Bill Tilden

William Tatem Tilden II (February 10, 1893 - June 5, 1953), often called "Big Bill", was an American tennis player. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to a wealthy family, he was a "Junior" at birth but changed his name to "II" when he was in his mid-20s.

Tilden's importance to tennis

Tilden was a champion player of the 1920s and 1930s who was the single most influential person in the history of tennis. He was also perhaps the most paradoxical figure in the history of any sport -- a homosexual who almost single-handedly changed the image of tennis from that of a "sissy" country-club sport played only by rich white people in long white pants or ankle-length skirts to that of a major sport played by robust, world-class athletes. In the sports-mad decade of the "Roaring Twenties", Tilden was one of the five dominant figures, along with Babe Ruth, Red Grange, Bobby Jones, and Jack Dempsey. Although Tilden was deeply closeted most of his life, many of his fellow players knew of his inclinations; it was only the public that ironically never learned of his orientation until many years later, by which time he had made tennis the major sport it now is.

Related Topics:
Homosexual - Babe Ruth - Red Grange - Bobby Jones - Jack Dempsey

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