User:Alexandra19670802/sandbox

Role/Career in Tennis

The Irish Championships were first established in 1879 and took place in Pembroke Place and further moved on to Wilton Place from 1880 till 1902. Following Wilton Place, the tournament further took place in Fitzwilliam Square where it remained until its final location in 1972, Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Appian Way, Dublin. It was in this year that the tournament changed its name to the Irish Open due to sponsorship motives.

Ruth ‘Dyas’ Durlacher developed into an Irish tennis player around the 1900’s.

As her success grew, she further took part at the Wimbledon championships between 1897 and 1919. Come 1899, Durlacher triumphantly reached the ‘all-comers’ final’ but lost to her opponent Blanche Bingley who managed to beat her two years prior in the Irish Championships and would further go on to win 6 Wimbledon championships.

Durlacher came runner up four times within the women singles in the Irish Open (tennis) taking place is Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club. In 1897, Blanche Bingley successfully beat Durlacher with the result ending in 7–5, 2–6, 6–3. Following two years’ time, Louisa Martin triumphally won the singles tournament 6-1, 6-2 against her opponent Durlacher. Again, two years preceding Muriel Robb came against Durlacher in the final with the result ending in her favour, 9-7, 6-1. Subsequently, Louisa Martin would reach Ruth Durlacher in the final yet again in 1902, with a second win under her, 6-8, 6-4, 7-5.

Durlacher would additionally partake in the doubles category of the [[Irish Open (tennis)], her partners being Alice Pickering in 1896,  Mollie Martin for three consecutive years from 1898,1899 and 1901 and Ms.Hazlett in 1902.

On top of that, Durlacher took part in the mixed doubles under the Irish Open. During 1898, Durlacher secured first place alongside her partner Harold Nisbet. Three years later, Ruth Durlacher would battle in the final at the side of Laurence Doherty, once more emerging victorious. Following this year, Durlacher again stood in company of her partner Laurence Doherty and went on to finish first.

Although Helena Rice has been the only successful Irish women’s tennis player to win the singles tournament at Wimbledon ,it is said that Durlacher is the only woman who has come close to obtaining this legacy. Durlacher went on to shape the career of women in tennis with her own daughter succeeding her legacy.