William Tatem Tilden II, popularly called “Big Bill”, was an American tennis player who became the world’s No. 1 amateur for six consecutive years (1920 to 1925).
When did Bill Tilden start playing tennis?
In elementary school, Bill didn’t play tennis ball. He was shy, sometimes arrogant, and kept to himself.
He dropped out of the University of Pennsylvania and in 1910 began to practice his game of tennis. Eventually, he became very dedicated to the game.
The following year he won the junior singles and doubles title of Germantown which was his first tournament.
Barely three years later, he went up the ranks. His first national title was the mixed doubles championships title.
How many Grand Slams did Bill Tilden win?
Before going to jail in 1946, Bill played the pro tournament circuit. From jail, the fifty-three-year-old returned to pro tennis briefly in 1948. He then played a short series of matches against Wayne Sabin.
Tilden’s final farewell game was in May and April 1951 with George Lyttleton Rogers.
