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Harold Hackett

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Harold Hackett
Full nameHarold Humphrey Hackett
Country (sports) United States
BornJuly 12, 1878
Hingham, MA, United States
DiedNovember 20, 1937(1937-11-20) (aged 59)
New York, NY, United States
PlaysRight-handed (1-handed backhand)
Int. Tennis HoF1961 (member page)
Singles
Highest rankingNo. 7 (1906 U.S. ranking)[1]
Grand Slam singles results
US OpenQF (1906)
Doubles
Grand Slam doubles results
US OpenW (1907, 1908, 1909, 1910)

Harold Humphrey Hackett (July 12, 1878 – November 20, 1937) was an American tennis player.

Biography

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Born in Hingham, Massachusetts, but a long-time resident of New York, Hackett turned in his best results in doubles with Fred Alexander. Beginning in 1905, they were finalists at the U.S. National Championships a record seven consecutive years, winning in 1907, 1908, 1909, and 1910.[2][3]

A graduate of Yale University, Hackett and Princeton University graduate Alexander won the U.S. Indoor doubles three times (1906–08), and he teamed with Walter Hall to win the U.S. Clay Court doubles title in 1912.

The following year, 1913, he was player-captain of the U.S. Davis Cup team that beat the United Kingdom in the final to win the Cup.

Hackett was ranked in the U.S. Top 10 twice: No. 9 in 1902 and at No. 7 in 1906 (when he was a U.S. quarter-finalist).[1] He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1961.[4]

Hackett was a member of the Tennis Players' Committee who in 1915 advocated moving the National Tennis Championships from Newport, MA to Forrest Hills, NY.[5]

In 1911, Hackett's wife divorced him for alleged acts of cruelty and that he publicly accused her of having a dozen affairs. On one occasion she said her and their two children were ill with ptomaine poisoning and Hackett was summoned immediately. Hackett arrived the following morning and only wanted to discuss their expense accounts, then quickly departed two hours later -- not to be heard from again for several months.[6]

Grand Slam finals

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Doubles (4 titles, 3 runner-ups)

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Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 1905 U.S. Championships Grass United States Fred Alexander United States Holcombe Ward
United States Beals Wright
4–6, 4–6, 1–6
Loss 1906 U.S. Championships Grass United States Fred Alexander United States Holcombe Ward
United States Beals Wright
3–6, 6–3, 3–6, 3–6
Win 1907 U.S. Championships Grass United States Fred Alexander United States Nat Thornton
United States Bryan M. Grant
6–2, 6–1, 6–1
Win 1908 U.S. Championships Grass United States Fred Alexander United States Raymond Little
United States Beals Wright
6–1, 7–5, 6–2
Win 1909 U.S. Championships Grass United States Fred Alexander United States George Janes
United States Maurice McLoughlin
6–4, 6–4, 6–0
Win 1910 U.S. Championships Grass United States Fred Alexander United States Tom Bundy
United States Trowbridge Hendrick
6–1, 8–6, 6–3
Loss 1911 U.S. Championships Grass United States Fred Alexander United States Raymond Little
United States Gustav Touchard
5–7, 15–13, 2–6, 4–6

References

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  1. ^ a b United States Lawn Tennis Association (1972). Official Encyclopedia of Tennis (First Edition), p. 409.
  2. ^ "Old Doubles Team Wins Championships" (PDF). The New York Times. August 20, 1909. pp. PDF. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  3. ^ "Hold Tennis Title in Doubles Play" (PDF). The New York Times. August 18, 1910. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  4. ^ "Tennis Hall of Fame - Harold Hackett". International Tennis Hall of Fame. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
  5. ^ "Newport May Lose Tennis Tourney" (PDF). The New York Times. January 17, 1915. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  6. ^ The San Francisco Call (June 24, 1911). "Tennis Player Hackett A Cruel Man His Wife Says". Chronicling America. The San Francisco Call. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
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