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George J. Kerr

George Kerr
Full nameGeorge James Kerr
Country (sports)Ireland Ireland
Born25 December 1867
County Kildare, Ireland
Died21 March 1954
Norristown, Pennsylvania, United States
Turned pro1887 (1885 amateur)
Retired1920

George James Kerr (25 December 1867 - 21 March 1954) was an Irish amateur then later professional lawn tennis player, and tennis coach.[1] He twice won the World Professional Championship in 1889 and 1890 both times against Tom Pettitt.[2][3]

Career

Amateur

Kerr played his first amateur tournament the Edinburgh University LTC Open in 1885 where he reached the semi finals before losing to Herbert Bowes-Lyon.[4]

Professional

Kerr turned professional in 1887. In 1889 he took part in series of four head to head matches against Tom Pettitt between 29 August and 2 October for the World Pro Championship title he won the series four matches to zero.[5]

In June 1890 a second World Championship head to head series to determine the World Pro Champion was held in Dublin, Ireland.[6] Kerr retained the title again by defeating Pettitt three matches to zero.[7]

In 1898 he competed at the Paris Pro Championships at the Tennis Club de Paris, Paris, France a round robin event where he was placed second behind Thomas Burke.[8]

In 1920 he took part in the Bristol Cup in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, France where he reached the quarter finals but was beaten by Albert Burke.[9]

Amateur Pro Challenge Matches

Kerr was challenged in head to head matches against the best amateurs players he had wins over Ernest Renshaw, Harry S. Barlow, Ernest Wool Lewis and Harold Mahony and went undefeated from 1890 until 1899.[10]

Olympics

In 1900 he took part in special non medal professional round robin tournament at the Paris Olympics featuring six players where he placed second behind Thomas Burke.[11]

Coaching

Kerr was the resident professional lawn tennis player at the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club[12] and coached a number of players including Willoughby Hamilton,[13] and Louisa Martin.[14]

In 1900 Kerr moved Berlin, Germany and became the resident professional at the Rot-Weiss Tennis Club.[15]

Personal

Kerr was born in County Kildare in Ireland, and died in March 1954 at Gwynllam Farm in Norristown, Pennsylvania United States.[16]

References

  1. ^ Eaves, SJ, Lake, RJ and Cowdrey, S (2016) The 'Ghosts' of Lawn Tennis Past: Exploring the Forgotten Lives of Early Working- Class Coaching-Professionals. Sport in History, 36 (4). pp. 498-521. ISSN 1746-0271
  2. ^ "LAWN TENNIS: PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD". Cork Constitution via British Newspaper Archive. 14 October 1889. p. 4. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  3. ^ "THE PROFESSIONAL LAWN TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD". Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News via British Newspaper Archive. 21 June 1890. p. 16. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  4. ^ "Player Profile George James Kerr". Tennis Archives. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  5. ^ "The Irish Champion Ahead". The Meriden Daily Journal via Google News Archive. 3 Oct 1889. p. 2. Retrieved 11 February 2025.
  6. ^ "Pettitt Beaten by Kerr". Boston Evening Transcript via Google News Archive. 10 June 1890. p. 9. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  7. ^ "SPORTING NEWS TENNIS: Kerr Defeats Pettitt". Boston Evening Transcript via Google News Archive. 12 June 1890. p. 2. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  8. ^ "PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AT PARIS ... PARIS PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP BURKE (DUBLIN) BEATS GEORGE KERR (FITZWILLLAM). The professional covered court lawn tennis tournament promoted by the Paris L T C has just been concluded". Irish Independent. Dublin, Republic of Ireland: British Newspaper Archive. 26 April 1898. p. 7. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  9. ^ "PROFESSIONAL TOURNAMENT. BEAULIEU, Dec. 28 (delayed)". Daily Express via British Newspaper Archive. 31 December 1920. p. 8. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  10. ^ Eaves, SJ, Lake, RJ and Cowdrey, S (2016)
  11. ^ "Singles, Professionals, Men". Olympedia. 11 July 1900. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  12. ^ Eaves, SJ, Lake, RJ and Cowdrey, S (2016)
  13. ^ "Tennis Notes". Nashua Daily Telegraph via Google News Archive. 5 June 1890. p. 3. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  14. ^ Wallis Myers, Arthur (1905). The Sportsmans Year Book. London: George Newnes Ltd. p. 232.
  15. ^ Lake, Robert J. (3 October 2013). A Social History of Tennis in Britain. London: Taylor & Francis. p. 65. ISBN 9781134445578.
  16. ^ "Deaths Everywhere". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via Google News Archive. 24 March 1954. p. 23. Retrieved 27 February 2025.

Sources

  • Coaching-Professionals Eaves, SJ, Lake, RJ and Cowdrey, S (2016) The 'Ghosts' of Lawn Tennis Past: Exploring the Forgotten Lives of Early Working- Class Coaching-Professionals. Sport in History, 36 (4). Manchester Metropolitan University. Manchester. England. ISSN 1746-0271
Quelle: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_J._Kerr