On August 27 1909, a match was played at Queens Royal to great acclaim.  Let’s even say it was the Greatest of All Time up to then.  Of particular interest is the fact the protagonists were women.

The event had all the makings of a memorable occasion : highly-skilled players, who were also colourful characters; a history of competition between them; an ideal setting, sure to attract knowledgeable spectators; and prestigious stakes.

The players were May Sutton and Edith Hannam.  They had played previously at Newport, with Sutton winning 9-7, 6-3.  This was considered a remarkable accomplishment by Hannam : “No one on this continent has approached this form against the world’s champion.”

The setting was Queen’s Royal in Niagara-on-the-Lake …. at the 24th annual Niagara International Championships. To get an appreciation of the position held by the tournament, read a description from that time : “The National Championship tournament in the United States will commence at Newport, August 17th, where the big players will compete.  All the stars will be in evidence and from there will come to the greatest of all tournaments, the International at Niagara-on-the-Lake on the Queens Royal Hotel courts, commencing August 23rd.  The Canadians and Americans will meet in the contests to decide the championships of the continent.”  

May Sutton had played in the final at Wimbledon in 1905, 1906 and 1907 …. winning in 1905 and 1907.  She was an extraordinary athlete.  And she had great respect for Edith Hannam, calling her “a splendid player”.

The build-up to their match was extraordinary.