The 1882 Women's tennis season was a tennis circuit composed of 54 national, regional, county, and regular tournaments. The season began in April in Brighton, England, and ended in October in Brighton, England.
Summary of season
Prior to the creation of the International Lawn Tennis Federation and the establishment of its world championship events in 1913 the Wimbledon Championships, the U.S. National Championships, the Irish Lawn Tennis Championships and the Northern Championships were considered by players and historians as the four most important tennis tournaments to win.
1882 sees a substantial increase in women's events as the tennis circuit continues to form. In May 1882 at the first major event of the year the Irish Championships in Dublin a full programe of women's singles and doubles were held, as well as a mixed doubles event. In the women's singles competition Ireland's Mary Abercrombie defeated England's Marian Bradley. In terms of draw size the East Gloucestershire Championships had the largest singles competition attracting 17 players. The West of England Championships and Northern Championships both had the largest doubles draws at 11 pairs a piece. Whilst the West of England Championships featured the largest mix doubles draw of any event at 32 players.
In June 1882 at the second major tournament of the year the Northern Championships the organisers staged a ladies singles championship for the first time won by Ireland's May Langrishe who defeated England's Miss Langley in straight sets. At the 1882 Wimbledon Championships the world's first major tennis tournament, it still remained an all men's event with no women's competitions being held. In North America at the U.S. National Championships there was still no women's championship events held. In 1913 the International Lawn Tennis Federation was created, that consisted of national member associations. The ILTF through its associated members then became responsible for supervising women's tour events.
Season results
Notes 1: Challenge Round: the final round of a tournament, in which the winner of a single-elimination phase faces the previous year's champion, who plays only that one match. The challenge round was used in the early history of tennis (from 1877 through 1921), in some tournaments not all.* Indicates challenger
Key
Singles
Notes:The Irish Championships and East Gloucestershire Championships used both grass and hard asphalt courts for matches.
Tournament winners
Singles
This is list of winners sorted by number of singles titles (major titles in bold) May Langrishe (2) Northern Championships, Parsonstown Constance Smith (2) Durham, Edgbaston Edith Coleridge (2) Brighton, Brighton II Mrs. Hoare (2) Eggesford, Eggesford II Mary Abercrombie (1) Irish Championships A. Lindsell (1) Beford Maud Watson (1) Cheltenham Miss Teempler (1) Armagh Frances Morris (1) Bath Miss F Hall (1) Grafton Underwood B. Fletcher (1) Aigburth Miss. A. Binney (1) Abingdon Miss. Stuart (1) Hoo St Werburgh Miss. Cobbold (1) Tonbridge M. Heathfield (1) Henley-on-Thames L. Ray (1) Sittingbourne C. Bennett (1) Caversham Edith Davies (1) Liverpool II Miss. Gardner (1) Lichfield Miss. J. Mellish (1) Crouch End Hill Miss Raikes (1) Norwich Alice Fenwick (1) Newcastle-upon-Tyne J. M McLintock (1) Armagh II Mary Lysaght (1) Limerick Lilian Cole (1) Exmouth Miss M Jackson (1) Penzance Miss. Williams (1) Seaton Miss Hathway (1) Caversham II K. Gilliat (1) Hornsea G. Milman (1) Tenby Miss. Maude (1) Parsonstown II A. Forrest (1) Moffat A. Lindsell (1) Bedford Miss. D Patterson (1) Sittingbourne Mrs. Baddington (1) East Grinstead
Doubles
This is list of winners sorted by number of doubles titles (major titles in bold) Miss G McLintock & Miss Instray/ Miss J M Mclintock (2) Armagh, Armagh II * Constance Smith & Beatrice Langrishe/ Mrs Dent (2) Cheltenham, Edgbaston Miss G McLintock & Miss Instray (1) Armagh Miss J M Mclintock & Miss G McLintock (1) Armagh II Beatrice Langrishe & Constance Smith (1) Cheltenham Constance Smith & Mrs Dent (1) Edgbaston Miss Gardner & Mrs Peters-Smith (1) Litchfield A. Forrest & Miss Forrest (1) Moffat Miss M Bradshaw & Miss Eade (1) Newcastle-upon-Tyne Miss Hartnell and Miss Hick (1) Seaton Miss Coles & Miss Meyler (1) Taunton Miss W Thomson & Mrs Agar (1) Weybridge Miss Warren & Miss Woolnough (1) Wellington