Leslie Allison Godfree (27 April 1885 – 17 November 1971)[1] was a British male tennis player who was especially successful in doubles and mixed doubles.
 | |
| Full name | Leslie Allison Godfree |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) | Great Britain |
| Born | 27 April 1885 Brighton, Sussex, England |
| Died | 17 November 1971 (aged 86) Richmond, London, England |
| Plays | right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Singles | |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| French Open | 3R (1926) |
| Wimbledon | 3R (1923) |
| US Open | 1R (1930) |
| Doubles | |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| French Open | 3R (1926) |
| Wimbledon | W (1923) |
| US Open | 2R (1930) |
| Olympic Games | 1R (1924) |
| Mixed doubles | |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| French Open | SF (1926) |
| Wimbledon | W (1926) |
| US Open | QF (1930) |
| Olympic Games | QF (1924) |
Biography
editEducated at Brighton College, Godfree played at the Wimbledon Championships from 1920 to 1930. While in singles he dropped out of the competition after the first or second round each year, he won the doubles title partnering Randolph Lycett in 1923. In January 1926, he married Kathleen McKane, a two time Wimbledon singles champion.[2] In the same year, the newly married couple took the mixed doubles title at Wimbledon, being the only married couple ever to win this championship.[3] Leslie had already reached the mixed doubles final two years earlier in 1924 where he was beaten by his future wife Kitty, and the couple would again in 1927.
Apart from Wimbledon, the Godfrees played at the French Championships in 1926 where they could advance to the semifinals in mixed doubles. In 1930, Godfree took part at the U.S. Championships where he reached the quarterfinals in mixed doubles, this time partnering Mercedes Malowe.
He was also member of the British Davis Cup team from 1923 to 1927 and competed at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris.[4]
Grand Slam finals
editDoubles (1 title)
edit| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1923 | Wimbledon | Grass |  Randolph Lycett |
 Manuel de Gomar Eduardo Flaquer |
6–3, 6–4, 3–6, 6–3 |
Mixed doubles: (1 title, 2 runners-up)
edit| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1924 | Wimbledon | Grass | Dorothy Shepherd-Barron |
Kitty McKane John Gilbert |
3–6, 6–3, 3–6 |
| Win | 1926 | Wimbledon | Grass | Kitty Godfree |
 Mary Kendall Browne Howard Kinsey |
6–3, 6–4 |
| Loss | 1927 | Wimbledon | Grass | Kitty Godfree |
Elizabeth Ryan Frank Hunter |
6–8, 0–6 |
References
edit- ^ "Sports Reference profile page". Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
- ^ "Sports Reference profile of Kitty McKane". Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- ^ "Plaque honours tennis great Kitty". BBC News Online. 23 October 2006. Retrieved 23 August 2010.
- ^ "Leslie Godfree". Olympedia. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
External links
edit- Leslie Godfree at the Association of Tennis Professionals
- Leslie Godfree at the International Tennis Federation
- Leslie Godfree at Olympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)
- Leslie Godfree at the Davis Cup
