Max Baerlein

From the early part of the 20th century, Max Baerlein dominated both rackets and real tennis in Britain for nearly 30 years. Between 1903-30 he won 22 national singles titles. His 13 tennis titles stood as a record until surpassed by Howard Angus in 1979. In 1920, Baerlein became only the second man (after Eustace Miles in 1902) to win the Amateur title of both sports in the same year. The great American Jay Gould dominated the sport in the USA between 1906-25, and during his reign as US champion he lost to just one match, and that was to Baerlein

The son of a Manchester-based textile merchant, Baerlein was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, from where he graduated with a degree in mechanical science in 1902. His early working career was spent in the textile industry before joining the family firm of Baerleins where Max was involved largely in machinery design. He later became a director of the company.

Baerlein had started playing rackets and tennis at the Manchester Racket Club and continued playing at Eton and Cambridge. Despite his experience he was a non-starter at the 1908 Olympics. His son Richard was a well-known horse racing journalist and prominent author.