# 1881 men's tennis season

The 1881, men's tennis season was composed of the sixth annual pre-open era tour, which now incorporates 73 tournaments staged in Australia, Canada, Great Britain and Ireland, and the United States. The 1881 Wimbledon Championships was won by William Renshaw. This year also saw the inaugural and important 1881 U.S. National Championships held at Newport Casino which Richard Sears won. This was also the year that the United States National Lawn Tennis Association, which is the world's first national tennis association, was founded. Renshaw then went on to win two other big tournaments of the year, namely, the Irish Lawn Tennis Championships and Princes Club Championships, whilst Richard Taswell Richardson won the prestigious Northern Championships.
The tour began in April in Cheltenham, England, and ended in November in Melbourne, Australia.

## Calendar

Notes 1: Challenge round: the final round of a tournament, in which the winner of a single-elimination phase faces the previous year's champion, who plays only that one match. The challenge round was used in the early history of tennis (from 1877 through 1921), in some tournaments, not all.
Notes 2:Tournaments in italics were events that were staged only onetime
Key
* Important.
* National
* Provincial/State/Regional
* County
* Local

### January to March

No events

### April

| Date | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semifinalist | Quarterfinalist |
| 4 April. | North Northamptonshire LTC Tournament (First Meeting) Drayton Park Kettering Northamptonshire ? Singles Doubles | G.H. Evans ? | ? | | |
| 19–23 April. | Cheltenham Covered Court Championships Imperial Winter Gardens Cheltenham, England Wood (i) Singles - Doubles | Ernest Renshaw 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 8-6 | Ernest Browne | Major Henry Holley Goodeve G. Harrison | Ernest Edwin Meek Henry Blane Porter S. Davies |
| 19–23 April. | Cheltenham Covered Court Championships Imperial Winter Gardens Cheltenham, England Wood (i) Singles - Doubles | Ernest Renshaw William Renshaw def | George Montague Butterworth G. Harrison. | Major Henry Holley Goodeve G. Harrison | Ernest Edwin Meek Henry Blane Porter S. Davies |
| 19–23 April. | Cheltenham Covered Court Championships Imperial Winter Gardens Cheltenham, England Wood (i) Singles - Doubles | Ernest Browne Miss Williams def | Henry Blane Porter Miss. Florence Mardall. | Major Henry Holley Goodeve G. Harrison | Ernest Edwin Meek Henry Blane Porter S. Davies |

### May

| Date | Tournament | Winner | All Comers' Finalist | Semifinalist | Quarterfinalist |
| 23–29 May | Irish Lawn Tennis Championships Dublin, Ireland Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | William Renshaw 1-6 6-4 6-3 6-1 | Richard Taswell Richardson | Peter Aungier | A J Mullholland Ernest Renshaw Otway Woodhouse |
| 23–29 May | Irish Lawn Tennis Championships Dublin, Ireland Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | Challenge round Herbert Lawford | | Peter Aungier | A J Mullholland Ernest Renshaw Otway Woodhouse |
| 23–29 May | Irish Lawn Tennis Championships Dublin, Ireland Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | Spencer Duncan Maul Miss Costello 6-4, 7-5 | Robert Hassard Miss. D. Meldon | Peter Aungier | A J Mullholland Ernest Renshaw Otway Woodhouse |
| 31 May. | St.George's Hill Tournament St. George's Hill LTC Weybridge, Surrey, England Outdoor Grass Singles | Wilfred Milne 3 sets to 0 | B. Hawes | F.M. Ashley Oswald Milne | F.M. Ashley Ferguson G. Davies Mr. Maclachlan Rev. G.S. Money |

### June

| Date | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semifinalist | Quarter finalist |
| June. | Oxford University Champion Tournament Norham Gardens, Oxford, Great Britain Grass Singles – Doubles | Robert Wallace Braddell 6-4, 8-6, 6-2 | Rev. Thomas Poltimore Dimond | | |
| 30 May–4 June. | Cambridge University Tournament Cambridge University LTC Cambridge, England Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | Barclay Fowell Buxton ? | Erskine Gerald Watson | E.W. Brooke ? R. Hunt ? | A.C. Cooper ? R. Hunt Bye J.E. McMaster ? J.H.M. Whitehead ? |
| 1–5 June | West of England Championships Bath, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | Pelham Von Donop 5-6 6-5 6-3 | John Charles Kay | John Charles Kay Bye William Norton Barry | H. C. Jenkins Henry Blane Porter |
| 5-10 June | Worcester Park Challenge Cup. Worcester, Worcestershire, England Grass | F. Durant ? | ? | | |
| 6–12 June | Waterloo Tournament Liverpool, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | Richard Taswell Richardson 6-0 6-0 | R W Jones | Henry Blane Porter R W Jones | W. G. Barker T. R. Hunt C. Phillips |
| 6–12 June | Princes Club Championships London, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | William Renshaw 7-5 4-6 6-0 6-3 | Alfred John Mulholland | Herbert Lawford | Richard Taswell Richardson John Charles Cole L. G. Campbell |
| 6–12 June | Essex Championships Brentwood, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | Dale Womersley 6-0 6-4 | Nalton Womersley | Edward North Buxton | Charles Walder Grinstead 6-3 6-1 Albert Womersley W.C. Wells A. Fowler was absent. |
| 16–18 June. | Liverpool Cricket Club Lawn Tennis Tournament Liverpool Cricket Club Aigburth, Liverpool, England Grass Singles | Richard Taswell Richardsons 6-0, 6-0 | Reginald Herbert Jones | | |
| 20–26 June | Northern Championships Manchester, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | Richard Taswell Richardson 6-1 6-1 6-0 | Walter Edwin Fairlie | Minden Fenwick | A. L. Payne Percival C. Fenwick J. J. Yates |
| 20–26 June | Northern Championships Manchester, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | Challenge round John Comber | | Minden Fenwick | A. L. Payne Percival C. Fenwick J. J. Yates |

### July

| Date | Tournament | Winner | All comers' finalist | Semifinalist | Quarterfinalist |
| 26 June–1 July. | Rochester Open The Paddock King's School, Rochester, Kent, England Grass Singles | H. Blatherwick 6-3,6-3,6-4 | A. Buchanan | | |
| 2–13 July | Wimbledon Championship London, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | William Renshaw 6–0, 6–1, 6–1 | Richard Taswell Richardson | Herbert Lawford | George S. Murray Hill Otway Woodhouse William Henry Darby |
| 2–13 July | Wimbledon Championship London, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | Challenge round John Hartley | | Herbert Lawford | George S. Murray Hill Otway Woodhouse William Henry Darby |
| 11–17 July | Scottish Championships Edinburgh, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | John Galbraith Horn 6-1 6-5 | A L Davidson | T A Bell | B S Cunliffe Captain Gosling Charles C Maconochie Captain Sterling |
| 12 July. | Championship of the Esher LTC. Esher Lawn Tennis Club Esher, Surrey, England Grass | Clement Edward Cottrell 6-5, 6-5, 6-1 | Charles Martineau | | |
| 12 July. | Bedfordshire LTC Tournament North Beds Lawn Tennis Club Blunhem House, Fairfield, Bedfordshire, England Grass | Cecil Henry Polhill-Turner ? | R. Hughes | C. Mellor | A.K. Lindsell F.H. Smith Captain Leigh Warner |
| 16 July. | Woodford Parish Championship County Cricket Ground Woodford Parish, England Grass Singles | Edward North Buxton 2 sets to 0 | R.C. Ball | | ? |
| 15-16 July. | Staffordshire County Cricket Club Lawn Tennis Tournament. Lichfield, Great Britain Grass Singles | Henry W. J. Gardner 6-4, 2-6, 6-5 | E.W. Burnett | A.W. Hart E.K. Wade | John George Chamberlain C.E. Green L.G. Knight |
| 17–20 July | Alliance LTC Championship Crouch End Hill, Crouch End, London, England Outdoor Grass Singles | F.A. Clark ? | ? | | |
| 20-23 July. | North Northamptonshire LTC Tournament (Second Meeting) Grafton Underwood North Northamptonshire ? Singles Doubles | Edward North Buxton ? | H.E. Kaye | N.F. Roberts Daniel Wiltringham Stable | A. Fowler S.E. Palmer Ernest Robert Stable E. Wheeler |
| 20-23 July. | North Northamptonshire LTC Tournament (Second Meeting) Grafton Underwood North Northamptonshire ? Singles Doubles | Challenge round F.E. Deck | | N.F. Roberts Daniel Wiltringham Stable | A. Fowler S.E. Palmer Ernest Robert Stable E. Wheeler |
| 18–24 July | Canadian Championships Toronto, Canada Outdoor Grass Singles | Isidore F. Hellmuth 6–2, 6–2 | W.H. Young | | ? |
| 18–24 July | Edgbaston Open Tournament Edgbaston, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | Dr. Walter W. Chamberlain 6-3 6-1 6-4 | F.S. Goodwin | G.R. Brewerton R.W. Miller | G.H. Cartland G.J. Chamerlain H. Simonds J. Lambert |
| 25–30 July | London Athletic Club Tournament Fulham, London, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | Frederick Lawrence Rawson 6-1 4-6 6-2 6-3 | Otway Woodhouse | Edgar Lubbock G. H. Taylor | B. James Ernest Wool Lewis Augustus Adolphus Nepean |
| 30 July. | Harrow Lawn Tennis Club Tournament. Harrow Lawn Tennis Club Harrow, Middlesex, England Grass | Frederick Gordon Templer 2 sets to 1 | J. Ruault | J.P. Charles G. Holmes | C. Edwards W. Guillemard E.S. Prior W. Wilkinson |
| 25–30 July | Norwich Open Tournament. Chapelfield Gardens Norwich, Norfolk England ? | Francis William Monement 6-2 6-4 | Edward Morgan Hansell | William Bolding Monement | Henry Edward John Browne Walter Edward Hansell R.H. Perkin |
| 25–31 July | Dundalk Tournament Dundalk, Ireland Outdoor Grass Singles | Robert Shaw Templer def. | Kerry Leyne Supple | H Graves | A. Edes Frederick Gordon Templer |

### August

| Date | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semifinalist | Quarter finalist |
| August. | Tivyside LTC Tournament Tivyside Lawn Tennis Club Newcastle Emlyn, Carmarthenshire, Wales Outdoor Grass Singles | George Bevan Bowen ? | | | |
| August | Hexham Tournament Hexham, Northumberland, England Outdoor Grass Singles | Jasper Gibson 6-0, 6-0, 6-2 | M. Liddell | J.W. Fowler W. Gibson | J.O. Head Henry Kirsopp J.H. Nicholson |
| August | Hampstead Cricket Club Tennis Tournament Hampstead, Middlesex, England Outdoor Hard Singles | Harry Sibthorpe Barlow 3 sets to 1 | Herbert Chipp | Robert Samuel Creaton | E.F. Carey R.A. Walker |
| 2–4 August. | Cirencester Park Lawn Tennis Tournament Earl Bathurst Estate Cirencester Park Cirencester, Gloucestershire, England Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | F.E. Rooke ? | Julian Marshall | |
| 4 August. | North Northamptonshire LTC Tournament Drayton Park Lowick, Northamptonshire Grass Singles Doubles | G.H. Evans ? | Henry Minshull Stockdale | R.H. Lindsay F.G. Hodgson | { |
| 1–6 August | Darlington Open Tournament Darlington, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | A. Springett 6-0 4-6 6-2 | Mark Fenwick | J.W. Fowler | Cecil Fullerton Minden Fenwick R. De Clare Yeld |
| 1–6 August | Darlington Open Tournament Darlington, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | J.B. Dale Miss Alice Cheese 9-7, 6-3 | Percival C. Fenwick Miss. Winifred Fenwick. | J.W. Fowler | Cecil Fullerton Minden Fenwick R. De Clare Yeld |
| 1–7 August | South of Ireland Championships Limerick, Ireland Outdoor Grass Singles | Edmond Bennett Brackenbury 0-6 6-3 7-5 8-6 | Edward Montiford Longfield | Samuel Martin Gully | G Burton James F J Heffernan Considine Major Henry H Goodeve William Dawson |
| 2-6 August. | County Kildare Closed Tournament Naas Military Barracks Naas, County Kildare, Ireland Grass - | Peter Aungier ? | E.H. Bennett | Spencer Duncan Maul W.A. Cairnes | Paul Brown Arthur Owen Major Erasmus D. Borrowes Gilbert de Laval Willis |
| 2-6 August | County Kildare Championship Naas, Ireland Outdoor Grass Grass Singles - Doubles | Algernon Ambrose Michael Aylmer 6-1 6-1 6-5 | Francis Metcalfe | Jacob R. Sherrard | James G. Kennedy Thomas C. Owen |
| 2–7 August | Waterford Tournament Waterford, Ireland Outdoor Grass Singles | Michael G. McNamara 6-2 6-3 | James Joycelyn Glascott | Hercules R Langrishe | Chaloner Knox John H Browne Henry Hills Goodeve |
| 2–8 August. | Orange Invitation Mountain Station, Montrose South Orange, New Jersey, US Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | Richard Field Conover 7-5 6-2 6-3 | A.M. Wood | Samuel A. Campbell Jr. | Richard Morse Colgate S.E. Hall E. Winslow |
| 8–10 August | Downshire Lawn Tennis Tournament Downshire Archery and Lawn Tennis Club Cliftonville Cricket Club Ground, Belfast, Great Britain Outdoor Grass | F.L. Rawson 5-2,5-1 | F.G.Gordon | J. McNeile W. R. Young | C. L. Graham 5-1 5-0 F. St John Gordon John H. Browne O. B. Graham |
| 9–12 August | Exmouth Open Exmouth, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | E. W. Mancounchy 6-3 1-6 6-4 | Thomas Hoare | T.P. Hogg | E.G. Farquharson G. F. Hampson Champion Russell |
| 9–12 August | Exmouth Open Exmouth, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | Henry Kindersley ** Miss. Georgiana Kindersley 2-6, 7-5, 7-5 | Thomas Arembery Tombe Miss. Lilian Cole. | T.P. Hogg | E.G. Farquharson G. F. Hampson Champion Russell |
| 9–12 August | Teignmouth and Shaldon Tournament Teignmouth, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | Champion Branfill Russell 5-6 6-1 6-0 | Charles John Cole | Charles John Cole Spencer Cox | Arthur Bellfield C. Haynes Thomas Arembery Tombe |
| 8–13 August | North of Ireland Championships Belfast, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | E. J. Charley 2-1 (sets) | J.R. Bristow | A.H. Callwell A. Eager | E.M. Charley H.O. Lanyon H.W. Boyce John Taswell Richardson |
| 13 August. | Langley Marish Tournament Langley Marish LTC Langley Marish, Berkshire, England Grass | Thomas Arthur Nash 6-5, 3-6, 6-3 | Wiliam Harry Nash | Maurice John Swabey | G.E. Hale | Richard Helder |
| 13 Aug. | Gloucestershire Lawn Tennis Tournament Montpellier Gardens Cheltenham, Great Britain Outdoor Grass/Asphalt Singles - Doubles | George Montague Butterworth 6-1 6-1 | Alexander Kaye Butterworth w.o. | Walter William Chamberlain | H. Hardwick Percy Hattersley Smith C. Tillard |
| 14–15 August. | Maidstone Lawn Tennis Tournament Maidstone Athletic Ground Maidstone, England Outdoor Grass Singles | Richard Mercer w.o. | Mr. Stited | Randall Mercer Mr. Scudamore | Mr. Ground A. Mercer Mr. Tasker C.G. Traill |
| 15-16 August. | Penzance LTC Tournament Penzance LTC Penzance, Cornwall, England Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | P.H. Fernandez 6-5 6-5 | Rev. William Ewart Beamish Barter | C.G. Fagan | W.E.T. Bolitho R.J. McNeill H.W. Simons |
| 18-19 August. | Rochford Hundred Club Lawn Tennis Tournament Rochford Hundred Club Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England. Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | M. Thackeray 6-3, 4-6, 6-5 | W. Wood | J.C. Page A. Stallibrass | E. Benton R.C. Browne A. Lancaster E. Meeson |
| 15–20 August | Devonshire Park Championships Eastbourne, Great Britain Grass | George S. Murray Hill 2 sets to 0 | Sidney Alfred Noon | Joseph Butler Chamberlain William C. Taylor | Alexander Raymond Aspinall F. Link Leo Maxse E.P. Nicholls |
| 22-26 August | Westgate-on-Sea Tournament Westgate-on-Sea, Kent, England Outdoor Asphalt Singles | G.G. Dineley ? | T. Sopwith | R. Whyte | C. Leigh Clare W. Price H. Steward |
| 26–30 August. | South Wales Championships Tenby LTC Tenby, Carmarthenshire, Wales Outdoor Grass Singles | L.G. Campbell 6-2, 6-5, 9-7 | Grismond Saunders Davies | P.T. Ashe Mr. Voyle | Mr. Morris F. Lort Phillips E. Smith G. Synge |
| 29 August-4 September | Victoria Park Lawn Tennis Tournament Exeter, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | Champion Branfill Russell 6-3 7-5 | Spencer Cox | G. Batten ? Pelham Von Donop | A.Belfield A.W. Buckingham H. B. Kindersley |
| 29-30 August | Abbot's Court Hoo Tournament Hoo St Werburgh, Rochester, Kent, England Outdoor Grass Singles | E. Mansel 6-3 | Warwick Stunt | H. Cobb Capt. Johnson | Major Blackwood F. Day Mr. Johnson O.H. Pedley |
| 30-31 August. | Holt Lawn Tennis Club Tournament Holt LTC Holt, Norfolk, England Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | William Meaburn Tatham 2 sets to 1 | William Bolding Monement | Francis William Monement Charles Edmund Tatham | Henry William Pelham-Clinton S. Hart-Davies Edward Morgan Hansell |
| 31 August. | Gore Court Championships Sittingbourne, Gore Court Archery and LTC Gore Court, Sittingbourne, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | W.H. Patterson 5-4 6-1 | J. Patterson | John Walter Langlois E. Marmion | A. Chittenden W. Plumb E.K. Skinner J.A. Tuke |
| 31 July–1 August. | Rochester Open Paddock Lawn Tennis Club Rochester, Kent, England Grass Singles | H. Blatherwick 6-1 6-2 | A. Buchanan | W.A. Dartnall W.H. St. John Hope | |
| 31 August - 3 September | U.S. National Championships Newport Casino, Newport, Rhode Island, United States Outdoor Grass Singles Doubles | Richard Sears 6-0 6-3 6-2 | William Glyn | Edward H. Gray Samuel Shaw | Crawford Nightingale Edward Gray William Gammell Mr. Kessler |
| 31 August - 3 September | U.S. National Championships Newport Casino, Newport, Rhode Island, United States Outdoor Grass Singles Doubles | Clarence Clark Frederick Winslow Taylor 6-5 6-4 6-5 | Alexander Van Rensselaer Arthur Newbold | Edward H. Gray Samuel Shaw | Crawford Nightingale Edward Gray William Gammell Mr. Kessler |

### September

| Date | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semifinalist | Quarterfinalist |
| September. | Skipton Tournament Craven Lawn Tennis Club (f.1879)? Gargrave, Skipton, North Yorkshire, England Outdoor Grass | T.R. Atkinson ? | J.B. Dury | R.J. Jefferson | J. St. John W. Bairstow L. Dewhurst |
| September. | West Somerset Archery and Lawn Tennis Tournament West Somerset Lawn Tennis Club Taunton, Somerset, England Outdoor Grass | Francis Escott Hancock 2 sets to 0 | R.P. Spurway | G.F. Hampson C.R. Rodwell | J. St. John A. Newton G. Peard F. Scott |
| 30 Aug–3 Sept. | Aldershot Division Open Lawn Tennis Tournament Aldershot Divisional LTC Aldershot Garrison, Hampshire, England Outdoor Grass Singles | Lt-Col Robert H. Stuart Truell 6–4, 1–6, 6–5 | Lieut. Robert Howden Kellie | Percy Wildman Lushington | Lieut. King William Robert Boileau Peyton |
| 29 August-4 Sept | Victoria Park Lawn Tennis Tournament Victoria Park Exeter, Devon, England Outdoor Grass Singles | Spencer Cox 6-3 7-5 | Champion Russell | G. Batten Pelham Von Donop | A.Belfield A.W. Buckingham H. B. Kindersley |
| 5–6 September. | Vale of Clwyd CLTC Open Tournament Vale of Clwyd LTC Ruthin, Vale of Clwyd, Wales Outdoor Grass Singles | Percy John Frederick Lush 5-2 5-4 | M. Lush | R.L. Williams | P.J.T. Henery A.B. Mesham Major. Mesham |
| 5–9 September. | South of England Championships Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club, Eastbourne, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | Edgar Lubbock 6-4 6-2 6-0 | Robert W. Braddell | R.N. Cooper-Coles Frederick Brunning Maddison | Charles John Cole C. Fairfax Leopold Maxse William C. Taylor |
| 13–17 September. | Torquay Lawn Tennis Tournament Winter Gardens Torquay, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | Ernest Maconchy ? | Thomas Arembery Tombe | C. Haynes | B.C. Skottowe G. Egerton W. Ware |
| 13–17 September. | Torquay Lawn Tennis Tournament Winter Gardens Torquay, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | J. Bayly Thomas Arembery Tombe 6-2 6-4 | F. Crowdy G. Egerton | C. Haynes | B.C. Skottowe G. Egerton W. Ware |
| 13–17 September. | Torquay Lawn Tennis Tournament Winter Gardens Torquay, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | W. Ware Miss. Coulthard 6-2 6-4 | Thomas Arembery Tombe Miss. Cole | C. Haynes | B.C. Skottowe G. Egerton W. Ware |
| 15–17 September. | Saint Leonards-on-Sea Lawn Tennis Tournament St Leonards-on-Sea, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | Arthur Wellesley Soames 6-3 6-5 6-5 | A.H. Trevor | S. Twining | A.R.N. Coles Charles John Chichester Smith |
| 19 September. | White Rose Lawn Tennis Tournament Gentleman's Cricket Ground York, Yorkshire, England Outdoor Grass Singles | F. Durant 6-4 6-5 | E.M. Turner | A. Hotham Granville Croft | Mr. Baines Major Lee's |
| 19–24 September. | East Gloucestershire Championships Cheltenham, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | William Renshaw 6–0, 6–1, 6–1 | Robert Wallace Braddell | Ernest Browne Michael Gallwey McNamara | Henry Blane Porter |
| 19–24 September. | East Gloucestershire Championships Cheltenham, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | Challenge round Ernest Browne | | Ernest Browne Michael Gallwey McNamara | Henry Blane Porter |
| 24-25 September. | Truro LTC Open Tournament Truro, Cricket Club Truro, Cornwall, England Grass | H. Mann ? | Francis Joseph Ridgway | Lancelot Melvill Haslope Robert Fox | Charles Reginald Gerveys Grylls H.E. Lambe T.W. Wilson |
| 26 September-2 October. | Bournemouth Lawn Tennis Club Tournament (later Hampshire Championships) Bournemouth, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | Montague Hankey 6-2 6-3 6-0 | J. G. Johnson | Rev. Edmond Bennet Brackenbury E.W. Brooke | John Dalby Dewhurst Edward George Farquharson H. Fort F.E. Rooke |

### October

| Date | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semifinalist | Quarterfinalist |
| 3–10 October | Armagh ALTC Tournament Armagh, Northern Ireland Outdoor Hard Singles | Robert Barron Templer 2-0 (sets) | H. Irwin | M. Blacker E. J. Wolfe | M. Blacker A. Burke C. S. Poole V. De. Tattersall |
| 3–10 October | Armagh ALTC Tournament Armagh, Northern Ireland Outdoor Hard Singles | Challenge round Robert Shaw Templer | | M. Blacker E. J. Wolfe | M. Blacker A. Burke C. S. Poole V. De. Tattersall |
| 3–10 October. | Brighton Lawn Tennis Club Tournament Brighton Lawn Tennis Club Queen's Park, Brighton, East Sussex, England Grass | C. Fairfax 6-1, 6-4, 7-5 | A.O. Jennings | W.P. Bowyer Leonard Dampier | A. Evelegh Robert Howden Kellie H. Langton W. Stuckey |
| 4–10 October | Sussex County Lawn Tennis Tournament Brighton, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | Michael Gallwey McNamara 2-6 6-2 6-0 6-1 | Champion Russell | Charles John Cole Charles Walder Grinstead | Humphery H. Berkley H. Brooker George S. Murray Hill H. M. Nichol |
| 4–10 October | Sussex County Lawn Tennis Tournament Brighton, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | Henry B. Thornhill Miss. E. Munt 6-3, 6-1 | Orlando R. Coote Miss. Leila Lodwick | Charles John Cole Charles Walder Grinstead | Humphery H. Berkley H. Brooker George S. Murray Hill H. M. Nichol |
| 26–28 October. | St. George's Cricket Club Tournament St. George's Cricket Club New York, United States Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | John Jameson Cairnes 7-5 6-2 6-3 | James Rankine | Charles F. Watson Sr. F. Ennis | W. P. Anderson R. J. Cross H. Henry James Rankine |

### November

| Date | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semifinalist | Quarterfinalist |
| 4–10 November | Victorian Championships Melbourne Cricket Ground Melbourne, Australia Outdoor Hard Singles - Doubles | Louis Whyte 6-4 4-6 6-1 6-1 | Francis James Highett | J. S. Conran Francis James Highett | R. H. James W. M. Mitchell Francis James Highett |

### December

No events

## List of tournament winners

Note: important tournaments are written in bold
* William Renshaw—Cheltenham, Irish Championships, Princes Club, Wimbledon—(4)
* Richard Taswell Richardson—Aigburth, Waterloo, Northern Championships—(2)
* Michael G. McNamara—Brighton-Waterford—(2)
* Edward North Buxton—Lowick, Woodford Parish—(1)
* Richard Sears—U.S. National Championships—(1)
* Richard Barron Templer—Armagh—(1)
* Pelham Von Donop—Bath—(1)
* E. J. Charley—Belfast—(1)
* F. L. Rawson—Belfast—(1)
* Montague Hankey—Bournemouth—(1)
* C. Fairfax —Brighton—(1)
* Barcley Fowell Buxton—Cambridge—(1)
* Ernest Renshaw -Cheltenham (indoor)—(1)
* Dale Womersley—Colchester—(1)
* F. E. Rook—Cirencester—(1)
* A. Springett—Darlington—(1)
* Robert Shaw Templer—Dundalk—(1)
* Edgar Lubbock—Eastbourne—(1)
* Walter William Chamberlain—Edgbaston—(1)
* John Galbraith Horn—Edinburgh—(1)
* Leslie Balfour-Melville—Edinburgh—(1)
* C. Martineau —Esher—(1)
* Spencer Cox—Exeter—(1)
* E. W. Mancounchy—Exmouth—(1)
* Edmond Bennett Brackenbury—Limerick—(1)
* Herbert Lawford—London—(1)
* Frederick Lawrence Rawson—London—(1)
* Richard Mercer—Maidstone—(1)
* Louis Whyte—Melbourne—(1)
* Peter Aungier—Naas—(1)
* John Jameson Cairnes -New York -(1)
* A.W. Soames-St Leonards-on-Sea-(1)
* Jonas Henry William Gardner-Stafford-(1)
* Champion Branfill Russell—Teignmouth—(1)
* Ernest Maconchy-Torquay-(1)
* Isidore F. Hellmuth—Toronto—(1)
* Wilfred Milne—Weybridge—(1)

## Rankings

Source: The Concise History of Tennis
Karoly Mazak World Rankings for 1881 :
| # | Player |
| 1 | William Renshaw (ENG) |
| 2 | Herbert Lawford (SCO) |
| 3 | Richard Taswell Richardson (GBR) |
| 4 | Ernest Renshaw (ENG) |
| 5 | Ernest de S. H. Browne (Ireland) |
| 6 | Otway Woodhouse (GBR) |
| 7 | Peter Aungier (Ireland) |
| 8 | Edgar Lubbock (GBR) |