William Sr. and his wife Selina had three children in quick succession before Bill Tilden was born in 1893.
The family flourished and joined the top social and sports clubs. However, disaster struck in 1884.
Bill Tilden wife: Was Bill Tilden married?
The diphtheria outbreak that year did not make a distinction between the rich and the poor.
The sickness claimed the lives of all three children within two weeks in late November or early December, and that tragic occurrence altered Selina’s life forever.
Tilden, though, discovered yet another early platform for his creativity.
He first took up a tennis racquet when he was five years old and started hitting balls against the back of the house while spending the summer at the family’s vacation property at the Onteora Club in the Catskills.
Since his older brother played tennis, Tilden modeled much of his game after him.
Tennis professionals who also taught the game were uncommon at the time.
At the Onteora Club’s 15-and-under Boys Championships, he defeated every opponent to take home his first solo trophy at the age of eight.
