With the upcoming high school tennis season swiftly approaching, it is important that we as a community look back and pay tribute to one of and if not the most influential icons of the sport. In the tennis world, she is regarded as one of the greatest female players to ever pick up the racquet. She is not only remembered for her unwavering skill but the historic precedent she has set for generations to come. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the story of Althea Gibson.
Althea Neale Gibson was born on August 25, 1927, in Silver, South Carolina. At a young age, Gibson endured many hardships. She moved to Harlem where her family struggled to make ends meet, at times she found herself struggling in class and even skipping school all together. However, her love for sports was unmatched, she played table tennis and began to make quite a name for herself. Eventually the musician, Buddy Walker, took notice and introduced her to the sport of tennis. She was coached by Fred Johnson and began to compete in local recreational tennis tournaments. After just one year of practicing, she won her very first local tournament sponsored by American Tennis Association (ATA), an African American organization established to promote and sponsor tournaments for Black players. During her spell from 1942-1956, she picked up twelve out of fourteen ATA championships, showcasing a historic level of dominance. Amidst her impressive run of form, she made history as the first African American tennis player to compete at both the U.S. National Championships (1950) and Wimbledon (1951).
Although it was never easy for her, she was constantly forced to overcome all sorts of racial barriers. At times she was denied entry into major state tournaments simply because of her race. She was also denied hotel rooms during her travels, even journalists refused to recognize her as the best player in women’s tennis, despite her winning the U.S. Nationals. Gibson recalled her experience as so challenging that she contemplated quitting the sport altogether. But nevertheless, she preserved and proved herself on the court by continuing to win. Eventually, her dedication was rewarded in 1956, where she won her first ever Grand Slam title at the French Open, becoming the first African American to ever do so. The following year she would go on to win the U.S Open and Wimbledon and defend her title the year after.
Gibson would eventually retire in 1958 sitting as the number one ranked female tennis player in the world. During her illustrious career, she won 56 national and international titles, a grand total of 11 grand slam titles, and she was named female athlete of the year in 1958. Following her retirement in 1971, Gibson was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. However, she would continue to use her platform to teach and coach the next generation of tennis players, while also speaking up on the impact of discrimination during her career and the importance of civil rights.
Her legacy and continuous mindset as a winner serves as a true inspiration to athletes and people across the world. Suffering from respiratory failure, Gibson died on September 28, 2003, but there is no doubt she will be remembered as an all-time legend of sport.
