Arthur Ashe was a great tennis player but his accomplishments are so much more than that which he had on the court. Ashe is known for his multiple positive contributions to society as well as his tennis prowess. In today’s edition of Tennis Legends, we are going to look at the man who changed the sport of tennis for the better.
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Breaking Barriers in Tennis
Arthur Ashe was a groundbreaking professional tennis player. He came up in a time when tennis was considered a country club sport and was still steeped in racism. Ashe helped break those boundaries and create awareness and tolerance for the tennis world.
Arthur Ashe was the first black player who represented the United States on the Davis Cup team. He is the only black player to ever win singles titles at the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. He was also voted the number-one player in the world in 1975.
College Success and Early Career
Arthur Ashe played tennis at UCLA and won the NCAA singles and doubles title in 1965. This led UCLA to the NCAA team tennis championship.
As an amateur, he reached the final of the Australian Championship yet lost to Roy Emerson in 1967. However, that year he did win the US Men’s Clay Court championships.
In 1968, he won the United States Amateur Championships, becoming the first black player to win this event.
Ashe had an excellent 1968, when he won 10 of the 22 tournaments he entered and was 72-10 overall. He led the US team to the Davis Cup Championship.
Ashe was denied a visa to play in the 1968 South African Open due to racial segregation policies in that country. Yet he would not be deterred and continued his tennis journey in spite of oppressive policies in place.
In 1970, Ashe won the Australian Open. He made the final again in 1971 but this time fell to Ken Rosewall. However, in 1971 he won the French Open doubles. Ashe continued to persist in spite of the myriad of obstacles against him reaching the top.
Continued Success at the US Open
Ashe made the final of the US Open that year but this time fell to Ilie Nastase. Still, it was a sign that Ashe’s immense talent could not be denied. At this time he was getting noticed worldwide and had become a role model for the youth of America, especially black youth. It also challenged the narrative that tennis was a sport for whites only, and began to promote inclusivity within the sport.
In 1974, Ashe became president of the newly formed Association of Tennis Professionals, or ATP. This body is still in charge of men’s tennis today.
After pressure from the ATP, the South African government rescinded their policy and Ashe was able to play for the first time in the South African Open. He lost in the singles final to Jimmy Connors but won the doubles title in the event. Ashe’s presence at the tournament was crucial in promoting integration and continuing the movement against apartheid in South Africa.
In 1975, Ashe won Wimbledon at 32 years old. He defeated fellow American Jimmy Connors and this was considered one of the highlights of his career. This was the first time that Ashe had beaten Connors.
Final Titles and Retirement
Arthur Ashe continued to play and won the Australian Open doubles title in 1977, but had a foot injury that required surgery. From there, he was never able to regain his top form although he was ranked number 13 at the age of 35. However, more health problems ensued and he needed a heart surgery in 1979. After the surgery, Ashe officially retired with 818 wins, 260 losses and he had won 51 titles.
Civil Rights Advocacy and AIDS Awareness
Ashe was a supporter of civil rights throughout his career and was an excellent role model for young Americans. He protested against the apartheid in South Africa and was a supporter of refugees.
Ashe then turned his activism to HIV awareness after he contracted the disease from a blood transfusion during surgery. His ailment was an example that this was not a disease that only afflicted homosexual men or drug users, and proved that everybody was at risk. He continued to advocate to find a cure and to raise AIDS awareness until his death at the age of 50 in 1993.
Arthur Ashe was a great tennis player and an even better man. Not only did he have a successful tennis career, but he successfully lobbied and raised awareness for civil rights issues around the world and helped usher in the AIDS awareness movement. Arthur Ashe’s contributions to the sport will never be forgotten.
