The first black woman to win the U.S. Open - Part I

May 7, 2010

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I?m a believer, I believe life is plenty of chances. Opportunities are just another name for "justice". And "good luck" is the name given to something that happens when someone "is ready" to "take the given chance". There is a chance, a true chance for everybody who is given a good opportunity, and is prepared to take it; these histories are an inspiring example for all of us.

Once upon a time, there was a black girl born in Harlem in 1927. Her name was Althea Gibson. Her parents were sharecroppers, and her family had to live on public assistance for a time. Althea was a problematic case at primary school, frequently she used to run away from home and she became a client of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children, but one thing she loved very much was playing sports- mainly ping-pon, and this passion was the one to change her life.

By the middle of the 20th century tennis had become part of a culture of health and fitness in USA, and there were public programs bringing this sport to children in poor neighborhoods. By no other way would it be possible for these children to dream of playing in the elite tennis clubs.

Among those children in 1941, Althea who had also played paddle tennis in public recreation programs, after winning many tournaments, was introduced to the Harlem River Tennis Courts by musician Buddy Walter who had noticed her playing table tennis, and pictured her doing well in tennis.


Through donations raised for her membership and lessons, a very young girl called Althea Gibson became a member of the Harlem Cosmopolitan Tennis Club, which was a club for African American players. In 1942, incredibly just a year after picking up a tennis racket for the firs time, Gibson won the girl's singles event sponsored by the American Tennis Association's New York State Tournament. (The American Tennis Association - ATA - was an all-black organization, providing tournament opportunities not otherwise available to African American tennis players. For Gibson, two more ATA titles followed in 1944 and 1945.

Once she lost a title, in 1946, perhaps to demonstrate she was a normal human being, but after this we may say "falling step" Althea Gibson won 10 straight championships from 1947-1956.

These successes gave her the chance to attend and industrial high school while studying tennis privately. From 1950, after her high &#&school graduation&#&, she furthered her education, attending &#&Florida A&M University&#& on a sports &#&scholarship&#&.