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Article: Althea Gibson, the first African American to win championships at Grand Slam tournaments
- Article from:
- Westside Gazette
- Article date:
- February 17, 2005
CopyrightCopyright The Gazette Newspaper Group Feb 17-Feb 23, 2005. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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Althea Gibson, the first African American to win championships at Grand Slam tournaments
Born August 25, 1927 in Silver, SC, A right-hander, grew up in Harlem. Her family was poor, but she was fortunate in coming to the attention of Dr. Walter Johnson, a Lynchburg, Va. physician who was active in the black tennis community. He became her patron as he would later for Arthur Ashe, the black champion at Forest Hills (I968) and Wimbledon (1975). Through Dr. Johnson, Gibson received better instruction and competition, and contacts were set up with the USTA to inject her into the recognized tennis scene.
A trailblazing athlete who become the first African American to win championships at Grand ...