Tennis at the 1908 Summer Olympics – Men's outdoor singles

The men's (outdoor) singles was one of six lawn tennis events on the Tennis at the 1908 Summer Olympics programme. The tournament was played on grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.^[1] There were 31 competitors from 9 nations.^[1] Nations could enter up to 12 players.^[2] The event was won by Major Ritchie of Great Britain, the nation's third victory in four Games. Otto Froitzheim earned Germany's first medal in the event with his silver. Another Briton, Wilberforce Eaves, took bronze.

Men's outdoor singles tennis at the Games of the IV Olympiad
Major Ritchie
Venue	All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
Dates	6 July (rounds 1–3) 7 July (rounds 2 and 3) 8 July (round 3) 9 July (quarterfinals) 10 July (semifinal) 11 July (semifinal, final)
Competitors	31 from 9 nations
Medalists
Major Ritchie  Great Britain Otto Froitzheim  Germany Wilberforce Eaves  Great Britain
← 1904 1912 →

Men's outdoor singles
Tennis at the 1908 Summer Olympics
Events
Outdoor Singles men women Doubles men Indoor Singles men women Doubles men
← 1904 · Summer Olympics · 1912 →

Background

This was the fourth appearance of the men's singles tennis. The event has been held at every Summer Olympics where tennis has been on the program: from 1896 to 1924 and then from 1988 to the current program. Demonstration events were held in 1968 and 1984. In 1908, for the first time of two, an indoor version was held concurrently.

The top players did not compete in this event. Arthur Gore played only in the indoor event. William Larned, Norman Brookes, Anthony Wilding, and Laurence Doherty were noted absences.^[1][3] Major Ritchie was a solid player, having gone deep into Wimbledon multiple times but never having won in singles (he took doubles titles in 1908 and 1910 with Wilding).

Austria, Bohemia, Canada, the Netherlands, and South Africa each made their debut in the event. France, Germany, and Great Britain each made their third appearance, tied for most among all nations.

Competition format

The competition was a single-elimination tournament. For the first time at the Olympics, a bronze medal match was played. All matches were best-of-five sets.

Schedule

The schedule was impacted by rain, with matches adjourned overnight on occasion.

The Olympics started three days after the end of the 1908 Wimbledon Championships, a scheduling issue which the Official Report recommended avoiding in the future.^[3]

Date	Time	Round
Monday, 6 July 1908		Round of 64 Round of 32 Round of 16
Tuesday, 7 July 1908		Round of 32 Round of 16
Wednesday, 8 July 1908		Round of 16 Quarterfinals
Thursday, 9 July 1908		Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals
Friday, 10 July 1908		Quarterfinals Semifinals
Saturday, 11 July 1908		Bronze medal match Final

Draw

Key

• Q = Qualifier
• WC = Wild card
• LL = Lucky loser
• Alt = Alternate
• SE = Special exempt
• PR = Protected ranking
• ITF = ITF entry
• JE = Junior exempt
• w/o = Walkover
• r = Retired
• d = Defaulted
• SR = Special ranking

Finals

	Quarterfinals									Semifinals									Finals
	Maurice Germot (FRA)		0	0^r
	Major Ritchie (GBR)		6	4
										Major Ritchie (GBR)		2	6	6	6
										Wilberforce Eaves (GBR)		6	1	4	1
	Charles Dixon (GBR)		3	5	3
	Wilberforce Eaves (GBR)		6	7	6
																			Major Ritchie (GBR)		7	6	6
																			Otto Froitzheim (GER)		5	3	4
	Otto Froitzheim (GER)		6	6	5	6
	George Caridia (GBR)		4	1	7	1
										Otto Froitzheim (GER)		2	6	6	6				Third place
										John Richardson (RSA)		6	1	4	4
	John Richardson (RSA)		6	6	6														Wilberforce Eaves (GBR)		6	6	6
	Claude Russell-Brown (CAN)		3	1	0														John Richardson (RSA)		2	2	3

Top half

Section 1

	First round									Second round									Third round									Quarterfinals
										V Károly (BOH)
										H Suckling (CAN)		w/o
																			V Károly (BOH)		w/o
																			M Germot (FRA)
										M Germot (FRA)		7	6	6
										H Schomburgk (GER)		5	4	2
																												M Germot (FRA)		0	0^r
																												M Ritchie (GBR)		6	4
										M Ritchie (GBR)		6	6	6
										V Gauntlett (RSA)		1	4	1
																			M Ritchie (GBR)		6	6	6
																			W Crawley (GBR)		1	4	1
										W Crawley (GBR)
										G Hillyard (GBR)		w/o

Section 2

	First round									Second round									Third round									Quarterfinals
										D Lauber (HUN)		1	0	0
	C Dixon (GBR)		6	7	6					C Dixon (GBR)		6	6	6
	F Rahe (GER)		2	5	4														C Dixon (GBR)		6	6	6
	B Hykš (BOH)																		B Hykš (BOH)		1	2	3
	O Schmid (HUN)		w/o							B Hykš (BOH)		7	6	3	6
	J Zsigmondy (HUN)									J Zsigmondy (HUN)		5	4	6	0
	L Ivánka (HUN)		w/o																									C Dixon (GBR)		3	5	3
	M von Bissing (GER)																											W Eaves (GBR)		6	7	6
	G Ball-Greene (GBR)		w/o							M von Bissing (GER)		6	6	6
	A Zborzil (AUT)									A Zborzil (AUT)		1	4	4
	A Gore (GBR)		w/o																M von Bissing (GER)		6	5	5
	K von Wessely (AUT)																		W Eaves (GBR)		8	7	7
	HR Barrett (GBR)		w/o							K von Wessely (AUT)		w/o
	W Eaves (GBR)		6	6	6					W Eaves (GBR)
	R Kinzl (AUT)		3	1	0

Bottom half

Section 3

	First round									Second round									Third round									Quarterfinals
	E Tóth (HUN)		6	2
	J Mičovský (BOH)		3	1^r						E Tóth (HUN)		1	3	2
	JC Parke (GBR)									JC Parke (GBR)		6	6	6
	J Rössler-Ořovský (BOH)		w/o																JC Parke (GBR)		4	9	4
	O Kreuzer (GER)		6	6	6														O Froitzheim (GER)		6	11	6
	F Pipes (AUT)		3	1	4					O Kreuzer (GER)		2	3	3
	O Froitzheim (GER)		6	6	6					O Froitzheim (GER)		6	6	6
	K Powell (GBR)		3	1	4																							O Froitzheim (GER)		6	6	5	6
	R Powell (CAN)		6	6	6																							G Caridia (GBR)		4	1	7	1
	C van Lennep (NED)		4	1	2					R Powell (CAN)		2	6	6	6
	L Žemla (BOH)									L Žemla (BOH)		6	0	4	1
	L Doherty (GBR)		w/o																R Powell (CAN)		4	6	4	2
																			G Caridia (GBR)		6	3	6	6
										G Caridia (GBR)		6	6	6
										H Kitson (RSA)		1	3	1

Section 4

	First round									Second round									Third round									Quarterfinals
										J Foulkes (CAN)		6	6	6
										R van Lennep (NED)		2	4	3
																			J Foulkes (CAN)		2	4	3
																			J Richardson (RSA)		6	6	6
										J Richardson (RSA)
										M Decugis (FRA)		w/o
																												J Richardson (RSA)		6	6	6
																												C Brown (CAN)		3	1	0
										D Slíva (BOH)
										J Žemla (BOH)		w/o
																			D Slíva (BOH)		2	1	2
																			C Brown (CAN)		6	6	6
										C Brown (CAN)
										Z Žemla (BOH)		w/o

Results summary

Rank	Player	Nation	Round of 64	Round of 32	Round of 16	Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Final
	Major Ritchie	Great Britain	Bye	V Gauntlett (RSA) W 6–1, 6–4, 6–1	W Crawley (GBR) W 6–1, 6–4, 6–1	M Germot (FRA) W 6–0, 6–4^r	W Eaves (GBR) W 2–6, 6–1, 6–4, 6–1	O Froitzheim (GER) W 7–5, 6–3, 6–4
	Otto Froitzheim	Germany	K Powell (GBR) W 6–3, 6–1, 6–4	O Kreuzer (GER) W 6–2, 6–3, 6–3	JC Parke (GBR) W 6–4, 11–9, 6–4	G Caridia (GBR) W 6–4, 6–1, 5–7, 6–1	J Richardson (RSA) W 2–6, 6–1, 6–4, 6–4	M Ritchie (GBR) L 7–5, 6–3, 6–4
	Wilberforce Eaves	Great Britain	R Kinzl (AUT) W 6–3, 6–1, 6–0	K von Wessely (AUT) W w/o	M von Bissing (GER) W 8–6, 7–5, 7–5	C Dixon (GBR) W 6–3, 7–5, 6–3	M Ritchie (GBR) L 2–6, 6–1, 6–4, 6–1	J Richardson (RSA) W 6–2, 6–2, 6–3
4	John Richardson	South Africa	Bye	M Decugis (FRA) W w/o	J Foulkes (CAN) W 6–2, 6–4, 6–3	C Brown (CAN) W 6–3, 6–1, 6–0	O Froitzheim (GER) L 2–6, 6–1, 6–4, 6–4	W Eaves (GBR) L 6–2, 6–2, 6–3
5	George Caridia	Great Britain	Bye	H Kitson (RSA) W 6–1, 6–3, 6–1	R Powell (CAN) W 6–4, 3–6, 6–4, 6–2	O Froitzheim (GER) L 6–4, 6–1, 5–7, 6–1	did not advance
	Charles P. Dixon	Great Britain	F Rahe (GER) W 6–2, 7–5, 6–4	D Lauber (HUN) W 6–1, 6–0, 6–0	B Hykš (BOH) W 6–1, 6–2, 6–3	W Eaves (GBR) L 6–3, 7–5, 6–3	did not advance
	Maurice Germot	France	Bye	H Schomburgk (GER) W 7–5, 6–4, 6–2	V Károly (BOH) W w/o	M Ritchie (GBR) L 6–0, 6–4^r	did not advance
	Claude Russell-Brown	Canada	Bye	Z Žemla (BOH) W w/o	D Slíva (BOH) W 6–2, 6–1, 6–2	J Richardson (RSA) L 6–3, 6–1, 6–0	did not advance
9	Moritz von Bissing	Germany	G Ball-Greene (GBR) W w/o	A Zborzil (AUT) W 6–1, 6–4, 6–4	W Eaves (GBR) L 8–6, 7–5, 7–5	did not advance
	Walter Crawley	Great Britain	Bye	G Hillyard (GBR) W w/o	M Ritchie (GBR) L 6–1, 6–4, 6–1	did not advance
	J. F. Foulkes	Canada	Bye	R van Lennep (NED) W 6–2, 6–4, 6–3	J Richardson (RSA) L 6–2, 6–4, 6–3	did not advance
	Bohuslav Hykš	Bohemia	O Schmid (HUN) W w/o	J Zsigmondy (HUN) W 7–5, 6–4, 3–6, 6–0	C Dixon (GBR) L 6–1, 6–2, 6–3	did not advance
	James Cecil Parke	Great Britain	J Rössler-Ořovský (BOH) W w/o	E Tóth (HUN) W 6–1, 6–3, 6–2	O Froitzheim (GER) L 6–4, 11–9, 6–4	did not advance
	Robert Powell	Canada	C van Lennep (NED) W 6–4, 6–1, 6–2	L Žemla (BOH) W 2–6, 6–0, 6–4, 6–1	G Caridia (GBR) L 6–4, 3–6, 6–4, 6–2	did not advance
	David Slíva	Bohemia	Bye	J Žemla (BOH) W w/o	C Brown (CAN) L 6–2, 6–1, 6–2	did not advance
16	Victor Gauntlett (tennis)	South Africa	Bye	M Ritchie (GBR) L 6–1, 6–4, 6–1	did not advance
	Harold Kitson	South Africa	Bye	G Caridia (GBR) L 6–1, 6–3, 6–1	did not advance
	Oscar Kreuzer	Germany	F Pipes (AUT) W 6–3, 6–1, 6–4	O Froitzheim (GER) L 6–2, 6–3, 6–3	did not advance
	Dezső Lauber	Hungary	Bye	C Dixon (GBR) L 6–1, 6–0, 6–0	did not advance
	Heinrich Schomburgk	Germany	Bye	M Germot (FRA) L 7–5, 6–4, 6–2	did not advance
	Ede Tóth	Hungary	J Mičovský (BOH) W 6–3, 2–1^r	JC Parke (GBR) L 6–1, 6–3, 6–2	did not advance
	Roelof van Lennep	Netherlands	Bye	JF Foulkes (CAN) L 6–2, 6–4, 6–3	did not advance
	Arthur Zborzil	Austria	A Gore (GBR) W w/o	M von Bissing (GER) L 6–1, 6–4, 6–4	did not advance
	Ladislav Žemla	Bohemia	L Doherty (GBR) W w/o	R Powell (CAN) L 2–6, 6–0, 6–4, 6–1	did not advance
	Jenő Zsigmondy	Hungary	L Ivánka (HUN) W w/o	B Hykš (BOH) L 7–5, 6–4, 3–6, 6–0	did not advance
26	Kenneth Powell	Great Britain	O Froitzheim (GER) L 6–3, 6–1, 6–4	did not advance
	Rolf Kinzl	Austria	W Eaves (GBR) L 6–3, 6–1, 6–0	did not advance
	Josef Mičovský	Bohemia	E Tóth (HUN) L 6–3, 2–1^r	did not advance
	Felix Pipes	Austria	O Kreuzer (GER) L 6–3, 6–1, 6–4	did not advance
	Friedrich Wilhelm Rahe	Germany	C Dixon (GBR) L 6–2, 7–5, 6–4	did not advance
	Christiaan van Lennep	Netherlands	R Powell (CAN) L 6–4, 6–1, 6–2	did not advance
—	Herbert Roper Barrett	Great Britain	K von Wessely (AUT) L w/o	did not advance
	G Ball-Greene	Great Britain	M von Bissing (GER) L w/o	did not advance
	Max Decugis	France	Bye	J Richardson (RSA) L w/o	did not advance
	Laurence Doherty	Great Britain	L Žemla (BOH) L w/o	did not advance
	Arthur Gore	Great Britain	A Zborzil (AUT) L w/o	did not advance
	George Hillyard	Great Britain	Bye	W Crawley (GBR) L w/o	did not advance
	L. Ivánka	Hungary	J Zsigmondy (HUN) L w/o	did not advance
	Vitus Károly	Bohemia	Bye	H Suckling (CAN) W w/o	M Germot (FRA) L w/o	did not advance
	Josef Rössler-Ořovský	Bohemia	JC Parke (GBR) L w/o	did not advance
	Ödön Schmid	Hungary	B Hykš (BOH) L w/o	did not advance
	Hedley Suckling	Canada	Bye	Vitus Károly (BOH) L w/o	did not advance
	Kurt von Wessely	Austria	HR Barrett (GBR) W w/o	W Eaves (GBR) L w/o	did not advance
	Jaroslav Žemla	Bohemia	Bye	D Slíva (BOH) L w/o	did not advance
	Zdeněk Žemla	Bohemia	Bye	C Brown (CAN) L w/o	did not advance

References

1. "Singles, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
2. Official Report, p. 35.
3. Official Report, p. 209.

External links

• Cook, Theodore Andrea (May 1909). The Fourth Olympiad London 1908 Official Report (PDF). London: British Olympic Association. Retrieved 8 May 2008.
• ITF, 2008 Olympic Tennis Event Media Guide