author
William T. (William Tatem) Tilden
1893–1953
A towering star of 1920s tennis, he brought power, strategy, and showmanship to the court and helped shape the modern game. Beyond his championships, he also wrote books on tennis and became one of the sport’s most memorable personalities.
1 Audiobook
The Art of Lawn Tennis
by William T. (William Tatem) Tilden
About the author
Born in Philadelphia in 1893, William Tatem Tilden II—widely known as Bill Tilden or “Big Bill”—became one of the dominant tennis players of the early twentieth century. He won seven U.S. Championships, three Wimbledon singles titles, and later found success as a professional, earning a reputation for combining tactical intelligence with dramatic flair.
Tilden’s influence went beyond match results. He wrote instructional and tennis-themed books, and many historians and tennis institutions still place him among the sport’s foundational greats because of the way he advanced aggressive, thoughtful play.
His life also had a troubled side, and later legal scandals damaged his public standing. Even so, his place in tennis history has remained secure, with the International Tennis Hall of Fame recognizing him as one of the game’s landmark champions.