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Join the USTA for a virtual screening of “Althea” to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Gibson breaking tennis’ color barrier

February 26, 2025

This year, the USTA is celebrating the 75th anniversary of the great Althea Gibson breaking the color barrier in tennis. In 1950, Gibson became the first African American to compete at the US National Championships, now known as the US Open.

 

Please join the USTA on Monday, March 3, as we kick off our celebration of Gibson with a special event highlighting her life and legacy, featuring a screening of the 2014 documentary, “Althea” followed by a live panel discussion moderated by Katrina Adams, former USTA president. The event will be live streamed from the USTA's New York City office.

The panel will feature Leslie Allen, the former WTA #17 and ATA, NCAA and WTA champion who was coached by Gibson, and Ashley Brown, history professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and award-winning author of "Serving Herself: The Life and Times of Althea Gibson."

 

“Althea Gibson is to tennis what Jackie Robinson has meant to baseball,” said Marisa Grimes, chief diversity and inclusion officer at the USTA. “She opened the door for so many who came behind her and the impact of her legacy can be felt today when we think about the number of Black women who have become Grand Slam champions. This event is the start of a celebration this year that pays homage to Althea and brings her story to the forefront.”

 

If you would like to take part in the celebration, you can sign up for the livestream here. To watch the recording of the panel discussion, click here.

Althea Gibson hits a backhand.
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