George Aristedes CARIDIA

A specialist on wooden courts, stockbroker George Caridia was an expert at the half volley and made many winning shots by playing it as an attacking shot. Now very much part of the modern game it was innovative at the turn of the 20th century. Caridia made his Wimbledon début in 1898 and reached the men’s doubles semi-final with George Simond, a performance the pair repeated 12 months later. Caridia’s best performance in the singles was also in reaching the semi-final of the all-comers competition in 1903 when he lost to Josiah Ritchie. He played in the Welsh covered court championship at Llandudno for more than 20 years and won the title nine times between 1899-1909, and he was still playing in the tournament in the mid-1920s. Although he won the Welsh title nine times, his best performance was probably in winning the French covered court title in 1900. He twice got beat in the final of all-comers competition at the British covered court championship; by Josiah Ritchie in 1905 and by Tony Wilding in 1907.

Caridia won two silver medals in covered court events at the 1908 Olympics. He lost to Arthur Gore in three straight sets in the singles and partnered by George Simond, lost to Gore and Herbert Roper Barrett in the doubles in four sets. Caridia took part in his second Olympics in 1912 but came home without a medal. After he retired from playing, George served as a council member on the Lawn Tennis Association and also Honorary Treasurer of the All-England Club.