Althea Gibson (August 25, 1927 – September 28, 2003) was an American sportswoman who became the first African-American woman to be a competitor on the world tennis tour on August 22, 1950. She is sometimes referred to as "the Jackie Robinson of tennis" for breaking the "color barrier".

Biography

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Born in Silver, South Carolina, Gibson was raised in Harlem, New York, where she excelled in horsemanship, but also competed in golf and basketball. With the assistance of a sponsor, in 1946 she moved to Wilmington, North Carolina for tennis training and in 1947, at age 20, she won the first of ten straight black national championships run by the American Tennis Association, the then governing body for black tournaments. Forced to play in what was basically a segregated sport, at age twenty-three Gibson was finally given the opportunity to participate in the 1950 US Open at Forest Hills, New York.

She continued to improve her tennis game while pursuing an education. In 1953, she graduated from Florida A&M University on a tennis and basketball scholarship, and moved to Jefferson City, Missouri to work as an athletic instructor at Lincoln University. With the color barrier broken, she was able to compete against the best and her game improved to where she won the 1955 Italian Open. The following year, she won her first of the 4 Grand Slam events in Paris, capturing the French Open singles and doubles titles. She followed this up by becoming the first black person to win a Wimbledon Championship, capturing the doubles title with Englishwoman, Angela Buxton. At the US Open that year she made it to the singles finals but lost to Shirley Fry.

More on [ Althea Gibson ]

L.A. Times - Tennis

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Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700
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At 25, Justine Henin says she's quitting tennis
Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700
The world's top-ranked women's tennis player insists her retirement is not a temporary measure. 'It is my life as a woman that starts now,' she says. It was another abrupt retirement announcement by a noted tennis champion, the second time in about six months that the WTA Tour has been hit by stunning news.
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Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Sisters enter East West Bank Classic at Home Depot Center. Making a rare combined appearance in Southern California, tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams have entered the East West Bank Classic tournament, July 21-27 at the Home Depot Center.
Federer defeats Canas at Rome Masters
Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Federer scores straight-set victory over Canas at Rome Masters. Roger Federer got by one of his most challenging opponents, defeating Guillermo Canas , 6-3, 6-3, on Tuesday in the second round of the Rome Masters.
USC's Kaes Van't Hof earns two titles
Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700
The senior beats Robert Farah, his fraternity brother, in singles final, and the two of them then team up to beat Arizona State's T.J. Bellama and Matt Brooklyn. It was a day of firsts at the Pacific 10 Conference championships at the 108th Ojai Valley Tennis Tournament on Sunday at Libbey Park.
Thousand Oaks' McMorrow wins CIF boys' final
Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700
The junior, whose grandfather is a past president of the event, beats Crossroads' Milner in two sets. Alvarado and Freeman of Mater Dei win doubles title. Moments after blasting a clean forehand winner on triple match point, Kyle McMorrow raised both arms in the air and let out a huge sigh of relief. After years of watching others make history at the Ojai Valley tennis tournament, the junior from Thousand Oaks High finally made some of his own.

BBC Sport | Tennis | UK Edition

Murray falls to Nadal in Hamburg
Thu, 15 May 2008 18:51:24 -0000
Andy Murray fails to handle Rafael Nadal's brilliance on clay as the Spaniard wins their round three match in the Hamburg Masters.
Sharapova reaches Rome quarters
Thu, 15 May 2008 16:56:38 -0000
Maria Sharapova grits out a win over Caroline Wozniacki to reach the last eight of the Italian Open.
GB to play Austria at Wimbledon
Thu, 15 May 2008 11:44:03 -0000
Great Britain will play September's crucial Davis Cup tie against Austria on the number one court at Wimbledon.
Henin 'is best of her generation'
Thu, 15 May 2008 12:23:27 -0000
Tennis legend Billie-Jean King says the retired Justine Henin should be regarded as the best player in the modern women's game.
Henin announces retirement
Wed, 14 May 2008 14:42:50 -0000
Justine Henin quits tennis with immediate effect - at the age of 25.
Murray wins to set up Nadal clash
Wed, 14 May 2008 15:48:25 -0000
Andy Murray beats Gilles Simon in straight sets at the Hamburg Masters to set up a third-round meeting with Rafael Nadal.

Tennis News: CBSSports.com

Henin announces retirement, effective immediately
Wed, 14 May 2008 01:50:00 -0500
Top-ranked Justine Henin is retiring from tennis, effective immediately.
Sharapova to take over vacated No. 1 ranking
Thu, 15 May 2008 09:48:00 -0500
Maria Sharapova rallied from a four-game deficit in the second set to beat Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) on Thursday, advancing to the Italian Open quarterfinals along with sisters Serena and Venus Williams.
Federer, Djokovic, Nadal in Hamburg quarters
Thu, 15 May 2008 09:04:00 -0500
Rafael Nadal had no birthday gift for Andy Murray, beating the Briton in straight sets Thursday to join Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in the Hamburg Masters quarterfinals.
Ratiwatana twins help two escape fire in Bordeaux
Tue, 13 May 2008 17:51:00 -0500
Twin brothers who play professional tennis as a doubles team helped the wife and son of another doubles player escape from a hotel fire.
Federer, Nadal eager to participate in Beijing Olympics
Mon, 12 May 2008 13:02:00 -0500
Roger Federer's birthday is on the opening day of the Beijing Olympics, and the top-ranked tennis player hopes to be bearing the Swiss flag when the athletes march in at the opening ceremony.

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