Dorothea Lambert Chambers is no less than one of the iconic names that emerged in the history of tennis in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The seven titles she won in the women’s singles championship of Wimbledon, the gold medal won in the 1908 Summer Olympics, and the numerous championships that were won under her name make her one of the greatest tennis players in history.
Early Life and Introduction to Tennis
Dorothea Katherine Douglass was born in London, England. There is little information known about her childhood. This is where she developed a love for the game right from a very young age. Within a short time, tennis becomes one of her vital interests. She played her first match at Wimbledon in the year 1900 in some of the glitziest championships of the game of tennis but was in no way close to being as big as she failed in the second round of the tournament. She had huge potential reflected in the game and later dominated it.
Rise to Greatness: Wimbledon and International Excellence
The first success of Douglass at Wimbledon came in 1903 when she won her first women’s singles title after the defeat of Ethel Thomson. Winning seven singles titles at Wimbledon is surely great enough to cement her name in the tennis history books.
The victory came once more in 1904 and made her consecutively-obtained Wimbledon champion. She, again defeated, Charlotte Cooper Sterry, and just as often over before that.
Then, too swept to triumph to the big one at the end of succeeding years, finally gave her an addition to her reputation as great fame as one of the magnificent woman tennis players. With each successive Wimbledon win, she consolidated her position as one of the toughest-playing women in the world and ensured herself that status for many more years to come.
Who Did Dorothea Chambers Marry?
In 1907 she married Robert Lambert Chambers, and thereafter, she was known by the name Dorothea Lambert Chambers. She, in any case, did not become less competitive; on the contrary, the desire to get married seemed to inspire her to go even higher up the tennis ladder. She continued at the top in this event also and showed determination and prowess in abundance.
What was Dorothea Lambert Chambers’ achievement at the 1908 Summer Olympics?
Perhaps one of the most memorable performances in the career of Dorothea Lambert Chambers was when she participated in the Summer Olympics in 1908. There, she clinched the gold in the women’s singles category. In her quest to take the gold in the final, she overcame fellow compatriot British player Dora Boothby with a scoreline of 6–1, 7–5. Thus she also opened a new dimension in her game by winning that highly prized Olympic trophy, hence becoming the very first British lady to win Olympic gold in the game of tennis.
Dorothea Lambert Chambers’ book Tennis for Ladies
Tennis for Ladies by Dorothea Lambert Chambers, 1910, published the game of tennis through her book called Tennis for Ladies. This pioneering and resourceful book instructed how to play, as it went with some different aspects of the game technique, attire, and equipment. It contained pictures of a high percentage of tennis techniques, but for me, it was a little more akin to an instruction manual for further development to her position as an ambassador for the sport. The book continues to be widely remembered today for being one of the first-ever works on women’s tennis.
The Legendary 1911 Wimbledon Final
Dorothea Lambert Chambers made history once again when she defeated Dora Boothby in the ladies’ final at Wimbledon in a sensational 6–0, 6–0 in 1911. She was the first winner of a Grand Slam singles final in the world to have not lost a set in that match. That proved to be one great feat to showcase technical mastery, courageous tenacity, and mental stability in a challenging and nerve-wracking game. Some 80 years later, Steffi Graf would also repeat this magnificent act by winning the French Open final against Natalia Zvereva in 1988.
Rivalries and Tough Times
While there are so many great moments of her very long career, Lambert Chambers did experience much great rivalry as well. Suzie Lenglen was a French player who ended up becoming one of tennis’ greatest players. In 1919, Lambert Chambers appeared in a then-longest Wimbledon final match lasting 44 games, when she failed to outmaneuver Lenglen. For all this, Lambert Chambers had even taken two match points at 6-5 in the set but lost 8-10, 6-4, 7-9. It was one of the most dramatic matches played, and by the tenacity both players demonstrated.
In 1920, she appeared in the final of Wimbledon and faced the same Lenglen; she received a heavy mauling at the hands of the same tennis courts. Lambert Chambers got thrashed 3–6, 0–6. Although beaten, Lambert Chambers kept on playing at that same level and proved she was a spirited competitor and ardent sportswoman as well.
Retirement from Tennis and Shift to Coaching
By 1921, Lambert Chambers had retired from the singles courts. Yet, she remained a pretty strict challenger in the doubles game. She played the doubles till 1927 and still remained in the tennis fray. Her final important contribution came when she captained the British team for the Wightman Cup yearly contest between Great Britain and the United States in 1925.
She was 46 when she played both singles and doubles matches and emerged victorious in both. This would indicate that the lady had much staying power in the game and a lot of skill.
By 1928, Lambert Chambers devoted her time and energy to training and coaching future generations of tennis players, inspired by the experience she had garnered in the game. Her career as a coach sealed her legacy in the game long after she had retired from playing.