Algernon Kingscote

Algernon Robert Fitzhardinge "Algy" Kingscote (3 December 1888 – 21 December 1964) was a British tennis player, who won the Men's Singles event at the Australasian Championships in 1919. He was born in Bangalore, India, in 1888. He was crowned Swiss champion in 1908 At Wimbledon 1919, Kingscote beat William Laurentz, Max Decugis and Pat O'Hara Wood before losing in the all comers final to Gerald Patterson. He won the singles title at the 1919 Australasian Championships, along with the first Anthony Wilding Memorial Medal, beating Eric Pockley of New South Wales in the final in straight sets. In the 1920 Wimbledon Championships he reached the doubles final alongside James Cecil Parke but eventually lost to the team of Garland–Williams. In 1921 Kingscote was a runner-up at the Monte-Carlo Championships losing to fellow countryman Gordon Lowe in four sets. He represented Great Britain in the Davis Cup seven times between 1919 and 1924 compiling a 9–8 win–loss record. In the 1922 Wimbledon Championships first round against Leslie Godfree they established the routine of saluting the Royal Box by bowing in front of it, a tradition that was in effect to 2003. He won the London Championships in 1924 beating Gordon Lowe in four sets in the final.

Playing style U.S. Championships quarterfinalist American Dean Mathey described his style as "well rounded" in 1920 at the time when he was considered the best British outdoors player. He favored volleying and had good ground strokes. His service was fair but his game lacked speed and strength. The next year professional world number one player Bill Tilden agreed with Mathey that his game is well rounded but lacks speed. his service as a fast sliced, well placed, paced, twisted and cleverly disguised He dedicated Kingscote's court positioning and good volleying skills as a compensation for Kingscote's rather short appearance. Kingscote adapted to the combination of net attack and baseline game, which Tilden praised as a key factor of successful tennis style. His favorite shot was the cross court forehand shot. Algernon was the grandson of philanthropist and amateur cricketer Henry Robert Kingscote. Like his father, Algernon Kingscote joined the army in 1910 serving for the Royal Garrison Artillery. He was a Second Lieutenant when stationing at Plympton, Devon in 1911.

Doubles ResultYearChampionship SurfacePartnerOpponentsScore Loss 1920Wimbledon Grass James Cecil Parke Chuck Garland R. Norris Williams 6–4, 4–6, 5–7, 2–6

World Championships finals

Doubles

ResultYearChampionship SurfacePartnerOpponentsScore Loss 1914 World Hard Court Championships Clay Arthur Gore Max Decugis Maurice Germot 6–1, 11–9, 6–8, 6–2