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Article: Venus Williams leads Althea Gibson tributes
- Article from:
- The New York Beacon
- Article date:
- October 9, 2003
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New York Beacon, The
10-09-2003
Venus Williams has paid tribute to tennis legend Althea Gibson, who died on
Sunday at the age of 76.
Gibson was the first back-to-back US and Wimbledon titles in 1957 and 1958.
After her first Wimbledon victory, she was given a ticker-tape parade in
New York City.
"I am grateful to Althea Gibson for having the strength and courage to
break through the racial barriers in tennis," Williams said in a statement.
"Althea Gibson was the first African-American woman to rank number one and
win Wimbledon, and I am honored to have followed in such great footsteps."
Zina Garrison, who became the next African-American woman after Gibson to
reach the final of Wimbledon when she ...