Bill Tilden

Bill Tilden (1893-1953), American tennis player, who dominated the sport during the 1920s with his powerful style of play. Tilden was born William Tatem Tilden II in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and educated at the University of Pennsylvania. He won the United States national singles championship in 1920 and successfully defended the title five successive times. From 1920 to 1930 he was a member of the American Davis Cup team and led the team to seven consecutive victories (1920-1926). Tilden won the Wimbledon singles championship in 1920, 1921, and 1930. In 1929 he regained the U.S. singles championship and also won the singles championships of Switzerland and the Netherlands. By 1930 Tilden had won a record 16 U.S. championships, including several titles in doubles (1918, 1921-1923, 1927) and mixed doubles (1913, 1914, 1922, 1923). In 1931 he became a professional, playing in many tournament and exhibition matches. His writings include The Phantom Drive and Other Tennis Stories (1924); a play, They All Want Something, produced in 1926; and How to Play Better Tennis (1950). Tilden also acted in several plays.