Celebrate Black History Month: Althea Gibson

In celebration of Black History Month, we are continuing our acknowledgment of pioneers in their sport. Last week we highlighted some of the African-American Jockeys that dominated the Kentucky Derby.

Women’s tennis was similar to most other sports in the 1940s, and the United States Lawn Tennis Association (USLTA) did not allow African-American’s to participate. Instead, the American Tennis Association (ATA) is where Althea Gibson received her start in tennis.

Gibson dominated the ATA, winning the 1944 & 1945 ATA National Junior Championships. (1) Gibson received national recognition by many in the media as the female that could integrate tennis much like Jackie Robinson did baseball. In 1950 Gibson received help from four-time USTLA singles & doubles champion Alice Marble. Marble spoke of Gibson in the July 1950 issue of American Lawn Tennis Magazine (2), saying, “If Althea Gibson represents a challenge to the present crop of players, then it’s only fair that they meet this challenge on the courts” (3).

On August 22, 1950, Gibson integrated the USLTA when she participated in the U.S. Nationals. After defeating Barbara Knapp in her first match in straight sets, she lost in the next round to Louise Brough (was the current 3-time defending Wimbledon’s champion).