By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, September 10, 2025
Photo credit: El Grafico/Wikimedia Commons
Althea Gibson was a trailblazer and one of the greatest all-around athletes, male or female, in United States history.
Now, Gibson will be honored with a prestigious award: induction into the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
Devoted tennis fans know Gibson lived in Harlem and later New Jersey, but she was is originally from Silver, South Carolina.
The Southern Tennis Foundation (STF), the charitable affiliate of United States Tennis Association (USTA) Southern Section, announces three tennis icons have been selected for induction into the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame Class of 2026: Joe Cabri, Althea Gibson and Bonnie Vandegrift.
JOE CABRI, Greenwood, S.C. Joe Cabri coached Lander University men’s tennis team to a record-breaking eight straight NCAA Division II championships. He was named NCAA Division II Coach of the Decade in 2000. He also holds 10 national Coach of the Year Awards from NAIA and NCAA Division II. He is the recipient of the Order of the Palmetto, the highest honor a citizen of South Carolina can receive.
ALTHEA GIBSON, Silver, S.C. (posthumous) Heralded as the first Black athlete to break barriers in tennis, Althea Gibson won 11 Grand Slam titles, five in singles, five in doubles and one in mixed doubles. She was the first Black athlete to compete at the U.S. National Championships (now known as the US Open) in 1950 and at Wimbledon in 1951. She was ranked No. 1 in the world in 1957 and was the first Black woman to appear on the covers of Time and Sports Illustrated. She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1971.
BONNIE VANDEGRIFT, Asheville, N.C. A former USTA Southern President & CEO and former Southern Tennis Foundation Chair, Bonnie Vandegrift has been a tennis leader at the local, state, sectional and national levels of the USTA. She is the recipient of the following honors: the USTA Barbara Williams Service Award, the USTA Southern Gerrie Rothwell Award and the USTA League Award.
They will be inducted during the Lucy Garvin Southern Tennis Hall of Fame Banquet, scheduled for
Jan. 24, 2026, in Atlanta.
Here’s Althea Gibson’s bio from the Southern Tennis Foundation news release announcing her induction:
Althea Gibson – Silver, S.C.
South Carolina native broke barriers in tennis, won 11 Grand Slam titles
Highlights
- First Black athlete to compete in the U.S. National Championships (1950) and at Wimbledon, 1951
- First Black athlete to win a Grand Slam title, French Open in 1956
- Won Wimbledon and U.S. Nationals (US Open) singles titles, 1957, 1958
- Inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, 1971
- Winner of 11 Grand Slam titles in total (five singles, five doubles, one mixed doubles)
- Ranked World No. 1 by the International Tennis Federation, 1957
- First Black woman to appear on the covers of Time and Sports Illustrated, 1957
Althea Gibson was a trailblazing athlete who transformed the world of tennis and beyond. Widely celebrated as the first Black to cross the sport’s most entrenched racial barriers, Gibson’s career exemplified courage, excellence and resilience. Her life journey, from humble beginnings in the segregated South to the heights of international tennis stardom, solidified her status as a pioneer whose impact extended far beyond the court.
Born in Silver, S.C., in 1927, Gibson moved with her family to Harlem in New York City at a young age. As a teenager, she gravitated toward sports, excelling in paddle tennis before being introduced to organized tennis by the American Tennis Association (ATA). With mentorship from Dr. Hubert Eaton of Wilmington, N.C., and Dr. Robert Johnson of Lynchburg, Va., Gibson developed her skills and discipline. During her time in North Carolina, she won 10 straight ATA Women’s Singles Championships, a foundation for her later dominance on the world stage. She attended the racially segregated Williston Industrial High School in Wilmington and graduated in 1949. She attended Florida A&M University on an athletic scholarship.
Gibson made history in 1950 when she became the first Black player to compete in the U.S. National Championships (now the US Open). A year later, she broke another barrier by competing at Wimbledon. Her perseverance and talent paid off in 1956 when she captured the French Open singles title, becoming the first Black player—male or female—to win a Grand Slam tournament. She went on to dominate the late 1950s, winning Wimbledon in 1957 and 1958, as well as back-to-back titles at the U.S. Nationals. She was named the 1957 Female Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press. In total, she secured 11 Grand Slam championships: five in singles, five in doubles and one in mixed doubles.
Her accomplishments were not limited to titles. In 1957, the International Tennis Federation ranked her World No. 1, making her the top female tennis player globally. She was also inducted into the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame, the Black Tennis Hall of Fame, the Women’s Hall of Fame, the New Jersey Hall of Fame, and the Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame.
That same year, she broke yet another barrier as the first Black woman to appear on the covers of Time and Sports Illustrated. Her grace under pressure and her remarkable sportsmanship earned her widespread respect, despite the racial discrimination she faced throughout her career. She was often excluded from locker rooms, hotels, and clubs due to segregation.
Following her retirement from competitive tennis in the early 1960s, Gibson continued to have a lasting influence on the sport. She served as a teaching pro at the Forest Hills Country Club in Queens, N.Y., and worked to expand access to tennis. Later, she was named New Jersey State Commissioner of Athletics, becoming one of the first Black women to hold a state-level sports leadership position. In that role, she promoted youth sports, physical education and equal opportunities in athletics.
In 1963, Gibson became the first black golfer in the Ladies Professional Golf Association. She played in 171 events over the next 15 years. She also had a career as a vocalist and
Gibson’s legacy was recognized through numerous honors. She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1971, the first Black to receive the distinction.
Other accolades followed, including inductions into these halls of fame: International Women’s Sports, National Women’s, South Carolina Tennis, South Carolina Sports and the Black Tennis and Wilmington N.C. Sports. She was also celebrated by institutions such as the Smithsonian and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. In 2013, the United States Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp in her honor, ensuring that her story would continue to inspire future generations. In 2025, she was commemorated with her image on a quarter, accompanied by the words “trailblazing champion.”
Her Southern roots also remained a significant part of her legacy. The Althea Gibson Tennis Complex in Wilmington, N.C., honors her impact by serving as a community hub for tennis and youth development. In 2003, shortly after her passing, she was posthumously awarded the Arthur Ashe Courage Award, recognizing her resilience, integrity and contributions to sport.
Gibson’s character was as extraordinary as her achievements. Known for humility, generosity, and a giving spirit, she dedicated much of her post-competitive life to mentoring young players and teaching tennis in underserved communities.
In 2025 the USTA celebrated the 75th anniversary of Gibson’s historic entry into the U.S. Open. Citing Gibson’s courage and perseverance, the USTA unveiled the theme of “Celebrating 75 Years of Breaking Barriers.”
