How America’s first tennis champ crushed opponents in a necktie & glasses

Dick Sears’ Seven Consecutive Championships at Newport Casino

Tennis in America was born at Newport Casino on August 31, 1881. A string quartet played while 25 men competed in the first U.S. National Championship.

Dick Sears, a 19-year-old Harvard student, crushed his opponent in straight sets wearing a necktie, cap, and pince-nez glasses.

He then won six more titles without losing a match, bringing new tactics like the “Lawford stroke” and strategic volleying that baffled rivals. His 18-match streak stood for decades.

The Newport Casino, now home to the International Tennis Hall of Fame, still echoes with the story of America’s first tennis dynasty.

A Harvard Student Shocked Everyone at the First U.S. Tennis Championship

The Newport Casino buzzed with excitement on August 31, 1881, when the new United States National Lawn Tennis Association held its first championship.

Twenty-five players showed up to play on the grass courts while a string quartet played music for fancy-dressed fans.

The tournament kicked off organized tennis in America, bringing together players from clubs across the Northeast to crown the nation’s first champion.

Young Dick Sears Crushed His Opponent in the Final Match

Richard “Dick” Sears, a 19-year-old Harvard student, amazed everyone by winning the first championship with ease.

Sears beat William E. Glyn from the Staten Island Cricket and Base Ball Club 6-0, 6-3, 6-2. No one knew this match started one of the most dominant runs in American sports.

The college kid played with confidence, controlling points with skill.

Nobody Could Take a Single Set From Sears for Three Years

Sears didn’t just win matches, he owned the court completely.

For his first three championship tournaments, no opponent won even one set against him. His streak grew more impressive each year as he beat all of America’s best players.

The Harvard man built an 18-match winning streak in U.S. National Championship play, a record that lasted until Bill Tilden broke it in 1921.

Tennis Got a Makeover When Sears Brought New Strokes to America

Sears changed American tennis by introducing strategic net play and a new shot called the “Lawford stroke.”

He learned this forehand topspin drive from British player Herbert Lawford. Before Sears, American players mostly hit flat groundstrokes and rarely came to net.

His aggressive style and spin-heavy shots gave him a big advantage over players who had never seen such moves on American courts.

Glasses, Neckties, and Caps Made Up Sears’ Court Attire

The champion played every match wearing his trademark clip-on glasses perched on his nose. Sears stuck to the formal dress code of the time, playing in a necktie and cap that showed his upper-class roots.

His proper look on court helped make tennis a sport for rich folks. Fans liked his play and his gentlemanly behavior that fit the fancy setting of Newport Casino.

Court Position Tricks Confused His Opponents

Sears moved to midcourt to block-volley his opponents’ shots, forcing them to hit passing shots under pressure.

He skillfully hit the ball from side to side, making competitors run while he stayed mostly in the middle. These moves confused his rivals who stuck to baseline play.

Sears understood court positioning and strategy better than others, giving him a mental edge in every match.

Partners Became Champions in Sears’ Doubles Career

The singles star also ruled doubles play, winning six U.S. National Doubles Championships during his career.

Sears formed a great partnership with James Dwight, winning five titles together. They set the standard for American doubles play, with smooth teamwork.

The pair made popular the “both-up” formation at the net that became key to doubles strategy for years to come.

Newport’s Beautiful Casino Hosted America’s Tennis Elite

The Newport Casino was the perfect spot for America’s growing tennis craze.

Its wooden-style buildings, perfect lawns, and fancy clubhouse created a feeling of richness and tradition.

Rich folks flocked to Newport each summer to watch the championships. The place helped turn tennis from a backyard game into America’s top sport among wealthy people.

Sears Walked Away Undefeated After Seven Championships

After winning his seventh straight U.S. National Championship in 1887, Sears made the surprise choice to quit singles competition.

He left undefeated, never losing a championship match. At just 26 years old, Sears quit tennis to focus on his business career.

His perfect championship record stands alone in American tennis history, with no other player retiring as champion with such a spotless record.

American Tennis Found Its Identity Through Sears’ Dominance

Sears helped make tennis a top American sport during his seven-year reign.

His playing style, good sportsmanship, and success created a model for American tennis. Other players studied and copied his moves, spreading his influence through clubs.

The championship setup he played in created a framework for organized tennis that gave the sport status and respect.

The Tournament Outgrew Newport and Became Today’s US Open

The U.S. National Championships stayed at Newport Casino until 1914, when they moved to the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, New York.

This same championship eventually evolved into today’s US Open, one of tennis’s four Grand Slam tournaments.

The small 25-player event that Sears first won transformed into a global sports spectacle watched by millions.

Visiting International Tennis Hall of Fame

The International Tennis Hall of Fame at 194 Bellevue Avenue in Newport showcases Dick Sears’ incredible seven-year championship run from 1881-1887.

You’ll pay $22 for adults ($17 for seniors/students/military, kids under 12 free) to see nearly 2,000 artifacts including original US Open trophies in the Newport Tennis Traditions Gallery.

Interactive exhibits feature touch-screens and holograms.

The museum opens daily 10am-5pm (10am-6pm July-August) with over 30,000 total artifacts documenting early American tennis history.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

Read more from this brand:

• The Chinese tea house that bankrolled women’s voting rights in America
• Providence’s richest family split over slavery — and made legal history in the 1790s
• The blood money behind Rhode Island’s most beautiful mansion