2014-2021 As a member of the 1957 and 1958 U.S. Wightman Cup teams, she went 5-1 -- 3-1 in singles and 2-0 in doubles -- against Britain. Gibson was born Aug. 25, 1927, in the small town of Silver, S.C. var navgallerycold = new Image(); She fought for what she achieved, both in tennis, where she won 11 total Grand Slam titles, and in advancing civil rights in America during a period of racism and segregation. Find wisdom in these quotes on challenges and obstacles by foremost Blacks who persevered. When she first stepped foot on the manicured lawns of Forest Hills in Queens, N.Y., to play tennis in 1950, she was … var navpostcardover = new Image(); Gibson was born in 1927 in Silver, S.C., into a sharecropper family. Because it’s important to honor those that paved the way and provided an opportunity for you. Besides making history like Jackie Robinson, Althea Gibson felt the same sting of racism as the baseball pioneer did just a few years before her. if (document.images) “If Althea Gibson represents a challenge to the present crop of women players,” Marble wrote, “it’s only fair that they should meet that challenge.” The following month, Gibson … Jackie Robinson played in the major leagues (1947) before a black was permitted to play tennis at the U.S. National Championships. The 5-foot-11 right-hander had a strong serve and preferred to play an attacking game. navclassiccold.src = "/i/sportscentury/nav_classic_cold.gif"; // -->. var navathletesover = new Image(); But cracks soon developed in the lily-white sport. Her singles record at the Grand Slams events was an impressive 53-9 -- 16-1 at Wimbledon, 27-7 at the U.S., 6-0 at the French and 4-1 at the Australian. what do social conflict theorists say about todays education? If Althea Gibson represents a challenge to the present crop of women players, it's only fair that they should meet that challenge on the courts, where tennis is played. Althea Gibson houses Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten classrooms. Filmmaker Rex Miller explains that Gibson faced many challenges with limited resources. Althea Gibson, (born August 25, 1927, Silver, South Carolina, U.S.—died September 28, 2003, East Orange, New Jersey), American tennis player who dominated women’s competition in the late 1950s. In 1946, she attracted the attention of two tennis playing doctors, Hubert Eaton of North Carolina and Robert W. Johnson of Virginia, who were active in the black tennis community. Althea Gibson was a trailblazer in the enormously segregated sport of tennis. Althea Gibson. That year she also won singles tournaments at the Italian, the Pacific Southwest, New South Wales, Pan American, South Australian and the Asian title in Ceylon. … Growing up there, Gibson disliked going to school so much that she often played hooky. Next she became quite proficient in paddle tennis. She was the first Black player to win the French (1956), Wimbledon (1957–58), and U.S. Open (1957–58) singles championships. and dignity to overcome those challenges, to become the first black Why doesn’t lightning travel in a straight line? var navcontributeover = new Image(); } W (1957) Althea Neale Gibson (August 25, 1927 – September 28, 2003) was an American tennis player and professional golfer, and one of the first Black athletes to cross the color line of international tennis. In 1956, she became the first person of color to win a Grand Slam title (the French Open). The title of her autobiography, written in 1958, is "I Always Wanted to Be Somebody." I know these girls, and I can’t think of one who would refuse to meet Miss Gibson in competition. The first snapshot is the building of Althea Gibson’s home … F ( 1956, 1957, 1958) US Open. She was born … As the years went on, she became more consistent from the baseline. Celebrating Althea Gibson: How the 1st Black player to enter a national tennis tournament broke racial barriers. I know those girls, and I can't think of one who would refuse to meet Miss Gibson in competition. Even while winning tournaments she was denied rooms at hotels. After being routed 6-1 in the first set, Gibson recovered to win the second set 6-3 and led 7-6 in the third when a thunderstorm struck, halting the match. What is one typical way interesting groups participate in the U.S. political process? She tried playing a few events after open tennis started in 1968, but by then she was in her 40s and too old to beat her younger opponents. Britannica Quiz. Gibson led Denise Brough 7-6 in a tiebreaker … There was no professional tennis tour in those days. Thus, she became the … It took Gibson a while to adjust to the stronger competition. Aside from an occasional fight, she was never in any real trouble. The early learning years lay … She entered court 14 at Forest Hills and defeated Barbara Knapp in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2. In 1957, she was the first black to be voted by the Associated Press as its Female Athlete of the Year. Gibson has turned into a recluse in her well-kept garden apartment in East Orange, N.J., according to Time last September. In 1957, Gibson gained control of the women's game. var navcontributecold = new Image(); If Althea Gibson represents a challenge to the present crop of women players, it’s only fair that they should meet that challenge on the … Finally Gibson had enough and said she would meet the girl outside after school.