The Southern Tennis Foundation is honored to announce the posthumous induction of Althea Gibson, a trailblazing champion from Silver, S.C., into the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026. Gibson, whose courage and brilliance broke barriers in the sport, will be celebrated at the Lucy Garvin Southern Tennis Hall of Fame Banquet on January 24, 2026 in Atlanta.
Gibson’s impact on tennis and society is immeasurable. In1950 she became the first Black athlete to compete in the U.S. National Championships (now the US Open) and a year later she broke another barrier as the first Black athlete to compete at Wimbledon. Her perseverance and talent led to a historic triumph at the 1956 French Open, making her the first Black player to win a Grand Slam title. She went on to dominate the late1950s, capturing back-to-back Wimbledon and U.S. Nationals singles titles in1957 and 1958. In total, Gibson won 11 Grand Slam championships: five singles, five doubles and one mixed doubles.
Her achievements extended far beyond trophies. In 1957 the International Tennis Federation ranked her World No. 1, cementing her status as the top female player globally. That same year she became the first Black woman to appear on the covers of Time and Sports Illustrated, symbolizing a breakthrough moment not only in sports but also in American culture. She endured the harsh realities of segregation, often being denied access to hotels, clubs and locker rooms yet carried herself with resilience and grace.
Following her retirement from competitive tennis in the early 1960s, Gibson continued to make history. She became the first Black golfer to compete on the LPGA Tour, playing in 171 events over 15 years. She also served as the New Jersey State Commissioner of Athletics, one of the first Black women to hold a state-level sports leadership role. Her dedication to expanding opportunities for young athletes remained a central part of her legacy.
Gibson’s groundbreaking career has been honored through countless awards and tributes. She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1971, the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame, the Black Tennis Hall of Fame, the South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame and the Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame among others. In 2013 the United States Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp in her honor and in 2025 her image appeared on a U.S. quarter with the words “trailblazing champion.”
Her Southern roots remain central to her legacy. The Althea Gibson Tennis Complex in Wilmington, N.C. serves as a hub for tennis and youth development, carrying forward her spirit of inclusion and empowerment. In2003 she was posthumously awarded the Arthur Ashe Courage Award, a fitting recognition of her integrity and contributions to sport.
The Southern Tennis Foundation proudly welcomes Althea Gibson into the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame, honoring a pioneer whose courage, excellence and resilience forever changed the world of tennis.
