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Dorothea Lambert Chambers

Dorothea Lambert Chambers (née Dorothea Katherine Douglass; 3 September 1878 – 7 January 1960)[1] was a British tennis player. She won seven Wimbledon women's singles titles and a gold medal at the 1908 Summer Olympics.[2]

Dorothea Lambert Chambers
Full nameDorothea Katherine Douglass Lambert Chambers
Country (sports) United Kingdom
Born(1878-09-03)3 September 1878
Ealing, Middlesex, England
Died7 January 1960(1960-01-07) (aged 81)
Kensington, London, England
Int. Tennis HoF1981 (member page)
Singles
Grand Slam singles results
WimbledonW (1903, 1904, 1906, 1910, 1911, 1913, 1914)
US OpenQF (1925)
Doubles
Grand Slam doubles results
WimbledonF (1913, 1919, 1920)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
WimbledonF (1919)
Team competitions
Wightman CupW (1925)
Medal record
Olympic Games – Tennis
Gold medal – first place 1908 London Singles

Tennis

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In 1900, Douglass made her singles debut at Wimbledon, and after a bye in the first round, lost her second-round match to Louisa Martin. Three years later, she won her first of seven ladies singles titles. On 6 April 1907, she married Robert Lambert Chambers and became known by her married surname Lambert Chambers.[3][4]

In 1908, she won the gold medal in the women's singles event at the 1908 Summer Olympics after a straight-sets victory in the final against compatriot Dora Boothby.[5]

She wrote Tennis for Ladies, published in 1910. The book contained photographs of tennis techniques and contained advice on attire and equipment.[citation needed]

In 1911, Lambert Chambers won the women's final at Wimbledon against Dora Boothby 6–0, 6–0, the first player to win a Grand Slam singles final without losing a game.[6] The only other female player to achieve this was Steffi Graf when she defeated Natalia Zvereva in the 1988 French Open final.[7]

In 1919, Lambert Chambers played the longest Wimbledon final up to that time: 44 games against Frenchwoman Suzanne Lenglen. Lambert Chambers held two match points at 6–5 in the third set but eventually lost to Lenglen 8–10, 6–4, 7–9.[8]

Lambert Chambers only played sporadic singles after 1921 but continued to compete in doubles until 1927. She made the singles quarterfinals of the U.S. Championships in 1925,[9] and from 1924 to 1926, she captained Britain's Wightman Cup team. In the 1925 Wightman Cup, she played, at the age of 46, a singles (against Eleanor Goss) and doubles match and won both.[10][11] In 1928 she turned to professional coaching.

Lambert Chambers posthumously was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1981.[12] She died in Kensington, London in 1960, aged 81.

Grand Slam finals

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Dorothea Lambert Chambers in 1906

Singles: 11 (7 titles, 4 runner-ups)

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Result Year Championship Surface Opponents Score
Win * 1903 Wimbledon Grass   Ethel Thomson 4–6, 6–4, 6–2
Win 1904 Wimbledon (2) Grass   Charlotte Cooper Sterry 6–0, 6–3
Loss 1905 Wimbledon Grass   May Sutton 3–6, 4–6
Win 1906 Wimbledon (3) Grass   May Sutton 6–3, 9–7
Loss 1907 Wimbledon Grass   May Sutton 1–6, 4–6
Win 1910 Wimbledon (4) Grass   Dora Boothby 6–2, 6–2
Win 1911 Wimbledon (5) Grass   Dora Boothby 6–0, 6–0
Win ** 1913 Wimbledon (6) Grass   Winifred McNair 6–0, 6–4
Win 1914 Wimbledon (7) Grass   Ethel Thomson Larcombe 7–5, 6–4
Loss 1919 Wimbledon Grass   Suzanne Lenglen 8–10, 6–4, 7–9
Loss 1920 Wimbledon Grass   Suzanne Lenglen 3–6, 0–6

* This was the all-comers final as Muriel Robb did not defend her 1902 Wimbledon title, which resulted in the winner of the all-comers final winning the challenge round, and thus, Wimbledon in 1903 by walkover.
** This was the all-comers final as Ethel Thomson Larcombe did not defend her 1912 Wimbledon title, which resulted in the winner of the all-comers final winning the challenge round and, thus, Wimbledon in 1913 by walkover.

Doubles: 3 runner-ups

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Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 1913 Wimbledon Grass   Charlotte Cooper Sterry   Dora Boothby
  Winifred McNair		 6–4, 4–2, ret.
Loss 1919 Wimbledon Grass   Ethel Thomson Larcombe   Suzanne Lenglen
  Elizabeth Ryan		 6–4, 5–7, 3–6
Loss 1920 Wimbledon Grass   Ethel Thomson Larcombe   Suzanne Lenglen
  Elizabeth Ryan		 4–6, 0–6

Mixed doubles: 1 runner-up

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Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 1919 Wimbledon Grass   Albert Prebble   Elizabeth Ryan
  Randolph Lycett		 0–6, 0–6

Career finals

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Singles titles (64)

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Notes: Incomplete list she reportedly won 81 singles titles.
Year Tournament location Surface Opponent Score
1 1901 North London Championships (Gipsy) Stamford Hill Grass   Ellen Thynne Evered 6-4, 9–7
2 1901 Essex Championships Colchester Grass   Agnes Morton 6-3, 6–3
3 1901 North of England Championships Scarborough Grass   Alice Simpson Pickering 4-6, 10–8, 6–1
4 1902 North London Championships (2) Stamford Hill Grass   Agnes Morton 4-6, 6–2, 8–6
5 1903 Derbyshire Championships Buxton Grass   Ethel Thomson 6-2, 6–1
6 1903 Wimbledon Championships London Grass   Muriel Robb w.o.
7 1903 North London Championships (3) Stamford Hill Grass   Agnes Morton 6-3, 6–2
8 1904 Wimbledon Championships (2) London Grass   Charlotte Sterry 6–0, 6–3
9 1904 British Covered Court Championships London Wood (i)   Edith Austin 7–5, 6–4, 7–9, 6–2
10 1904 Derbyshire Championships (2) Buxton Grass   Ethel Thomson 6-2, 4–6, 6–3
11 1904 Sussex Championships Brighton Grass   Charlotte Sterry 6–3, 6–3
12 1904 South of England Championships Eastbourne Grass   Charlotte Sterry 6–3, 4–6, 6–3, 6–1
13 1905 The Homburg Cup Bad Homburg Clay   Toupie Lowther 6-3, 7–5
14 1905 London Covered Court Championships London Wood (i)   Ethel Thomson Larcombe 6–4, 6–2
15 1906 Wimbledon Championships (3) London Grass   May Sutton 6–3, 9–7
16 1906 Northern Championships Liverpool Grass   May Sutton 7–5, 6–2
17 1906 Kent Championships Beckenham Grass   Connie Wilson 6–3, 2-2
18 1906 East of England Championships Felixstowe Grass   Connie Wilson 14-14
19 1906 British Covered Court Championships (2) London Wood (i)   Hilda Lane 6–2, 6–0
20 1906 Berkshire Championships Reading Grass   Violet Pinckney 6-0, 6–1
21 1906 Middlesex Championships Chiswick Grass   Charlotte Sterry 6-1 6–0
22 1906 Baden Baden International Baden-Baden Clay   Toupie Lowther 6–4, 6–4
23 1906 The Homburg Cup (2) Bad Homburg Clay   Blanche Bingley Hillyard 6-4, 8–6
24 1906 South of England Championships (2) Eastbourne Grass   Agnes Morton 3–6, 6–3, 6–2
25 1907 Middlesex Championships (2) Chiswick Grass   Miss M.E. Brown divided title
26 1907 Nice Championship Nice Clay   Toupie Lowther 6–4, 6–4
27 1907 Northumberland Championships Newcastle-upon-Tyne Grass   Charlotte Sterry 6-2, 6–3
28 1907 South of England Championships (3) Eastbourne Grass   Charlotte Sterry 4–6, 6–3, 7–5
29 1907 Berkshire Championships (2) Reading Grass   Violet Pinckney 6-1, 6–1
30 1908 British Covered Court Championships (3) London Wood (i)   Gwendoline Eastlake-Smith 6-3, 6–3
31 1908 Middlesex Championships (3) Chiswick Grass   Angela Greene 7-5, 6–4
32 1908 Olympic Games London ( outdoor singles) London Grass   Dora Boothby 6–1, 7–5
33 1908 Cannes Championships Cannes Clay   Melita Dillon 6-1, 6–4
34 1908 Berkshire Championships (3) Reading Grass   Violet Pinckney 6-1, 6–1
35 1908 Northumberland Championships (2) Newcastle Grass   Charlotte Sterry 6-1, 7–5
36 1910 Wimbledon Championships (4) London Grass   Dora Boothby 6-2, 6–2
37 1910 Kent Championships (2) Beckenham Grass   Dora Boothby 6-4, 6–3
38 1910 South of England Championships (4) Eastbourne Grass   Ethel Thomson Larcombe 7-5, 7–5
39 1910 British Covered Court Championships (4) London Wood (i)   Madeline O'Neill 6–4, 6–3
40 1910 Middlesex Championships (4) Chiswick Grass   Miss M. Messom 6-2, 6–2
41 1910 Berkshire Championships (4) Reading Grass   Violet Pinckney 6-1, 6–1
42 1910 Nottinghamshire Championships Nottingham Grass   Gwendoline Eastlake-Smith 6-3, 6–3
43 1910 East of England Championships (2) Felixstowe Grass   Miss M. Messom 6-0, 6–2
44 1911 Wimbledon Championships (5) London Grass   Dora Boothby 6-0, 6–0
45 1911 British Covered Court Championships (5) London Wood (i)   Helen Aitchison 6–3, 6–1
46 1911 Middlesex Championships (5) Chiswick Grass   Mabel Parton 6–3, 6–2
47 1911 Nottinghamshire Championships (2) Nottingham Grass   Edith Hannam 3-6, 8–6, 6–2
48 1911 Northern Championships (2) Manchester Grass   Mabel Parton 6–2, 6–2
49 1911 Kent Championships (3) Beckenham Grass   Mildred Coles 6-3, 7–5
50 1913 Wimbledon Championships (6) London Grass   Ethel Thomson Larcombe w.o.
51 1913 British Covered Court Championships (6) London Wood (i)   Dorothy Holman 6–2, 6–3
52 1913 Middlesex Championships (6) Chiswick Grass   Dora Boothby 6-2, 6–3
53 1913 Kent Championships (4) Beckenham Grass   Phyllis Satterthwaite 6-4, 6–2
54 1914 Wimbledon Championships (7) London Grass   Ethel Thomson Larcombe 7-5, 6–4
55 1914 Monte Carlo Championships Monte Carlo Clay   Elizabeth Ryan 6-4, 6–1
56 1914 French Riviera Championships Menton Clay   Elizabeth Ryan 6–2, 6–1
57 1914 South of France Championships Nice Clay   Maud Stuart 6–2, 6–0
58 1914 ? Nice Clay   Jessie Tripp 6-2, 6–0
59 1914 Surrey Grass Court Championships Surbiton Grass   Ethel Thomson Larcombe 6-3, 2–6, 6–4
60 1914 Middlesex Championships (7) Chiswick Grass   Aurea Edgington w.o.
61 1914 Northern Championships (3) Liverpool Grass   Agnes Morton 6-1, 6–2
62 1919 British Covered Court Championships (7) London Wood (i)   Dorothy Holman 6-3, 6–3
63 1919 Northern Championships (4) Manchester Grass   Ethel Thomson Larcombe 6-1, 6–2
64 1920 Surrey Grass Court Championships (2) Surbiton Grass   Elizabeth Ryan 6-4, 6–2

Badminton

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In addition to playing tennis, Lambert Chambers was one of the leading badminton players at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1903, 1904 and 1907, she was the runner-up at the singles event of the All England Badminton Championships.[13]

Personal life

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During the First World War, she undertook war work, first at Ealing Hospital, and later at the Little Theatre.[14] She married Robert Lambert Chambers, nephew of John Graham Chambers.

References

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  1. ^ Grasso, John (16 September 2011). Historical Dictionary of Tennis. Scarecrow Press. p. 87. ISBN 978-0-8108-7237-0.
  2. ^ "Dorothea Douglass Lambert Chambers". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 6 February 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  3. ^ Hartley, Cathy, ed. (2003). A Historical Dictionary of British Women (Rev. ed.). London [u.a.]: Europa Publications. p. 194. ISBN 978-1857432282.
  4. ^ "Men and Matters". Dundee Courier. 8 April 1907. p. 8 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ "Dorothea Douglass Lambert Chambers Olympic Results". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  6. ^ Dorothea Lambert Chambers at the International Tennis Hall of Fame  
  7. ^ ROBIN HERMAN (5 June 1988). "TENNIS – Graf Shuts Out Zvereva to Gain French Open Title". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  8. ^ "Ladies' Lawn Tennis". The Sydney Morning Herald. 10 June 1911. p. 7 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "Encyclopædia Britannica Biography". Archived from the original on 27 February 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
  10. ^ "British Women in Tennis Victories". The Montreal Gazette. 18 August 1925 – via Google News Archive.
  11. ^ "Woman at Tennis". The Sydney Morning Herald. 17 August 1925 – via Google News Archive.
  12. ^ "Hall of Famers – Dorothea Douglass Chambers". www.tennisfame.com. International Tennis Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015.
  13. ^ "Mrs Lambert Chambers". Badminton England. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  14. ^ The Sportswoman's Page, The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, 22 December 1917, p. 508
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