[Dan Lobb]

Originally Posted by Mustard

I personally have Bill Tilden as the best player in the world for 7 years, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925 and 1931, and the best professional player in 1932 and 1933. As an amateur from 1912 to 1930, Tilden won 138 out of 192 tournaments and was runner-up in 28 others. Amongst the amateur tournaments he won were 7 US Championships, 3 Wimbledons and a WHCC (precursor to the French Championships). As a professional from 1931 onwards, Tilden was the best on the big pro tours until dethroned by Ellsworth Vines in 1934, while he also won 2 US Pros and 2 French Pros, as well as coming very close in many others during the 1930s while Tilden was in his 40s.

Tilden's post-1946 career was severely affected by the scandals involving him, including jail time, but he continued to play sporadically up to 1952. A 60 year old Tilden was actually on his way to play at the 1953 US Pro tournament in Cleveland when he died of a massive stroke.

Again, simply listing titles doesn't tell us very much about actual achievement, or else you would have to rank Emerson and others way up high. Think again.