Tennis at the 1920 Summer Olympics – Men's singles

The men's singles was a tennis event held as part of the tennis at the 1920 Summer Olympics programme. It was the sixth appearance of the event. A total of 44 players from 15 nations entered in the event; 41 players from 14 nations competed. The event was held from 16 to 23 August 1920 at the Beerschot Tennis Club.^[1] Nations were limited to four players each. The event was won by Louis Raymond of South Africa, the nation's second consecutive in the event (second-most all-time behind Great Britain's three). South Africa had nearly had both finalists again, as it had in 1912, but defending champion Charles Winslow fell to Japan's Ichiya Kumagae in the semifinal; Winslow took bronze by walkover against Noel Turnbull of Great Britain. Kumagae's silver was Japan's first medal in the event.

Men's singles tennis at the Games of the VII Olympiad
Louis Raymond (1929)
Venue	Beerschot Tennis Club
Dates	16–23 August 1920
Competitors	41 from 14 nations
Medalists
Louis Raymond  South Africa Ichiya Kumagae  Japan Charles Winslow  South Africa
← 1912 1924 →

Men's singles
Tennis at the 1920 Summer Olympics

Background

This was the sixth appearance of the men's singles tennis event. 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.

As in previous Games, the field for this event was relatively weak and without top competitors. The Olympic tennis tournament was no longer scheduled adjacent to or concurrent with Wimbledon, as it had been in 1908 and 1912; however, it was at the same time as the U.S. Championship this year. Bill Tilden and Bill Johnston, and all the other American players, thus did not enter. Australia's Gerald Patterson did enter, but withdrew.^[1]

Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Italy, Japan, Spain, and Switzerland each made their debut in the event. France made its fifth appearance, most among all nations, having missed only the St. Louis 1904 event.

Competition format

The competition was a single-elimination tournament with a bronze-medal match. All matches were best-of-five sets.

Schedule

Date	Time	Round
Monday, 16 August 1920		Round of 64 Round of 32
Tuesday, 17 August 1920		Round of 32
Wednesday, 18 August 1920		Round of 32 Round of 16
Thursday, 19 August 1920		Round of 16
Friday, 20 August 1920		Round of 16
Saturday, 21 August 1920		Quarterfinals
Sunday, 22 August 1920		Semifinals
Monday, 23 August 1920		Bronze medal match Final

Draw

Key

• Q = Qualifier
• WC = Wild card
• LL = Lucky loser
• Alt = Alternate
• ITF = ITF entry
• PR = Protected ranking
• SR = Special ranking
• SE = Special exempt
• JE = Junior exempt
• JR = Junior Accelerator Programme entrant
• CO = College Accelerator Programme entrant
• NG = Next Gen Accelerator Program entrant
• w/o = Walkover
• r = Retired
• d = Defaulted

Finals

	Quarterfinals									Semifinals									Final (gold-medal match)
	Sune Malmström (SWE)		3	1	1
	Louis Raymond (RSA)		6	6	6
										Louis Raymond (RSA)		2	1	6	6	6
										Noel Turnbull (GBR)		6	6	2	2	1
	Noel Turnbull (GBR)		0	7	4	6	7
	Manuel Alonso Areyzaga (ESP)		6	5	6	3	5
																			Louis Raymond (RSA)		5	6	7	6
																			Ichiya Kumagae (JPN)		7	4	5	4
	Ichiya Kumagae (JPN)		7	6	6
	George Dodd (RSA)		5	1	1
										Ichiya Kumagae (JPN)		6	6	6					Bronze-medal match
										Charles Winslow (RSA)		2	2	2
	Gordon Lowe (GBR)		4	6	4	6	2												Noel Turnbull (GBR)		w/o
	Charles Winslow (RSA)		6	3	6	4	6												Charles Winslow (RSA)

Top half

Section 1

	First round									Second round									Third round									Quarterfinals
										A Simon (SUI)		3	8	6	6	6
										E de Satrústegui (ESP)		6	6	2	8	2
																			A Simon (SUI)		2	2	0
																			S Malmström (SWE)		6	6	6
										S Malmström (SWE)		4	6	6	7
										L Žemla (TCH)		6	2	3	5
																												S Malmström (SWE)		3	1	1
																												L Raymond (RSA)		6	6	6
										L Raymond (RSA)		7	6	4	6
										M van den Bemden (BEL)		5	1	6	1
																			L Raymond (RSA)		3	6	6	6
																			J Brugnon (FRA)		6	2	0	1
										J Brugnon (FRA)		6	7	6
										A Chiesa (SUI)		4	5	4

Section 2

	First round									Second round									Third round									Quarterfinals
										N Turnbull (GBR)
										J Scholler (SUI)		w/o
																			N Turnbull (GBR)		3	6	6	6	6
	J.M. Fernández (ESP)		0	6	6	6													M Balbi Di Robecco (ITA)		6	3	0	8	2
	F Lindqvist (SWE)		6	2	3	2				J.M. Fernández (ESP)		2	4	1
	M Balbi Di Robecco (ITA)									M Balbi Di Robecco (ITA)		6	6	6
	G Patterson (AUS)		w/o																									N Turnbull (GBR)		0	7	4	6	7
	K Ardelt (TCH)																											M Alonso Areyzaga (ESP)		6	5	6	3	5
	L Nypels (NED)		w/o							K Ardelt (TCH)		2	4	3
	A Beamish (GBR)		6	6	6					A Beamish (GBR)		6	6	6
	O Woffek (TCH)		1	3	4														A Beamish (GBR)		1	7	7	3	1
	M Alonso Areyzaga (ESP)		6	2	6	6													M Alonso Areyzaga (ESP)		6	5	5	6	6
	J Just (TCH)		3	6	0	2				M Alonso Areyzaga (ESP)		6	2	6	6
	M Woosnam (GBR)		3	6	6	6				M Woosnam (GBR)		1	6	1	3
	H Müller (SWE)		6	1	3	3

Bottom half

Section 3

	First round									Second round									Third round									Quarterfinals
	C-E von Braun (SWE)		4	6	7	6
	A Bonacossa (ITA)		6	1	5	2				C-E von Braun (SWE)		2	1	1
	A Lammens (BEL)		6	6	3	7				A Lammens (BEL)		6	6	6
	H Syz (SUI)		3	4	6	5													A Lammens (BEL)		5	1	4
	I Kumagae (JPN)		7	6	6														I Kumagae (JPN)		7	6	6
	JM Alonso Areyzaga (ESP)		5	3	3					I Kumagae (JPN)		6	6	6
	V de Laveleye (BEL)		6	2	6	6				V de Laveleye (BEL)		0	1	0
	C Langaard (NOR)		2	6	3	3																						I Kumagae (JPN)		7	6	6
	M Decugis (FRA)		6	12	2	8																						G Dodd (RSA)		5	1	1
	B Norton (RSA)		4	10	6	6				M Decugis (FRA)		2	1	1
	G Dodd (RSA)		2	6	6	9				G Dodd (RSA)		6	6	6
	F Blanchy (FRA)		6	2	1	7													G Dodd (RSA)		6	4	6	3	6
																			S Kashio (JPN)		3	6	2	6	1
										E Tegner (DEN)		3	1	2
										S Kashio (JPN)		6	6	6

Section 4

The match between Lowe and Zerlendis was played over two days, and lasted for nearly six hours. At one point the ballboys, bored by the long rallying, left the court and went to lunch, forcing the match to stop until they returned.^[2]

	First round									Second round									Third round									Quarterfinals
										A Zerlendis (GRE)		12	10	7	4	4
										G Lowe (GBR)		14	8	5	6	6
																			G Lowe (GBR)		6	6	2	7
																			C Colombo (ITA)		4	0	6	5
										J Nielsen (NOR)		2	3	1
										C Colombo (ITA)		6	6	6
																												G Lowe (GBR)		4	6	4	6	2
																												C Winslow (RSA)		6	3	6	4	6
										J-P Samazeuilh (FRA)		5	6	3	2
										C Winslow (RSA)		7	2	6	6
																			C Winslow (RSA)		8	6	6
																			J Washer (BEL)		6	4	1
										R Thomas (AUS)		1	3	6	4
										J Washer (BEL)		6	6	3	6

Results summary

Rank	Player	Nation	Round of 64	Round of 32	Round of 16	Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Final
	Louis Raymond	South Africa	Bye	M van den Bemden (BEL) W 7–5, 6–1, 4–6, 6–1	J Brugnon (FRA) W 3–6, 6–2, 6–0, 6–1	S Malmström (SWE) W 6–3, 6–1, 6–1	N Turnbull (GBR) W 2–6, 1–6, 6–2, 6–2, 6–1	I Kumagae (JPN) W 5–7, 6–4, 7–5, 6–4
	Ichiya Kumagae	Japan	JM Alonso (ESP) W 7–5, 6–3, 6–3	V de Laveleye (BEL) W 6–0, 6–1, 6–0	A Lammens (BEL) W 7–5, 6–1, 6–4	G Dodd (RSA) W 7–5, 6–1, 6–1	C Winslow (RSA) W 6–2, 6–2, 6–2	L Raymond (RSA) L 5–7, 6–4, 7–5, 6–4
	Charles Winslow	South Africa	Bye	J-P Samazeuilh (FRA) W 7–5, 2–6, 6–3, 6–2	J Washer (BEL) W 8–6, 6–4, 6–1	G Lowe (GBR) W 6–4, 3–6, 6–4, 4–6, 6–2	I Kumagae (JPN) L 6–2, 6–2, 6–2	N Turnbull (GBR) W w/o
4	Noel Turnbull	Great Britain	Bye	J Scholler (SUI) W w/o	M Balbi Di Robecco (ITA) W 3–6, 6–3, 6–0, 6–8, 6–2	M Alonso Areyzaga (ESP) W 0–6, 7–5, 4–6, 6–3, 7–5	L Raymond (RSA) L 2–6, 1–6, 6–2, 6–2, 6–1	C Winslow (RSA) L w/o
5	Manuel Alonso Areizaga	Spain	J Just (TCH) W 6–3, 2–6, 6–0, 6–2	M Woosnam (GBR) W 6–1, 2–6, 6–1, 6–3	A Beamish (GBR) W 6–1, 5–7, 5–7, 6–3, 6–1	N Turnbull (GBR) L 0–6, 7–5, 4–6, 6–3, 7–5	did not advance
	George Dodd	South Africa	F Blanchy (FRA) W 2–6, 6–2, 6–1, 9–7	M Decugis (FRA) W 6–2, 6–1, 6–1	S Kashio (JPN) W 6–3, 4–6, 6–2, 3–6, 6–1	I Kumagae (JPN) L 7–5, 6–1, 6–1	did not advance
	Gordon Lowe	Great Britain	Bye	A Zerlendis (GRE) W 14–12, 8–10, 5–7, 6–4, 6–4	C Colombo (ITA) W 6–4, 6–0, 2–6, 7–5	C Winslow (RSA) L 6–4, 3–6, 6–4, 4–6, 6–2	did not advance
	Sune Malmström	Sweden	Bye	L Žemla (TCH) W 4–6, 6–2, 6–3, 7–5	A Simon (SUI) W 6–2, 6–2, 6–0	L Raymond (RSA) L 6–3, 6–1, 6–1	did not advance
9	Mino Balbi Di Robecco	Italy	G Patterson (AUS) W w/o	J.M. Fernández (ESP) W 6–2, 6–4, 6–1	N Turnbull (GBR) L 3–6, 6–3, 6–0, 6–8, 6–2	did not advance
	Alfred Beamish	Great Britain	O Woffek (TCH) W 6–1, 6–3, 6–4	K Ardelt (TCH) W 6–6, 6–4, 6–3	M Alonso Areizaga (ESP) L 6–1, 5–7, 5–7, 6–3, 6–1	did not advance
	Jacques Brugnon	France	Bye	A Chiesa (SUI) W 6–4, 7–5, 6–4	L Raymond (RSA) L 3–6, 6–2, 6–0, 6–1	did not advance
	Cesare Colombo	Italy	Bye	J Nielsen (NOR) W 6–2, 6–3, 6–1	G Lowe (GBR) L 6–4, 6–0, 2–6, 7–5	did not advance
	Seiichiro Kashio	Japan	Bye	E Tegner (DEN) W 6–3, 6–1, 6–2	G Dodd (RSA) L 6–3, 4–6, 6–2, 3–6, 6–1	did not advance
	Albert Lammens	Belgium	H Syz (SUI) W 6–3, 6–4, 3–6, 7–5	C-E von Braun (SWE) W 6–2, 6–1, 6–1	I Kumagae (JPN) L 7–5, 6–1, 6–4	did not advance
	Armand Simon	Switzerland	Bye	E de Satrústegui (ESP) W 3–6, 8–6, 6–2, 6–8, 6–2	S Malmström (SWE) L 6–2, 6–2, 6–0	did not advance
	Jean Washer	Belgium	Bye	R Thomas (AUS) W 6–1, 6–3, 3–6, 6–4	C Winslow (RSA) L 8–6, 6–4, 6–1	did not advance
17	Karel Ardelt	Czechoslovakia	L Nypels (NED) W w/o	A Beamish (GBR) L 6–6, 6–4, 6–3	did not advance
	Maurice van den Bemden	Belgium	Bye	L Raymond (RSA) L 7–5, 6–1, 4–6, 6–1	did not advance
	Carl-Eric von Braun	Sweden	A Bonacossa (ITA) W 4–6, 6–1, 7–5, 6–2	A Lammens (BEL) L 6–2, 6–1, 6–1	did not advance
	Alberto Henri Chiesa	Switzerland	Bye	J Brugnon (FRA) L 6–4, 7–5, 6–4	did not advance
	Max Decugis	France	B Norton (RSA) W 6–4, 12–10, 2–6, 8–6	G Dodd (RSA) L 6–2, 6–1, 6–1	did not advance
	José Miguel Fernández de Liencres	Spain	F Lindqvist (SWE) W 0–6, 6–2, 6–3, 6–2	M Balbi Di Robecco (ITA) L 6–2, 6–4, 6–1	did not advance
	Victor de Laveleye	Belgium	C Langaard (NOR) W 6–2, 2–6, 6–3, 6–3	I Kumagae (JPN) L 6–0, 6–1, 6–0	did not advance
	Jack Nielsen	Norway	Bye	C Colombo (ITA) L 6–2, 6–3, 6–1	did not advance
	Jean-Pierre Samazeuilh	France	Bye	C Winslow (RSA) L 7–5, 2–6, 6–3, 6–2	did not advance
	Enrique de Satrústegui	Spain	Bye	A Simon (SUI) L 3–6, 8–6, 6–2, 6–8, 6–2	did not advance
	Erik Tegner	Denmark	Bye	S Kashio (JPN) L 6–3, 6–1, 6–2	did not advance
	Ronald Thomas	Australia	Bye	J Washer (BEL) L 6–1, 6–3, 3–6, 6–4	did not advance
	Max Woosnam	Great Britain	H Müller (SWE) W 3–6, 6–1, 6–3, 6–3	M Alonso Areizaga (ESP) L 6–1, 2–6, 6–1, 6–3	did not advance
	Ladislav Žemla	Czechoslovakia	Bye	S Malmström (SWE) L 4–6, 6–2, 6–3, 7–5	did not advance
	Augustos Zerlendis	Greece	Bye	G Lowe (GBR) L 14–12, 8–10, 5–7, 6–4, 6–4	did not advance
32	José María Alonso	Spain	I Kumagae (JPN) L 7–5, 6–3, 6–3	did not advance
	François Blanchy	France	G Dodd (RSA) L 2–6, 6–2, 6–1, 9–7	did not advance
	Alberto Bonacossa	Italy	C-E von Braun (SWE) L 4–6, 6–1, 7–5, 6–2	did not advance
	Jaroslav Just	Czechoslovakia	M Alonso Areizaga (ESP) L 6–3, 2–6, 6–0, 6–2	did not advance
	Conrad Langaard	Norway	V de Laveleye (BEL) L 6–2, 2–6, 6–3, 6–3	did not advance
	Fritz Lindqvist	Sweden	J.M. Fernández (ESP) L 0–6, 6–2, 6–3, 6–2	did not advance
	Henning Müller	Sweden	M Woosnam (GBR) L 3–6, 6–1, 6–3, 6–3	did not advance
	Brian Norton	South Africa	M Decugis (FRA) L 6–4, 12–10, 2–6, 8–6	did not advance
	Hans Syz	Switzerland	A Lammens (BEL) L 6–3, 6–4, 3–6, 7–5	did not advance
	Otto Woffek	Czechoslovakia	A Beamish (GBR) L 6–1, 6–3, 6–4	did not advance
—	Leopold Nypels	Netherlands	K Ardelt (TCH) L w/o	did not advance
	Gerald Patterson	Australia	M Balbi Di Robecco (ITA) L w/o	did not advance
	J. Scholler	Switzerland	Bye	N Turnbull (GBR) L w/o	did not advance