Tennis at the 1904 Summer Olympics – Men's doubles explained

Event:Men's doubles tennis
Games:1904 Summer
Venue:Francis Field
Dates:29 August–3 September 1904
Competitors:15 teams (30 players)
Nations:2
Longnames:yes
Gold:Edgar Leonard
Beals Wright
Goldnoc:USA
Silver:Alphonzo Bell
Robert LeRoy
Silvernoc:USA
Bronze:Clarence Gamble
Arthur Wear
Bronzenoc:USA
Bronze2:Joseph Wear
Allen West
Bronzenoc2:USA
Prev:1900
Next:1908
Quadrennial:yes
Multi:yes
Type:menssinglesdoubles

The men's doubles was a tennis event held as part of the tennis program at the 1904 Summer Olympics. It was the third time the event was held at the Olympics. There were 30 players from 2 nations, comprising 15 pairs including one mixed team. All medals were won by Americans. The event was won by Edgar Leonard and Beals Wright, defeating Alphonzo Bell and Robert LeRoy in the final. The two bronze medal pairs were Clarence Gamble (tennis)/Arthur Wear and Joseph Wear/Allen West. The medals were the first credited to the United States in the men's doubles, though an American had been part of a silver medal mixed team in 1900.

Background

This was the third appearance of the men's doubles tennis. The event has been held at every Summer Olympics where tennis has been on the program: from 1896 to 1924 and then from 1988 to the current program. A demonstration event was held in 1968.

The competition was largely limited to American players, with one international entrant. The British brothers Laurence Doherty and Reginald Doherty, 1900 Olympic champions and nearing the conclusion of their eight-year Wimbledon win streak, were notable absences.[1]

The United States and Germany each made their second appearance in the event.

Competition format

The competition was a single-elimination tournament with no bronze-medal match (both semifinal losers tied for third). All matches before the final were best-of-three sets; the final was best-of-five sets. Tiebreaks had not been invented yet.

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Doubles, Men . Olympedia . 23 December 2020.