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Oliver Campbell

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Oliver Campbell
Full nameOliver Samuel Edward Michael Campbell
Country (sports) United States
Born(1871-02-25)February 25, 1871
Brooklyn, NY, U.S.
DiedJuly 11, 1953(1953-07-11) (aged 82)
Campbellton, New Brunswick, Canada
Turned pro1886 (amateur tour)
Retired1892
Int. Tennis HoF1955 (member page)
Singles
Career titles17
Highest rankingNo. 8 (1890, ITHF)[1]
Grand Slam singles results
Wimbledon2R (1892)
US OpenW (1890, 1891, 1892)
Doubles
Grand Slam doubles results
WimbledonSF (1892)
US OpenW (1890, 1891, 1892)

Oliver Samuel Edward Michael Campbell (February 25, 1871 – July 11, 1953) was an American male tennis player who won the three consecutive singles titles at the U.S. Championships from 1890 through 1892.

Education

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Campbell was educated at Columbia College, graduating in 1891 and was posthumously inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010.[2]

Career

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For over a century, Campbell had the honour of being the youngest male player to win the U.S. singles title. He did it as a 19-year, 6 months and 9 days old student in 1890. That record went to fellow American Pete Sampras, 19 years and 28 days, when he won the title in 1990.[3]

Campbell defended his title in the challenge round matches in 1891, defeating Clarence Hobart, and in 1892, defeating Fred Hovey, but did not defend it in 1893 and thereby defaulted the title to Robert Wrenn. The challenge round against Clarence Hobart was the first title match played over five sets.[4][5]

In addition to his singles titles Campbell won the men's doubles titles at the U.S. National Championships in 1888, 1891 and 1892.[6]

His other career singles highlights include winning the Tropical Championships on hard courts at the St. Augustine, Florida on four occcasions (1889–1891, 1894). he also won the Englewood Open twice (1987–1888). He won single events at the New York Tennis Club Open (1886), the Orange Spring Tournament (1887), the Westchester Lawn Tennis Club (Invitation) (1888), the Elberon Casino Invitation (1888), New Hamburg Invitation (1888), the Nahant Invitation (1890), South Side Field Club (1890) and the Narragansette Pier Open (1890). In addition he was a finalist at the Flushing Athletic Club Open (1889).

Campbell was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1955.

Grand Slam finals

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Singles (3 titles)

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Result Year Championship Surface Opponent Score
Win 1890 U.S. Championships Grass United States Henry Slocum 6–2, 4–6, 6–3, 6–1
Win 1891 U.S. Championships Grass United States Clarence Hobart 2–6, 7–5, 7–9, 6–1, 6–2
Win 1892 U.S. Championships Grass United States Fred Hovey 7–5, 3–6, 6–3, 7–5

Doubles (3 titles, 2 runner-ups)

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Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 1888 U.S. Championships Grass United States Valentine Hall United States Clarence Hobart
United States Edward MacMullen
6–4, 6–2, 6–4
Loss 1889 U.S. Championships Grass United States Valentine Hall United States Henry Slocum
United States Howard Taylor
1–6, 3–6, 2–6
Win 1891 U.S. Championships Grass United States Bob Huntington United States Valentine Hall
United States Clarence Hobart
6–3, 6–4, 8–6
Win 1892 U.S. Championships Grass United States Bob Huntington United States Edward L. Hall
United States Valentine Hall
6–4, 6–2, 4–6, 6–3
Loss 1893 U.S. Championships Grass United States Bob Huntington United States Clarence Hobart
United States Fred Hovey
3–6, 4–6, 6–4, 2–6

References

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  1. ^ International Tennis Hall of Fame Inductee Page
  2. ^ "Oliver Campbell (2010) - Hall of Fame". Columbia University Athletics. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  3. ^ Collins, Bud (2010). The Bud Collins History of Tennis (2nd ed.). [New York]: New Chapter Press. p. 488. ISBN 978-0942257700.
  4. ^ "In The Tennis Court" (PDF). The New York Times. August 27, 1891. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  5. ^ Collins, Bud (2010). The Bud Collins History of Tennis (2nd ed.). [New York]: New Chapter Press. p. 455. ISBN 978-0942257700.
  6. ^ "Campbell and Huntington" (PDF). The New York Times. August 25, 1892. Retrieved June 3, 2012.
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