Viktor Voss

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Voss, around 1900

Viktor Eugen Felix Graf Voss-Schönau (born March 31, 1868 in Schorssow , † August 9, 1936 in Waren ) was a German tennis player. He won the German championships from 1894 to 1896 and was the most successful and well-known German tennis player in the 1890s.

Life

Voss was born on March 31, 1868 as the son of a count of the Mecklenburg noble family Voss and the Hungarian countess Elise Szápáry on the family estate in Schorssow . At the beginning of the 1890s he learned to play tennis there under the guidance of an American coach. From 1894 to 1896 he won the German championships at Hamburg's Rothenbaum, which until then had only been reserved for German and Austrian players. In 1896 he reached the final of the tournament in Baden-Baden , but was clearly defeated by Reginald Doherty in three sets. After his third victory at the German championships in 1896, the winner's cup originally donated by Carl Laeisz passed into his possession. Voss donated a new cup, which he was never to win himself.

In 1897 he hired Burke, one of the best professional players of his time as a coach. He now took part in tennis tournaments on the Côte d'Azur in the winter months and stayed at the Hotel Beau-Site in Cannes . In 1897 in Nice and 1898 in Monte Carlo , he was able to move into the final, but lost again to Reginald and his brother Laurence Doherty .

In 1899 Voss went on a trip to Great Britain , which was cheered in the local press with anticipation: “The German master player [...] will soon be thirsting for new conquests like Alexander the Great, and ultimately there will be nothing left for him but England to travel in order to be beaten once again in the battle with the greats there! ”At the Irish championships in Dublin he was defeated by Frank Riseley in five sets in the second round . At a tournament in Chiswick Park , London , he lost to George Greville . In 1899 he had to admit defeat to Laurence Doherty in the final of Nice with 0: 6, 0: 6 and 0: 6.

Voss often played on the tennis facility in Heiligendamm , among others with the Grand Duchess Anastasia of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Countess Clara von der Schulenburg . His trademark was a wet towel wrapped around his forehead, which he used to prevent the glasses from fogging up. Another special feature was his second serve, which he always served cut from below.

Arthur Wallis Myers wrote of Voss that he had a good forehand strike and volley ; His weaknesses are the backhand, his serve and an average smash. According to Myers, hiring a professional coach is also a mistake, as he, financially dependent, would only express mild criticism, which would mean that Voss would overestimate his strength.

After Voss failed in the semifinals of George Hillyard at the German championships in 1900 , he withdrew from tournament tennis. He then devoted himself to his two other hobbies, car racing and clay pigeon shooting . Voss died in August 1936 at the age of 68 in Waren an der Müritz . Although he was married twice, he left no offspring.

Single track

No. year competition Final opponent Result
1. 1894 German championships German EmpireThe German Imperium Christian Winter 6: 1, 6: 4, 11: 9
2. 1895 German championships German EmpireThe German Imperium Christian Winter 6: 2, 6: 1, 6: 2
3. 1896 German championships German EmpireThe German Imperium Georg Wantzelius 6: 1, 6: 0, 6: 1

Sources and web links

Commons : Viktor Voss  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Gillmeister (1990)
  2. ^ Fichard, R. from: German Tennis Yearbook. Third and fourth year 1896 and 1897. Berlin (no year) p. 20 f.
  3. ^ Myers, AW: Lawn Tennis at Home and Abroad. Scribner's Sons, London 1903, p. 229 f.
personal data
SURNAME Voss, Viktor
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Voss-Schönau, Viktor Eugen Felix Graf (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German tennis player
DATE OF BIRTH March 31, 1868
PLACE OF BIRTH Schorssow
DATE OF DEATH August 9, 1936
Place of death Were