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A GOLD DAVIS CUP WINNER'S RESERVE MEDAL, 1903
the obverse inscribed International Lawn Tennis Championships; the reverse inscribed 1903 British Isles v. America (reserve) H.S. Mahony
the obverse inscribed International Lawn Tennis Championships; the reverse inscribed 1903 British Isles v. America (reserve) H.S. Mahony
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In 1903 Harald Mahony accompanied the two Doherty brothers to the United States as a reserve player for the Davis Cup at Longwood. Mahony had already experienced the American circuit, having played alongside A.H. Nisbet and the Australian born Dr. Wilberforce Eaves at Newport several years earlier. Mahony's reaction to the strength of the U.S. players was not too disimilar from that of the Doherty brothers. As a skilled volleyer, he noted that --'The Americans dart in and kill many a volley very weakly', whilst the Doherty's suggested that--'The American may be said to make it almost his entire aim to win. He does not care how the stroke is accomplished so long as it scores, and who shall say that is not correct?' (Trengrove, A., The Story of the Davis Cup, London: Stanley Paul & Co. Ltd., 1985, p.18-19). Thus, the 1903 team were well aware of their opponents' strengths as the American's themsleves were indeed conscious of their own performance, having established ranking lists as early as 1885.
On the day before the Men's Singles Competition, however, misfortune struck when Reggie Doherty sustained a shoulder injury following an 'invitation' tournament at Nahant. Collins, the British captain, had brought Mahony over in case of such circumstances and requested that the Irishman should play on the first day with Doherty returning on the second. Whilst he expressed sympathy with the situation, Larned, the American captain, was not willing to go against the competition rules and thus the British proposal was refused and Collins decided to play Doherty on both days. Depsite his setback, however, Reggie Doherty performed well enough on the court next to that of his brother Laurie, with the latter eventually defeating his opponent Larned 6-3, 6-8, 6-0, 2-6, 7-5 and with Reggie winning against Wrenn 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-8, 6-4.
On the day before the Men's Singles Competition, however, misfortune struck when Reggie Doherty sustained a shoulder injury following an 'invitation' tournament at Nahant. Collins, the British captain, had brought Mahony over in case of such circumstances and requested that the Irishman should play on the first day with Doherty returning on the second. Whilst he expressed sympathy with the situation, Larned, the American captain, was not willing to go against the competition rules and thus the British proposal was refused and Collins decided to play Doherty on both days. Depsite his setback, however, Reggie Doherty performed well enough on the court next to that of his brother Laurie, with the latter eventually defeating his opponent Larned 6-3, 6-8, 6-0, 2-6, 7-5 and with Reggie winning against Wrenn 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-8, 6-4.