Reginald Doherty

Reginald ‘Reggie’ Doherty was an English tennis player, best known for playing with his younger brother Laurence Doherty. Born Reginald Frank Doherty in Wimbledon, Surrey, England in October 14, he was an Olympic gold medalist for doubles tennis. He also co-authored a book with his younger brother Laurie.

Together with his brother Laurence, Doherty helped increase the popularity of Tennis in the English scene. They were a formidable pairing and were credited for an impressive doubles game strategy. He is referred to as ‘Big Do’ because he was taller than his younger brother was. Doherty stood at 6 feet and 1 inch. His brother was 5 feet 9 inches tall. Doherty was constantly ill – often with digestive problems. His brother Laurie was considered better than he was at tennis. Nonetheless, he was able to win for Wimbledons from 1897 to 1900. He even beat his brother during the 1898 finals.

Doherty won several Olympic gold medals in doubles tennis - once in 1900 Paris Olympics and another in the 1908 games. He also won a gold medal for the mixed games in 1900. When he played with his brother, Doherty took the left court. The two of them effectively blazed a trail through tennis doubles. They won in Wimbledon from 1897 to 1901 and again in 1903 to 1905. They also won the US open doubles from 1902 to 1903. The Doherty brothers only ever lost to the Baddeley brothers in 1896 and to the Riselys in 1906. The two of them also won five Davis Cup doubles.

Doherty and his brother Laurence entered the International Tennis Hall of Fame together in 1980. He died in December 29, 1910. His death was supposed to be related to his long history of ill health.