The 1923 Wightman Cup

Fiend at Court Unplugged

The Wightman Cup was first contested in 1923. The occasion also marked the official dedication and first time use of the new concrete stadium at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills. Four trumpets heralded the start of the dedication ceremony which featured hoisting of flags and erection of the net posts and nets on the court. The West Side Tennis Club president threw in the balls for the first match.

The start of the Wightman Cup competition as well as the stadium dedication ceremony was delayed a day from what was originally scheduled. USLTA president Dwight Davis (yes, that Davis) decided that no matches would be played on Friday August 10 as President Calvin Coolidge had declared that day to be a national day of mourning for Warren G. Harding who died on August 2.

To avoid confusion with the printed ticket holders, the matches originally scheduled for Friday were moved to the following Monday. That day was coincidently also the first day of the United States Men’s National Championships (later to become the US Open) at the West Side Club. The Wightman Cup matches were treated with higher precedence.

It seems strange in retrospect, but a decision had not yet been made over whether the silver vase donated by Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman was to be used as a perpetual trophy or permanently awarded to the victorious team. History tells us that the perpetual option was eventually selected. The Wightman Cup is currently on display at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island.

While the disposition of the trophy had yet to be decided, other decisions on the future of the international competition were taking shape. There was agreement between the American and British delegations that the Wightman Cup would be an annual event, rotating each year between the two countries. By 1923 it was apparent that Hazel Wightman’s vision for a multiple team international competition wasn’t going to happen. That would have to wait for the advent of the Federation Cup in 1963.

The news articles that were written in 1923 provide a glimpse into the nature of competition of that era. Because it was anticipated that the matches would be tightly contested, a full hour was allocated for each match on the schedule. Keep in mind that the scoring format was best of three sets and the innovations of the set tiebreak and no ad scoring had yet to be inflicted on the scoring system.

Additionally, the New York Times reported that the British delegation were adjusting to the “livelier higher bouncing” balls used in the United States. The ILTF (later ITF) didn’t have the authority to regulate tennis until the following year in 1924. The international standardization of the tennis ball was in the future.

The United States swept all 7 matches in 1923 becoming the first Wightman Cup champions.

1. Women Stars Begin Tennis Play Today, The New York Times, August 11, 1923.
2. Davis Decrees That No Matches Shall Be Played on West Side Courts Friday, The New York Times, August 7, 1923.
3. U.S. Women Sweep Tennis Team Match, The New York Times, August 14, 1923.