Holcombe Ward

Holcombe Ward (November 23, 1878 – January 23, 1967) was an American tennis player who was active during the last years of the 19th century and the first decade of the 20th. He won the U.S. National Championships singles title in 1904 and additionally won six doubles titles at the Grand Slam event.

Holcombe Ward

Country (sports)	United States
Born	(1878-11-23)November 23, 1878 New York, NY, United States
Died	January 23, 1967(1967-01-23) (aged 88) Red Bank, NJ, United States
Turned pro	1895 (amateur tour)
Retired	1905 (brief comeback in 1917)
Plays	Right-handed (one-handed backhand)
Int. Tennis HoF	1956 (member page)
Singles
Highest ranking	No. 1 (1904, ITHF)[1]
Grand Slam singles results
Wimbledon	1R (1905)
US Open	W (1904)
Doubles
Grand Slam doubles results
Wimbledon	F (1901)
US Open	W (1899, 1900, 1901, 1904, 1905, 1906)

Biography

Ward is best remembered for winning the men's singles title at the U.S. National Championships in 1904 after defeating William Clothier in straight sets in the all-comer's final.^[2] He graduated from Harvard University.^[1]

In 1905 Ward won the London Grass Court Championships, now known as Queen's Club Championships, after a walkover in the final against compatriot Beals Wright.^[3]

Ward was a member of the USA Davis Cup Team in 1900, 1902, 1905 and 1906. In 1900 and 1902 he played the doubles match in the challenge round which the US team won against the British Isles. In total, Ward played 14 Davis Cup matches in seven ties and compiled a 7–7 win–loss record.^[4]

After his active career, Ward became President of the USLTA (U.S. Lawn Tennis Association) from 1937 to 1947.^[1]

Grand Slam finals

Singles: 2 (1 title, 1 runner-up)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Opponent	Score
Win	1904	U.S. National Championships	Grass	William Clothier	10–8, 6–4, 9–7	[5]
Loss	1905	U.S. National Championships	Grass	Beals Wright	2–6, 1–6, 9–11	[5]

Doubles: 9 (6 titles, 3 runners-up)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Loss	1898	U.S. National Championships	Grass	Dwight F. Davis	George Sheldon Leo Ware	6–1, 5–7, 4–6, 6–4, 5–7	[6]
Win	1899	U.S. National Championships	Grass	Dwight F. Davis	George Sheldon Leo Ware	6–4, 6–4, 6–3	[6]
Win	1900	U.S. National Championships	Grass	Dwight F. Davis	Fred Alexander Raymond Little	6–4, 9–7, 12–10	[6]
Loss	1901	Wimbledon	Grass	Dwight F. Davis	Laurence Doherty Reginald Doherty	6–4, 2–6, 3–6, 7–9	[7]
Win	1901	U.S. National Championships	Grass	Dwight F. Davis	Leo Ware Beals Wright	6–3, 9–7, 6–1	[6]
Loss	1902	U.S. National Championships	Grass	Dwight F. Davis	Laurence Doherty Reginald Doherty	9–11, 10–12, 4–6	[6]
Win	1904	U.S. National Championships	Grass	Beals Wright	Kreigh Collins Raymond Little	1–6, 6–2, 3–6, 6–4, 6–1	[6]
Win	1905	U.S. National Championships	Grass	Beals Wright	Fred Alexander Harold Hackett	6–4, 6–4, 6–1	[6]
Win	1906	U.S. National Championships	Grass	Beals Wright	Fred Alexander Harold Hackett	6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 6–3	[6]