Bill Tildens 1921 U.S. National Tennis Championship Mens Singles 15K Gold First Place MedalThe 1921 U.S. National Championships now known as the U.S. Open was a tennis tournament that took place on the outdoor grass courts at the Germantown Cricket Club in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. It was the 41st staging of the U.S. National Championships and the third Grand Slam event of the year. The mens competition was held between September 9 through 19 and one local player from Philadelphia took center stage: W. T. Bill Tilden. A gifted player who grew up playing on the Germantown grass courts Tilden was the defending mens singles champion and was virtually unstoppable once more. He took the mens singles title with a convincing 6-1. 6-3 6-1 straight set victory over Wallace F. Johnson. The victory would mark Tildens second of six straight U.S. National Championships. A backcourt specialist he was considered the best player of his generation. For his efforts in 21 Tilden received this 15K gold first place medal. Its a small cast gold award medal with design in relief on front and back. The front bears the image of a kneeling woman holding Nike in her left arm and a crowning globe with laurel with her right arm. The cast inscription around the front edge of the medal reads: Worlds Lawn Tennis Championships on Grass. The engraved inscription on the back of the medal which is framed by a wreath of laurel and flowers simply reads: W.T. Tilden Mens Singles Champion 1921.

Includes a Letter of Provenance from the Helms Athletic Foundation/LA84 Collection