Gibson, Althea
1927-2003 · Contribution: 1956-1958
First Black woman to compete on the world tennis tour and win a Grand Slam singles title
Portraits are AI-generated interpretations, not photographs.
Impact on the world
Became the first African American to win a Grand Slam tennis title at the 1956 French Open, then won both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in 1957 and 1958, breaking racial barriers in a sport then dominated almost exclusively by white country-club players.
Life & background
Gibson became the first African American to compete on the world tennis tour and the first to win a Grand Slam singles title, capturing the French Open in 1956 before winning both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in 1957 and 1958. Her success opened doors in a sport with deeply entrenched racial and class barriers, and it would be 43 years before another Black woman, Serena Williams, won a U.S. Open title.
Sources
- International Tennis Hall of Fame; Encyclopædia Britannica; Smithsonian (NMAAHC)
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