Ernest Lewis reached the final of the first Wimbledon Championships gentlemen's doubles competition held in 1884.

[2] In the gentlemen's singles competition at Wimbledon his best result was reaching the final of the all-comers tournament on four occasions (1886, 1888, 1892 and 1894).

[4] Lewis won the singles title at the Irish Championships in 1890 after a close–fought battle in the challenge round against Willoughby Hamilton, 3–6, 3–6, 9–7, 6–4, 7–5.

In 1892 he was victorious at the London Championships at the Queens Club, defeating Joshua Pim in the final.

His other career singles highlights include winning the Gore Court Championships at Sittingbourne in 1885, the South Saxons Tournament at St Leonards-on-Sea in 1889.