Not even Bill Tilden's penchant for self-destruction was enough for anyone to challenge his place in tennis history. Through glorious triumph and inglorious tragedy, Tilden remained Big Bill.

Since at least the 1920s, speed has been one of tennis’ major attractions. In that decade, Bill Tilden developed his “cannonball” serve, and legend has it that in 1931 he was clocked hitting ...

The year was 1928 and tennis was embroiled in a Franco-American rivalry. Philadelphia’s Bill Tilden had dominated the men’s game since the beginning of the decade, but France’s “Four ...