Tom Burke

Irish-born Tom Burke was one of the world’s first qualified tennis professionals and started playing the sport at the Wilton Club while working for the famous racket maker Dowling. In the late 1890s and early part of the 20th century, Burke was regarded as both a top coach and was also the world’s number one player for many years. As a coach, Burke mentored the 1893 and 1894 Wimbledon champion Joshua Pim at the Lansdowne Club in Dublin. After moving to France in the latter part of the 19th century, Burke later coached the multiple French champion Suzanne Lenglen, amongst others.

In France, Burke held the professionals post at some famous clubs like Le Touquet, Paris, Cannes, and Nice. In 1912 he gave lessons to the Prince of Wales, and at Cannes in 1914 he played a game with the former British Prime Minister Arthur Balfour.

Tennis ran in Burke’s family. His brother Jack was also a professional, as were Tom’s three sons Tommy, Albert, and Edmund, with Albert being the most successful. Albert twice won the Bristol Cup, regarded as being the Professional World Championship in the 1920s.

Attached to the Paris Tennis Club in Auteuil, Burke took part in the first ever professional match in France when he competed in a tournament at his home club and beat George Kerr in five sets. Naturally, while living in Paris in 1900, Burke competed at the Olympic Games and won the professional singles title, beating Kerr into second place. Burke also won the professional doubles title, partnering Kerr.