H.
Briggs
Male
England
0000-00-00
, -
Erroneously listed as P. Briggs in some sources.
In 1891, a H. Briggs won the men’s singles event at what has since come to be recognised by some observers as the first edition of the French Championships. In reality, the event in question was open only to French nationals and foreign nationals who were members of a French lawn tennis club. It was held at the Racing Club de France in Paris in mid-May 1891 and only five players entered the first edition.
The aforementioned H. Briggs has not yet been positively identified. However, several French sources state that he was English and a member of the Stade Français, a sports club founded in Paris in 1883, and that he was also a talented cricketer. As late as 1914, a H. Briggs took part in the final of the English lawn tennis intercounty cup in which Staffordshire beat Kent by 6 matches to 2. H. Briggs represented the Kent team.
1886 - 1891
1
4
3
1891 - French National Championships (Open)
Round 1
H. Briggs 1 *
Mr. Swann
6-5
4-6
6-3
Semifinals
H. Briggs 1 *
Mr. Heywood
6-4
6-3
Final
H. Briggs 1 *
Paul Louis Baignères
6-3
6-4
Round 2
C.F. Palmer 1 *
H. Briggs
w.o.