Table of Contents
- Arthur Ashe isn’t celebrated enough despite being the first Black man to win a Grand Slam
- That was 50 years ago when the American won the men’s single at Wimbledon
- Ashe beat one of the biggest tennis players in history, Jimmy Connors who was 10 years younger and very aggressive with his playing style
Arthur Ashe isn’t celebrated enough despite being the first Black man to win a Grand Slam. That was 50 years ago when the American won the men’s singles at Wimbledon.
Ashe beat one of the biggest tennis players in history, Jimmy Connors. He rose against racial bias, home and away, to make a name for people of colour in the tennis world. The tennis legend won Wimbledon at a time when no black person had won a single slam.
Moreover, he became internationally famous after South Africa refused to grant him a visa to play at the South African Open. However, the white South African rulers would later rescind their decision and grant him a visa in 1973.
Is Arthur Ashe the Only Black Man to Win Wimbledon?
Since July 5, 1975, Arthur Ashe has remained the only Black man to ever win Wimbledon. His success is now celebrated with a unique display at the famed Wimbledon Museum in London.
Arthur Ashe is the first Black tennis player to win at the Wimbledon in 1975. Ashe beat one of the biggest tennis players in history, Jimmy Connors. He rose against racial bias home and away to make a name for people of colour in the tennis world. Photo/Missisipi Today
Ashe won the third major Grand Slam while in his 30s, and it was a major achievement for him, winning over Connors who was 10 years younger and very aggressive on the court.
Still, he wanted the world to remember him for much more than just winning Wimbledon. He told BBC Sport in a 1993 interview, a year before he passed on, that winning this major Grand Slam wasn’t close to what he achieved.
Although he celebrated this historical victory, he always wanted the world to remember him for a lot more than his victory in London.
What was Arthur Ashe Best Known for?
The late American tennis player Arthur Ashe was known for his tennis success at home and in Europe. History indicates that he broke racial barriers by becoming the first Black man to play with America’s Davis Cup squad.
The tennis legend would later win Grand Slams for the men’s singles at the Australian Open and the US Open. He was a three-time Grand Slam winner by the time of his death in 1994.
Why Did Arthur Ashe Stop Playing Tennis?
Legendary American tennis star Arthur Ashe. He died in 1994 after battling a heart condition for years. His family had a history of heart diseases. Besides winning Wimbledon, he won the Australian Open, and the US Open before retiring in 1980 after suffering a heart attack. Photo/YahooNews
The three-time Grand Slam Champion battled a cardiovascular condition for years that eventually caused his death in 1994.
Prior to this, Arthur Ashe had to retire when he was 36 after suffering a heart attack. He retired in 1980 and lived off the pitch for another 14 years.
It was clear that he had a family history of cardiovascular diseases. Ashe underwent a complex quadruple bypass surgery after a scary heart attack while still an active tennis player.
Did Arthur Ashe Ever Marry?
The American legend married Jeanne Moutoussamy in 1977 in a colourful wedding held at New York’s United Nations Chapel.
Moutoussamy was an outstanding photographer whom Ashe couldn’t get enough of. They were blessed with one child, Camera Ashe, who survived the celebrated Black tennis star.
