Arthur Ashe

Description

Arthur Ashe (1943–1993) was a professional tennis player and social activist. He was the first African-American to win a singles title at the US Open and Wimbledon, and the first African-American to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. He was also a leading figure in the civil rights movement, and a vocal advocate for equal rights and opportunities for all people.

At the height of his career, Ashe won the singles titles at the Australian Open in 1970 and the U.S. Open in 1968 and 1975, and the doubles title at Wimbledon in 1975. He was ranked No. 1 in the world in 1975 and was the first African-American to achieve this feat.

In addition to his tennis successes, Ashe was a tireless advocate for social justice and education. He founded the National Junior Tennis League to promote tennis among inner-city youth, and was an advocate for the establishment of the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health. He was a vocal opponent of apartheid in South Africa, and was arrested in 1985 for protesting the policies of the South African government.

Ashe’s legacy as a social activist and athlete has had a lasting impact. He has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1993, and the Arthur Ashe Courage Award, given annually at the ESPY Awards. In 2016, a statue of Ashe was erected in his hometown of Richmond, Virginia, and in 2017, a court at the US Open was named in his honor.