Biography

Arthur Ashe was a truly an important athlete in history. Ever since he was discovered at age 10 he had success written all over him. As a child Arthur won many awards. In high school there wasn’t really any competition. Arthur was so good that no one could even come close to beating him. He decided to try to play baseball, but was kicked off the team by the principal and was made to play tennis again.

From then on Arthur Ashe was a tennis playing machine. He dominated in college, winning intercollegiate titles in singles and doubles action. As an amateur Arthur won the United States amateur championship. His breakthrough in pro tennis came in 1968 when he became the first African American to ever win a major tennis championship when he captured the U.S. Open title.

This was just the beginning of a fantastic career. Arthur Ashe would go on to win the WCT, Australian, and Wimbeldon championships. He also won the most Davis Cup singles matches, 27, from 1963 to 1978. During Arthur’s career he also founded the Association of Tennis Professionals. Tennis was not Arthur Ashe’s entire life. He also was a part of the racial discrimination movements in the 60’S.

In 1979 Arthur Ashe’s life took a turn for the worse. He suffered a heart attacked which forced him to quit playing tennis. In 1992 Arthur Ashe discovered he had the AIDS virus. He then started campaigning for AIDS and related causes. He would not do this for long however, he died of AIDS 1993.

The spirit of Arthur Ashe did not die with him. Today black athletes continue to prosper because of doors he opened during his lifetime. Arthur Ashe wasn’t just a tennis player, he was leader of his time.

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