Anthony "Tony" Frederick Wilding (31 October 1883 – 9 May 1915) was a champion tennis player from Christchurch, New Zealand and a soldier killed in action during World War I near Neuve-Chapelle, Pas-de-Calais, France.
Anthony "Tony" Frederick Wilding (31 October 1883 – 9 May 1915) was a champion tennis player from Christchurch, New Zealand and a soldier killed in action during World War I near Neuve-Chapelle, Pas-de-Calais, France.
Anthony "Tony" Frederick Wilding (31 October 1883 – 9 May 1915) was a champion tennis player from Christchurch, New Zealand and a soldier killed in action during World War I near Neuve-Chapelle, Pas-de-Calais, France. He was the son of wealthy English immigrants to New Zealand and enjoyed the use of private tennis courts at their home. He obtained a legal education and joined his father's law firm. He was a first-class cricketer and a keen motorcycle enthusiast. His tennis career starting with him winning the Canterbury Championships aged 18. He developed into a leading tennis player in the world during 1909–1914 and is considered to be a former World number 1. He won several Wimbledon Championships, was both World Hard Court and World Covered Court champion, won the Davis Cup several times for Australasia, and won a bronze medal at the 1912 Olympics. In his ranking list of greatest tennis players compiled in 1950, Norman Brookes put Wilding in fourth place.