Holcombe Ward

Holcombe Ward was a professional tennis player from the United States. He was born on November 23, 1878 in New York, New York, United States, he is known best for winning the 1904 U.S. Champions singles title.

Standing at 5 feet and 9 inches, Ward was one of the well-known “Harvard Three” who were a part of the very first U.S. Davis Cup team. Ward is also known as the originator of the popular American twist serve, which has baffled the British team during the Cup tournament in 1900. During those years, Ward was paired with Dwight Davis, and together, they won doubles championships twice in a row.

A known right-handed player, Ward would once again represent the United States for the 1902 Davis Cup where they emerged as victors once again. However, the following Davis Cup tournaments (1905 and 1906) did not prove to be as fruitful.

Ward’s partnership with Dwight Davis started when they were still in college, back in 1899. The said partnership started giving them championship titles even while in college.

It was in 1904 that Ward broke through the U.S. Championship and won the singles title after defeating Bill Clothier in a game that ended in 10-8, 6-4, and 9-7. That year, Ward managed to reach the No. 1, which was the highest he ever reached during his seven years of going up and down the Top Ten ranks.

Years after achieving his No. 1 rank, Ward and Davis once again paired up and dominated the U.S. Seniors 45s doubles tournament. They were successful in their feat and claimed the said tournament’s doubles title. Later, he became the president of the USTA for approximately a decade.

Ward won 2 Grand Slam titles for singles and 3 Grand Slam doubles titles. He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1965, and passed away shortly thereafter in January 23, 1967.