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Richard Taswell Richardson (1852–1930) was a British tennis player in the early years of Wimbledon.

Richard Richardson

Full name	Richard Taswell Richardson
Country (sports)	United Kingdom
Born	9 August 1852 [1] Broughton, Hampshire, United Kingdom
Died	16 May 1930 (1930-05-17) (aged 77) [2] Capenhurst, Cheshire, United Kingdom
Turned pro	1880 (amateur tour)
Retired	1884
Singles
Career titles	4
Grand Slam singles results
Wimbledon	F (1881, 1882)
Doubles
Grand Slam doubles results
Wimbledon	1R (1884)

Personal

He was the son of Richard Richardson of Broughton, Hampshire. He graduated B.A. at University College, Oxford in 1876;[3] and 1879 he was called to the bar at the Inner Temple. He was a Justice of the Peace.[4]

Cricket

Richardson played first-class cricket for the Marylebone Cricket Club in 1876 and 1877, making five appearances.[5] He scored 160 runs in these five matches, averaging 22.85 and with a high score of 48.[6]

Tennis career

Richardson's tennis career was brief but successful. He won the Northern Tennis tournament in Manchester in 1880, 1881 and 1882 (beating Ernest Renshaw in 1882).[7] At Wimbledon 1880, Richardson lost to Herbert Lawford in five sets in round three. In May 1881 he was defeated by Herbert Lawford again in the final of the Irish Championships in Dublin (at the time considered as prestigious a title to win as Wimbledon).[8] In June 1881 he was a finalist at the Waterloo Lawn tennis tournament in Liverpool. In July 1881 he beat Ernest Renshaw before losing to William Renshaw in the All comer's final at Wimbledon.[9] At Wimbledon 1882 Richardson beat Otway Woodhouse before losing to Ernest Renshaw in the All comer's final.[9] At Wimbledon 1883 he lost his first match to Charles Grinstead and didn't play the tournament again. Richardson was also a fine cricketer. He played 5 matches for the MCC from 1876-1877.[10] He played his last career tournament at Waterloo in June 1884 losing to Donald Stewart in four sets in the semi finals.[11]

Grand Slam finals

Singles (2 runners-up)

Result	Year	Championship	Opponent	Score
Loss	1881	Wimbledon Championships	William Renshaw	4–6, 2–6, 3–6
Loss	1882	Wimbledon Championships	Ernest Renshaw	5–7, 3–6, 6–2, 3–6

Singles titles and finals

Note: (L) denotes Liverpool as location (M) Manchester tournament alternated till 1929

Legend (3-4)

Winner

Runner up

Result	No.	Date	Tournament	Surface	Opponent	Score
Win	1.	May 1880 [12]	Northern Lawn Tennis Championships (M)	Grass	Walter Edwin Fairlie	6–0, 6–3, 6–0
Loss	2.	May 1881 [12]	Irish Championships	Grass	Herbert Lawford	7–5, 5–7, 6–3, 4–6, 7–9
Win	3.	Jun 1881 [12]	Waterloo Lawn Tennis Championships	Grass	N. C. Jones	6–0, 6–0
Win	4.	Jun 1881 [12]	Northern Lawn Tennis Championships (M)	Grass	John Comber	6–1, 6–1, 6–0
Loss	5.	Jul 1881 [12]	Wimbledon Championships	Grass	William Renshaw	4–6, 2–6, 2–6
Win	6.	May 1882 [12]	Northern Lawn Tennis Championships (L)	Grass	Ernest Renshaw	6–1, 3–6, 5–7, 6–4, 11–9
Loss	7.	Jul 1882 [12]	Wimbledon Championships	Grass	Ernest Renshaw	5–7, 3–6, 6–2, 3–6

References

Sources

• Nauright, John; Parrish, Charles (2012). Sports Around the World: History, Culture, and Practice. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9781598843002.

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