Bill Tilden
Bill Tilden, born on February 10, 1893, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was a prominent American tennis player renowned for his significant contributions to the sport. Despite a challenging early life marked by family tragedy and personal loss, Tilden emerged as a formidable competitor in tennis, ultimately becoming the first American to win the men's singles title at Wimbledon in 1920. His athletic prowess and engaging personality drew parallels to other sports legends like Babe Ruth and Jack Dempsey, capturing the public’s imagination during his peak years in the 1920s and early 1930s.
Tilden's career was highlighted by numerous victories, including three Wimbledon singles titles and multiple national championships. Known for his versatility on the court and powerful serve, he was a dominant figure in tennis, leading the U.S. Davis Cup team to seven consecutive victories. However, his life was not without controversy; he faced a ban due to violations of amateur rules and later struggled publicly with his sexuality, which ultimately led to legal troubles in the 1940s.
Despite these challenges, Tilden remained a beloved figure in tennis until his death on June 5, 1953. His legacy endures, as he was voted the top tennis player of the first half-century by an Associated Press poll in 1949, and he is widely recognized as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport.
Bill Tilden
Tennis Player
- Born: February 10, 1893
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Died: June 5, 1953
- Place of death: Hollywood, California
Sport: Tennis
Early Life
William Tatem Tilden II was born on February 10, 1893, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the second youngest of five children. Three of the children died during a diphtheria epidemic in 1884; only Bill and his older brother, Herbert, survived. Herbert introduced Bill to tennis, but the boy showed little skill in the early years.
Bill’s father, a wealthy businessman, was often away from home, so Bill became close to his mother Linie, who, fearing for his health, had Bill educated at home by private tutors. In 1908, however, Linie contracted Bright’s disease, and, with Herbert finishing school and preparing to marry, Bill was sent to Germantown Academy. While attending school there, he lived with a maiden aunt and his cousin. Since Bill never married, these two women remained his “family” for many years.
In 1910, Bill graduated from Germantown Academy and entered the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He disliked his studies, however, and dropped out for one year after his mother’s death in 1911. In 1915, tragedy struck again when both Bill’s father and brother died unexpectedly. Too devastated by grief to study, Bill left the University of Pennsylvania in his senior year, deciding to make a career out of tennis.
The Road to Excellence
Bill coached tennis for a year at Germantown Academy and at the University of Pennsylvania before entering competition. He was given a national ranking of seventy and entered the U.S. National Championship matches in 1916, but he lost in the first round. In 1918 and 1919, he reached the final round of competition but lost again. Bill worked hard at building his game, spending many hours on the courts. He mastered a variety of strokes, learning the chops, half volleys, and short lobs that supplemented his already strong forehand and serve.
In 1920, Bill played the reigning Wimbledon titleholder, Gerald L. Patterson of Australia, winning the match with a combination of strokes and an awesome serve, to become the first American to win the men’s Wimbledon singles title. That same summer, he won the U.S. National Championship at Forest Hills, defeating Bill Johnston, the number-one ranked U.S. player. Bill became a giant of the game, bringing a virile athletic image to the sport.
Like his contemporaries Babe Ruth in baseball and Jack Dempsey in boxing, Bill caught the public’s imagination at home and abroad. Not only was he proficient, but he also had a powerful personality, dominating any place he was. He had a natural grace, aided by his physique—tall, broad-shouldered, lean—and nimble footwork. Even in his rare defeats, he was the center of attraction.
The Emerging Champion
Combining intelligence with hard work, Bill mastered the game completely, and it brought him great fame and wealth. He spent money lavishly, traveling widely and entertaining generously. He was often in the company of other celebrities such as movie stars and politicians. In spite of these distractions, Bill continued to play great tennis. He won the U.S. Clay Court Championship singles six consecutive years, from 1922-1927, the U.S. National Championship doubles five times, the mixed doubles four times, and the U.S. Indoor Championship doubles four times. He took the Wimbledon singles title three times: 1920, 1921, and 1930. Between 1920 and 1930, Bill played on the U.S. Davis Cup team, leading the United States to victory in seven consecutive years.
In 1926, Bill severely injured his knee, and victories became much harder to come by. He and the great French player René Lacoste traded wins between 1926 and 1930. In 1928, one of the most thrilling matches between them occurred in France. The United States Lawn Tennis Association (USLTA) banned Bill only days before the match for violating the player-writer rule, which specified that no amateur player could receive money in connection with the sport. Bill, however, was employed as a tennis columnist. Upon protest by France and by the U.S. ambassador to France, Bill was reinstated. An underdog, since Lacoste had won their previous four meetings, Bill electrified the spectators with his brilliant play, confusing Lacoste’s game plan with versatile shots. Bill was at his peak.
Continuing the Story
In 1931, Bill turned professional, forming the Tilden Tennis Tours, Inc., with his former doubles partner Frank Hunter. They made their first appearance at Madison Square Garden in February, pioneering the way for players who preferred “cash to cups.” Bill went on to win the U.S. Pro Championship singles title in 1931 and 1935 as well as the doubles in 1932. Although a big draw on tours, he was a poor businessman, running into financial problems through bad investments and careless spending habits. By the end of the 1930’s, Bill was almost broke. Still, to most fans, he remained the personification of tennis. His instinctive showmanship was as sharp as ever: He knew the moves and gestures to win over any audience.
After World War II, Bill helped organize the Professional Tennis Players Association and still played well enough to draw crowds, often reaching the quarterfinals in pro tournaments. In the following years, however, Bill came out as a homosexual, and by the 1940’s, he was openly defending homosexuality. In November, 1946, he was arrested by the Beverly Hills police on a morals charge. Taken to court, he was found guilty and was sentenced to several months in prison. When Bill came out, he was broken in health and in spirit.
Living in Hollywood from the 1940’s until his death, Bill gave lessons on friends’ private courts, earning much-needed money. Still enthusiastic about the game, Bill was planning to play in the U.S. Pro Championship that was to be held in Cleveland in June of 1953. He died, however, of an apparent heart attack alone in his apartment the night before his scheduled departure.
Summary
Although Bill Tilden died in relative obscurity, his career was illustrious. His virtuosity, concentration, and “cannonball” serve earned him the admiration of all. In 1949, an Associated Press poll cited him as the top tennis player of the first half-century, giving him 310 votes out of a possible 391; the runner-up received 32 votes. In 1969, a panel of international writers put him at the head of its collective all-time ranking. Few disputed Bill’s title as one of the greatest tennis players who ever lived.
Bibliography
Deford, Frank. Big Bill Tilden: The Triumphs and the Tragedy. Rev. ed. Kingston, N.Y.: Total/Sports Illustrated Classics, 2001.
Gurney, A. R. Big Bill. New York: Broadway Play, 2004.
Tilden, Bill. Match Play and the Spin of the Ball. Edited by Stephen Wallis Merrihew. 2d ed. New York: American Lawn Tennis, 1925.
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗. My Story: A Champion’s Memoirs. 2d ed. New York: Hellman, Williams & Company, 1948.
Wilner, Barry, and Ken Rappoport. Harvard Beats Yale 29-29, and Other Great Comebacks from the Annals of Sports. Lanham, Md.: Taylor Trade, 2008.