Statue of Tennis Pioneer Althea Gibson Unveiled at Flushing Meadows
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A bust of African American tennis legend Althea Gibson was unveiled to the public outside Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, New York, on Sunday, August 26, the first day of the 2019 US Open tournament. Gibson, who died in 2003, was a five-time Grand Slam singles winner in the 1950s. Her French Open win in 1956 was the first Grand Slam title for an African American player. In all, she won 11 Grand Slams, including five doubles titles, and one mixed doubles title. Gibson also recorded an album in the 1950s, Althea Gibson Sings, and appeared in a John Ford film called The Horse Soldiers. The statue was sculpted by Eric Goulder and is located on the grounds of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, according to reports. Credit: Ann Liguori via Storyful