American Colossus: Big Bill Tilden and the Creation of Modern Tennis

In his latest book, Hornblum (The Invisible Harry Gold; Acres of Skin) examines the rise of professional tennis and the contributions to the sport of Bill Tilden (1893–1953). This requires context; in the 1920s, the sporting landscape was different. Tilden was among the first to have all of the elements of the game, both physical and mental, with the ability to exploit the weakness of opponents, or the much more difficult task of overpowering their strengths. Hornblum presents Tilden as the consummate amateur. The athlete made no money from competitive tennis as an amateur player, though he earned a living in part from his writing about tennis. Ultimately, this led to the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association (USLTA) revoking his amateur status. As a professional, Tilden started a career in filmed golf instruction. As much as Tilden contributed to the sport, his legacy was marred by rumors about his sexuality.