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Charlotte Cooper (tennis player)
Encyclopedia
Charlotte Reinagle Cooper (22 September 1870 – 10 October 1966) was a tennis player born in Ealing
, Middlesex
, England where, as a young woman, she was a member of the Ealing Lawn Tennis Club. She won her first of five Wimbledon championships singles titles in 1895, wearing an ankle-length dress in accordance with proper Victorian attire
. She won again the following year and for the third time in 1898. She won the tennis singles at the 1900 Summer Olympics
in Paris, France where women were allowed to participate for the first time. (Medals were not awarded until the 1904 Summer Olympics
).
Mrs. Cooper Sterry remained active in competitive tennis and continued to play in championship events well into her 50s. Her husband became President of the Lawn Tennis Association
and their daughter, Gwen, played on Britain's Wightman Cup
tennis team.
In 1966, Charlotte Cooper Sterry died at the age of 96, in Helensburgh
, Scotland.
1This was actually the all-comers final as Blanche Bingley Hillyard did not defend her 1894 Wimbledon title, which resulted in the winner of the all-comers final winning the challenge round and, thus, Wimbledon in 1895 by walkover.
2This was actually the all-comers final as Blanche Bingley Hillyard did not defend her 1897 Wimbledon title, which resulted in the winner of the all-comers final winning the challenge round and, thus, Wimbledon in 1898 by walkover.
3This was actually the all-comers final as May Sutton
did not defend her 1907 Wimbledon title, which resulted in the winner of the all-comers final winning the challenge round and, thus, Wimbledon in 1908 by walkover.
Ealing
Ealing is a suburban area of west London, England and the administrative centre of the London Borough of Ealing. It is located west of Charing Cross and around from the City of London. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically a rural village...
, Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
, England where, as a young woman, she was a member of the Ealing Lawn Tennis Club. She won her first of five Wimbledon championships singles titles in 1895, wearing an ankle-length dress in accordance with proper Victorian attire
Victorian fashion
Victorian fashion comprises the various fashions and trends in British culture that emerged and grew in province throughout the Victorian era and the reign of Queen Victoria, a period which would last from June 1837 to January 1901. Covering nearly two thirds of the 19th century, the 63 year reign...
. She won again the following year and for the third time in 1898. She won the tennis singles at the 1900 Summer Olympics
1900 Summer Olympics
The 1900 Summer Olympics, today officially known as the Games of the II Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1900 in Paris, France. No opening or closing ceremonies were held; competitions began on May 14 and ended on October 28. The Games were held as part of...
in Paris, France where women were allowed to participate for the first time. (Medals were not awarded until the 1904 Summer Olympics
1904 Summer Olympics
The 1904 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the III Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in St. Louis, Missouri, in the United States from 1 July 1904, to November 23, 1904, at what is now known as Francis Field on the campus of Washington University...
).
Mrs. Cooper Sterry remained active in competitive tennis and continued to play in championship events well into her 50s. Her husband became President of the Lawn Tennis Association
Lawn Tennis Association
The Lawn Tennis Association is the national governing body of tennis in Great Britain, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.As the governing body, the LTA is responsible for the coaching and development of junior players, offering courses and qualifications on coaching, as well as the...
and their daughter, Gwen, played on Britain's Wightman Cup
Wightman Cup
The Wightman Cup was a team tennis competition for women contested from 1923 through 1989 between teams from the United States and Great Britain. U.S. player Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman wanted to generate international interest in women's tennis the way Davis Cup did for men's...
tennis team.
In 1966, Charlotte Cooper Sterry died at the age of 96, in Helensburgh
Helensburgh
Helensburgh is a town in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It lies on the north shore of the Firth of Clyde and the eastern shore of the entrance to the Gareloch....
, Scotland.
Wins (5)
| Year | Championship | Opponent in Final | Score in Final |
| 18951 | Wimbledon (1) |  Helen Jackson Atkins |
7–5, 8–6 |
| 1896 | Wimbledon (2) | Alice Simpson Pickering |
6–2, 6–3 |
| 18982 | Wimbledon (3) | Louise Martin |
6–4, 6–4 |
| 1901 | Wimbledon (4) | Blanche Bingley Hillyard |
6–2, 6–2 |
| 19083 | Wimbledon (5) | Agnes Morton Agnes Morton Agnes Morton was a former British female tennis player. She twice reached the Ladies Singles finals at the 1908 and 1909 Wimbledon Championships and claimed victory in 1914 in Ladies Doubles with partner Elizabeth Ryan... |
6–4, 6–4 |
1This was actually the all-comers final as Blanche Bingley Hillyard did not defend her 1894 Wimbledon title, which resulted in the winner of the all-comers final winning the challenge round and, thus, Wimbledon in 1895 by walkover.
2This was actually the all-comers final as Blanche Bingley Hillyard did not defend her 1897 Wimbledon title, which resulted in the winner of the all-comers final winning the challenge round and, thus, Wimbledon in 1898 by walkover.
3This was actually the all-comers final as May Sutton
May Sutton
May Godfrey Sutton was a tennis champion and the first American to win the singles title at Wimbledon.-Biography:...
did not defend her 1907 Wimbledon title, which resulted in the winner of the all-comers final winning the challenge round and, thus, Wimbledon in 1908 by walkover.
Runner-ups (6)
| Year | Championship | Opponent in Final | Score in Final |
| 1897 | Wimbledon | Blanche Bingley Hillyard |
5–7, 7–5, 6–2 |
| 1899 | Wimbledon | Blanche Bingley Hillyard |
6–2, 6–3 |
| 1900 | Wimbledon | Blanche Bingley Hillyard |
4–6, 6–4, 6–4 |
| 1902 | Wimbledon | Muriel Robb Muriel Robb Muriel Evelyn Robb was a former British female tennis player. She is best remembered for her ladies' singles title at the 1902 Wimbledon Championships... |
7–5, 6–1 |
| 1904 | Wimbledon | Dorothea Douglass Lambert Chambers |
6–0, 6–3 |
| 1912 | Wimbledon | Ethel Thomson Larcombe Ethel Thomson Larcombe Ethel Larcombe was a former British female tennis player... |
6–3, 6-1 |