To celebrate black history month in the US, Ubitennis are doing a two part special in it’s honour. Last week saw us look a the most important and interesting male players, and in this edition, it is the women’s turn. As if it is hard enough to battle through all the bariers as a black athlete, these women also have faced difficulties because of their gender. In the cornucopia black women’s tennis you have everything from the past, the future, the best and game changers.
- Althea Gibson
Althea Gibson was not only a ground breaker for women’s tennis, but black tennis. She was the first ever black player (of any colour in fact) to win a grand slam. Although born in South Carolina, Gibson learned to play paddle tennis in the streets of Harlem, New York. She worked her way through incredible prejudice to make it as a professional tennis player and in 1956 at the French Open won her first grand slam. She ended her career with 11 in total. Robert Ryland, who coached the Williams sisters claimed that Gibson would beat both of them! Venus herself has appreciated what the great woman did for her race as well as her gender, “Her accomplishments set the stage for my success, and through players like myself and Serena and many others to come, her legacy will live on”. That is the word to remember when talking about Althea Gibson – Legacy. She forged a path for others to follow.
- Venus Williams
It took decades before we saw another female black tennis player of the same quality as Gibson, but when it did come, there were two of them. Most people know the story of the Williams sisters. Raised playing tennis on courts in Compton before moving to Florida, the Williams sisters would not change the face of black tennis, but black sport. Venus was the first of the two to explode on the scene, and while she has never matched her sister, her exploits are mightily impressive. 7 Grand Slams leaves her 12th in the all-time list. Venus and her sister ushered in a completely new era for women’s tennis, and it was not just on the court. Her biggest effect on the sport was her promotion of equality in pay for women at the majors. She once sat down with both the heads of the French Open and Wimbledon alone and also wrote a public letter to Wimbledon. Her activism got her plaudits from all sides. In an almost perfect twist to the tale Venus was the first woman to benefit from the new equality that came in 2007, when she won Wimbledon (again).
- Sloane Stephens
While she may not have lived up to early hype and the title of next Serena, Sloane Stephens represents a very important part of Tennis history. While it took decades for players to follow Althea Gibson, Stephens is the first person who was directly influenced by the Williams sisters. The most important thing about black tennis, is getting young black players to view tennis not as something for a particular race or social standing. Sloane Stephens recently won her first title in 2015 at the Citi Open and this could perhaps be a sign of her fulfilling her true potential. Could she become the next great black female tennis player?
- Serena Williams
Serena Williams is not only the greatest black tennis player, but also perhaps the greatest female player too. While she is still competing at the top of her game, and attempting to equal Stefi Graf’s record 22 Grand Slam titles, with French Open her next target and betting tips likely to go in her favour too. Serena has already accumulated an dominating array of achievements. 21 Grand Slam titles and the 3rd in the all time tennis player rankings.
She has career earnings of $75,630,291 before even considering her huge endorsement deals. A sex symbol as well as a great player, Serena epitomises not only female black tennis, but black sport itself. She has become one of the most recognisable faces in the world. Both sisters showed what a female’s body is capable of, and put most to shame with their athleticism and pure power, none more so than Serena. While most women before had been slight and technical, Serena changed the face of women’s tennis, and if women wanted to compete they had to either match her or find a way around it, which is only a good thing.
What started with Althea Gibson’s breakthrough became Venus’ triumph over gender equality and Serena’s dominance. It is safe to say that the world of tennis would look very different without it’s black players. The important thing going forward is to make sure there are no closed doors in the future and making sure to celebrate tennis excellence no matter the colour of skin. I hope we see many more.
