Tennis has witnessed the rise and fall of many players throughout the history of the sport. Only a select few have left an indelible mark on and off the court. There have been some truly incredible players, but the legacy of black tennis players will last forever.
Some of them were trailblazers and chartered a path for the next generation to follow in their footsteps. From Althea Gibson to Serena Williams, the influence that black tennis players have had on the sport is unquantifiable. In this article, we will take a closer look at how these players have shaped the landscape of the sport we love.
Althea Gibson
Gibson is one of the most well-known black players of all time. Althea etched her name in history as the first player to break the color barrier in the sport.
Gibson was born in 1927 in South Carolina, at the height of segregation, and yet her story is one of courage and resilience. She started playing tennis at an early age, and she found help from the American Tennis Association (ATA). African American players formed the ATA, and Gibson was just one of the beneficiaries of their support.
Althea’s perseverance paid off. In 1950, she became the first black woman to play at a major tournament in the history of tennis. She competed at the US Nationals, which is now called the US Open.
Gibson’s list of accomplishments does not end here, though. She also became the first-ever black athlete to win a Grand Slam at the French Open in 1956. Althea was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1971, which further solidified her legacy.
Arthur Ashe
Arthur followed a similar path as Althea Gibson. Ashe is widely recognized as one of the finest African American players of all time. He revolutionized the sport for black players and became the first male athlete to win the US Open in 1968.
Arthur was born in 1943 in Virginia. He picked up the racket at a tender age, and he did not look back again. Ashe rose up the ranks and claimed the top spot for himself in 1969. In doing so, Arthur etched his name in history as the first black athlete to be ranked as the world no. 1 in tennis.
Ashe had a glorious career, but one of his most memorable moments was defeating Jimmy Connors. It was an incredible final, and Jimmy was the favorite to win the Wimbledon title in 1975. However, Arthur played unbelievably well and took home the silverware.
For his incredible achievements, Arthur also earned a spot in the International Tennis Hall of Fame. The USTA honored his legacy by naming the largest stadium at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center after him. With a seating capacity of 23,771, it is also the largest stadium in the world.
The Williams sisters
Serena Williams
Serena is one of the greatest tennis players of all time. With 23 Grand Slam titles to her name, the younger Williams has become synonymous with the sport.
Serena enjoyed an illustrious career that spanned over two decades. She conquered all the surfaces and won all four major titles at least once. Serena won the French Open three times, the Australian Open seven times, Wimbledon eight times, and the US Open six times.
Her incredible achievements are not just limited to the singles category, though. Alongside her sister, Venus, the Williams sisters won 14 major titles in doubles. Additionally, Serena has also won four Olympic gold medals, thus marking herself as one of the greatest.
Today in history (2017) Serena Williams won her 23rd Grand Slam at the Australian Open 🐐👑
📷 Patrick Mouratoglu IG pic.twitter.com/JkRy4tze3i
— RenaNole 🐐🐐 (@Mapulamoshe) January 28, 2021
Serena’s journey to greatness began in Compton, California. Her father, Richard Williams, trained both his daughters and raised them as incredible champions.
Serena went on to overcome a lot of racial and gender stereotypes and shattered the glass ceiling on the way. Her prowess is not just limited to the court, though, as she became the first athlete to win the prestigious CFDA Award.
Venus Williams
Like Serena, Venus is also one of the best players in the sport. The older Williams sister has left a lasting impression on the tennis court. Venus enjoyed a glorious career, with seven singles titles under her belt. She conquered Wimbledon five times and the US Open twice.
Moreover, she teamed up with her sister several times over the years, and they were a formidable duo. The sisters won 14 major titles in the doubles category. Venus also holds the record for being the top-ranked player in both singles and doubles.
On this date in 2000, Venus Williams becomes just the second woman in history to win Olympic gold in singles and doubles. 🥇🥇 pic.twitter.com/nJSXxCuxwF
— USTA (@usta) September 28, 2021
The Williams sisters’ contribution to the sport is immeasurable. Their influence transcends the boundaries of the court, and they have inspired the new generation to pick up the racket. Both Serena and Venus forged paths, so the next generation could follow their example. They continue to be role models to aspiring players all over the world.
Sloane Stephens
Stephens is a prominent face on the tour and has made significant contributions to the sport. She stamped her class when she won the US Open in 2017. Sloane nearly replicated her success in Paris the following year, when she made it to the finals of Roland Garros.
Madison Keys
Keys is another prominent face on the tour. She enjoyed her breakthrough run at the Australian Open in 2015 and has found success since then. Madison’s consistency paid off when she achieved her highest WTA rank of world no. 7. Moreover, she locked horns with Sloane Stephens in the US Open final in 2017, which Sloane ended up winning.
Coco Gauff
Coco has truly become the successor to Serena. Despite being just 19 years old, Gauff is one of the most exciting young players on the WTA tour right now. Born on March 13, 2004, Coco shot to fame when she defeated Venus Williams at Wimbledon. It was a remarkable feat, considering she was only 15 years old at the time.
Since setting the tennis scene on fire with her fiery brand of tennis, Gauff has come a long way. She worked hard on her drawbacks and then went on an incredible title run on her home soil. Coco collected titles that culminated with her winning her maiden Grand Slam at Flushing Meadow. In doing so, Gauff became the youngest player since Serena to win the US Open.
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Coco has always acknowledged the role Serena played in shaping her life. “Growing up, I never thought that I was different because, you know, the No. 1 player in the world was somebody who looked like me. A lot of times, being a woman in the world, a Black woman in the world, you kind of settle for less. And I feel like Serena just taught me that from watching her. She never settled for less,” said Gauff (via ABC News).
Frances Tiafoe
Tiafoe has established himself as one of the most hardworking players on the tour. He has steadily carved a niche for himself among the top ten players in the world. Born on January 20, 1998, in Maryland, United States, Tiafoe caused waves when he defeated Rafael Nadal in the fourth round of the US Open in 2022. Tiafoe has not looked back since, and he has become the face of men’s tennis in the United States.
Ben Shelton
Shelton is still in the pretty early stages of his career, but he has left a lasting impression with his raw talent. Ben’s quarterfinal run at the Australian Open in 2023 thrust him into the spotlight.
Shelton faced off against his compatriot, Tiafoe, at the US Open quarterfinal last year. It was a momentous occasion, as two black men locked horns for the first time at a major since the Williams sisters in 2001. Shelton defeated Frances to set up a semifinal clash with Novak Djokovic.
Martin Blackman, the U.S. Tennis Association’s general manager of player management, called it a ‘watershed moment.'”Obviously it wasn’t the finals, but it was a watershed moment for American tennis,” he said. It was a truly historic moment since two black players played at the very stadium named after Arthur Ashe.
The impact of black tennis players
Throughout history, black athletes have made massive contributions, not just to the sport but to society as well. Aside from personal milestones, black athletes have represented their countries at tournaments like the Olympics. It was not an easy path to tread by any means, but they overcame racial and societal barriers. These athletes impacted the Black Community as a whole as well.
Arthur Ashe’s legacy goes beyond tennis. He championed social causes and became the face of resilience. He played an instrumental role in paving the way for those who came after him.
Many black tennis players have graced the courts and left an indelible mark. They are trailblazers, and their impact goes beyond the boundaries of the sport.