South Carolina native Althea Gibson is elected to the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame – Tennis Now

Althea Gibson is a pioneering athlete who has transformed the world of tennis and beyond. Gibson’s career embodies courage, excellence and resilience. Her journey from the remote south to the height of an international tennis star cemented her status as a pioneer, with an influence far beyond the courts.
Born in Silver, South Carolina in 1927, Gibson moved with his family to Harlem, New York City. As a teenager, she attracted sports, excelling in paddle tennis before the American Tennis Association (ATA) introduced it to organized tennis. Gibson developed his skills and discipline under the guidance of Hubert Eaton of Wilmington, North Carolina and Dr. Robert Johnson of Lynchburg, Virginia. While in North Carolina, she won the foundations of her later dominance on the world stage in 10 consecutive ATA Women’s Singles Championships. She attended the segregated Williston Industrial High School in Wilmington and graduated in 1949.
Gibson became the first black player to compete in the U.S. National Championships (now the U.S. Open) in 1950. A year later, she broke another obstacle in Wimbledon. Her perseverance and talent won the French Open Singles Championship in 1956, becoming the first black player or woman to win a Grand Slam Championship. She continued to rule the late 1950s, winning Wimbledon in 1957 and 1958, and back-to-back titles in the U.S. Nationals. She was named the 1957 Female Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press. Overall, she won 11 Grand Slam titles: 5 singles, 5 doubles championships, and mixed doubles.
Her achievements are not limited to titles. In 1957, the International Tennis Federation ranked her first in the world, making her the world’s top female tennis player. She has also been inducted into the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame, the Black Tennis Hall of Fame, the Women’s Hall of Fame, the New Jersey Hall of Fame and the Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame.
That same year, she was another obstacle for the first black woman to appear on the cover time and Sports Illustrated. Although she has faced racism throughout her career, her grace under pressure and her outstanding sportsmanship have earned her wide respect. Due to apartheid, she was often excluded from locker rooms, hotels and clubs.
After retiring from competitive tennis in the early 1960s, Gibson continued to have a lasting impact on the sport. She worked as a teaching career professional at Forest Hills Country Club in Queens, New York and worked to expand access to tennis. Later, she was appointed as a New Jersey track and field specialist, becoming one of the first black women to hold state-level athletic leadership positions. In this role, she promotes equal opportunities in youth sports, physical education and track and field.
In 1963, Gibson became the first black golfer of the Women’s Professional Golf Association. Over the next 15 years, she participated in 171 games. She also works as a singer and
Gibson’s legacy has received many honors. She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1971, the first black man to win a distinction.
Other accolades followed, including induction to these Hall of Fame: International Women’s Sports, National Women, South Carolina Tennis, South Carolina Games, and Black Tennis and Wilmington NC Sports. She was also celebrated by institutions such as the Smithsonian and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. In 2013, the U.S. Postal Service issued commemorative stamps in her honor to ensure her story will continue to inspire future generations. In 2025, she commemorates her image in a quarter, with the word “pioneering champion”.
Her southern roots are also still a big part of her legacy. The Althea Gibson Tennis Complex in Wilmington, North Carolina recognizes her influence by serving as a community center for tennis and youth development. In 2003, shortly after her death, she was traced back to the Arthur Ashe Courage Award for her resilience, integrity and contribution to sport.
Gibson’s role is as extraordinary as her accomplishments. She is known for her humility, generosity and dedication, and most of her post-competition life is dedicated to mentoring young players and teaching tennis in underserved communities.
In 2025, USTA celebrates the 75th anniversary of Gibson’s historic U.S. Open. USTA cited Gibson’s courage and perseverance to launch the theme of “Celebrating 75 Years of Destruction of Barriers”.