Final | Score in Final |
| 1885 | Wimbledon Championships | Maud Watson | 6-1, 7-5 |
| 1887 | Wimbledon Championships | Lottie Dod | 6-2, 6-0 |
| 1888 | Wimbledon Championships | Lottie Dod | 6-3, 6-3 |
| 1891 | Wimbledon Championships | Lottie Dod | 6-2, 6-1 |
| 1892 | Wimbledon Championships | Lottie Dod | 6-1, 6-1 |
| 1893 | Wimbledon Championships | Lottie Dod | 6-8, 6-1, 6-4 |
| 1901 | Wimbledon Championships | Charlotte Cooper Sterry | 6-2, 6-2 |
