When four - time Wimbledon champion Reginald Doherty had a shoulder injury the British team captain William Collins elected to forfeit his first match , instead of letting Mahony play .
Champion would be allowed to play the reverse singles match later in the event .
When four - time Wimbledon champion Reginald Doherty had a shoulder injury the British team captain William Collins elected to forfeit his first match , instead of letting Mahony play , so that Doherty would be allowed to play the reverse singles match later in the event .