Saturday, 23 November 2024

Bill Tilden

Contest: The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Athletes 2024
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Sport(s): Tennis
Statistics: 138 Titles
10 Grand Slam Singles
1,425-372 Singles Record
3 Wimbledon Singles Titles (1920, 1921 & 1930)
7 U.S. Open Singles Titles (1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925 & 1929)
6 Grand Slam Doubles
1 Wimbledon Doubles Title (1927)
5 U.S. Open Doubles Titles (1918, 1921, 1922, 1923 & 1927)
5 Grand Slam Mixed Doubles Titles
1 French Open Mixed Doubles Title (1930)
4 U.S. Open Mixed Doubles Titles (1913, 1914, 1922 & 1923)
2 U.S. Pro Titles (1931 & 1935)
1 French Pro Title (1934)
7 Davis Cups (1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925 & 1926)
Member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame
Bill Tilden was a late athletic bloomer, as even in college, he was not good enough to make the team. He came into his own in his mid-20s, and in the decade of the 20s, he won Wimbledon three times and the U.S. Open seven times. On the international scene, Tilden led the United States to seven straight Davis Cup wins (1920-26), an astounding feat in any generation. He also won three Grand Slams (two U.S. Pros and one French Pro) when he turned professional in 1930.

As he was playing, he transcended his sporting celebrity, becoming friends with Hollywood elite. Sadly, when his career ended, he was arrested twice (serving time once) for sexual misconduct with underage boys. It was not widely known that he was gay, but homophobia certainly impacted his life negatively.

Nevertheless, Tilden was the first superstar in American tennis and one of the most celebrated athletes of the 1920s.

We are proud to nominate Bill Tilden for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.

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