Josiah Ritchie

Who was Josiah Ritchie?

Major Josiah George Ritchie was a male tennis player from Great Britain.

He was born in Westminster and died in Ashford, Middlesex.

Educated at Brighton College, he is best remembered for being a three-time medalist at the 1908 London Olympics. At the Games he won a Gold, Silver and Bronze medal. He remained the last British player to win an Olympic medal in singles until Andy Murray won Gold in the 2012 games, also in London. In 1908 and 1910 he and Tony Wilding won the doubles in Wimbledon. In 1909 he reached the Wimbledon singles Challenge Round, losing to Arthur Gore. He also reached the All-Comers final in 1902, 1903 and 1904. In June 1907 he won the Irish championships. Ritchie was a five times winner of the Championships of Germany, played in Hamburg, from 1903 to 1906 and in 1908. He was also a five-time winner of the singles title at the Austrian Championship. In 1908 he was member of the British Davis Cup team. He won three consecutive titles at the Surrey Championships from 1908–1910.

In 1911 Ritchie won the Queen's Club Covered Courts Championship, defeating Wilding in five sets.