On September 8, 1957, Althea Gibson became the first African American to win the US Open in tennis, a moment she had been dreaming about since she started playing tennis at age 15. Gibson was a professional tennis player and golf player, and was one of the first African American athletes to cross the color line of international tennis. Throughout her tennis career, Gibson endured many hardships having to do with family, money, academics, and race. She faced frequent discrimination in the world of tennis, and she would often have trouble entering tournaments or finding sponsors due to her race (Unknown B 4). Fortunately, many tennis spectators were in awe of her talent and potential, and offered her funding, housing, and coaching to help develop
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Althea Gibson's goal in this tournament was to prove to everyone that she was good enough, and deserved to be in the USLTA despite her color. In the tournament, she made it to the quarterfinals and lost to a woman named Betty Rosenquest (Benson 27). Even though Gibson did not win the tournament, her performance was good enough to get her into the National Indoor Championships a week later (Benson 27). In that tournament, Gibson made it to the final eight before losing to Nancy Chaffee (Benson 27). After those tournaments, it was clear that Althea Gibson belonged in the USLTA with all of the top United States female tennis players. Gibson began to thrive soon after joining the USLTA, winning championship after championship. Starting mainly in 1949 after getting a scholarship for tennis at the school Florida A&M (Benson 28). Then in 1950, she became the first African American to compete in the US National Championships (Bond 2). A few years later in 1956, she became the first African American to win the French Open, she also won her first of five grand slam titles (Bond 3). In 1957 she played in the Wightman Cup as Part of the US team, and soon after she won another mixed doubles tournament (Unknown C …show more content…
She was also voted Female of the Year in 1957 and 1958 (Unknown C 3). To wind down her tennis career she was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 1971 (Unknown B 3). After her tennis career had come to an end, she became the first African American professional golf player. There is very little documentation of Gibson's golf career, but she did play professional golf from 1963-1977. When both of her athletic careers officially ended, she worked as a member of the governor's council on physical fitness (Unknown B 3). Gibson began to struggle financially and almost went bankrupt multiple times. Billie Jean King and multiple other people gave Gibson money to help her out (Unknown B 3). Althea Gibson later had a stroke and was told she had major heart issues, which did not help her financial problems. She went bankrupt again, but nobody stepped in to help her this time (Unknown B 3). Soon after on September 3, 2003 at age 76, Althea Gibson passed away from respiratory failure (Unknown B 3). Gibson will always be remembered in the tennis community as one of the greatest players of all
Althea Gibson's goal in this tournament was to prove to everyone that she was good enough, and deserved to be in the USLTA despite her color. In the tournament, she made it to the quarterfinals and lost to a woman named Betty Rosenquest (Benson 27). Even though Gibson did not win the tournament, her performance was good enough to get her into the National Indoor Championships a week later (Benson 27). In that tournament, Gibson made it to the final eight before losing to Nancy Chaffee (Benson 27). After those tournaments, it was clear that Althea Gibson belonged in the USLTA with all of the top United States female tennis players. Gibson began to thrive soon after joining the USLTA, winning championship after championship. Starting mainly in 1949 after getting a scholarship for tennis at the school Florida A&M (Benson 28). Then in 1950, she became the first African American to compete in the US National Championships (Bond 2). A few years later in 1956, she became the first African American to win the French Open, she also won her first of five grand slam titles (Bond 3). In 1957 she played in the Wightman Cup as Part of the US team, and soon after she won another mixed doubles tournament (Unknown C …show more content…
She was also voted Female of the Year in 1957 and 1958 (Unknown C 3). To wind down her tennis career she was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 1971 (Unknown B 3). After her tennis career had come to an end, she became the first African American professional golf player. There is very little documentation of Gibson's golf career, but she did play professional golf from 1963-1977. When both of her athletic careers officially ended, she worked as a member of the governor's council on physical fitness (Unknown B 3). Gibson began to struggle financially and almost went bankrupt multiple times. Billie Jean King and multiple other people gave Gibson money to help her out (Unknown B 3). Althea Gibson later had a stroke and was told she had major heart issues, which did not help her financial problems. She went bankrupt again, but nobody stepped in to help her this time (Unknown B 3). Soon after on September 3, 2003 at age 76, Althea Gibson passed away from respiratory failure (Unknown B 3). Gibson will always be remembered in the tennis community as one of the greatest players of all