Black women have a way of making everything that they do look effortless, despite all the blood, sweat and tears. For Black tennis players, that energy has translated into legendary acts both on and off the court, setting the standards and revolutionizing professional sports.
From 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams’ historic career to Naomi Osaka being one of the leading voices in the charge for athletes to prioritize their mental health, Black tennis stars are redefining what it means to be an athlete. Here are six Black tennis players who made history both on and off the court.
Althea Gibson
Tennis legend Althea Gibson broke the glass ceiling, paving the way for Black tennis players to pursue their wildest dreams. On August 25, 1950, Gibson broke down color lines in tennis and became the first Black person to compete at the U.S. National Championships. She amassed a multitude of winning titles and achieved many firsts for Black tennis players during her extraordinary career. After she retired from tennis, she continued to solidify her status as a groundbreaking athlete by trying her hand at golf and becoming the first African-American to earn an Ladies Professional Golf Association card.
Serena Williams
One simply can’t talk about tennis without involving Serena Williams into the conversation. The 23-time Grand Slam winner is arguably one of the greatest athletes of all time. Since she stepped on the scene in the 1990s, she has dominated on the court and revolutionized sport for up-and-coming talent. From her talent and her fashion looks to her advocacy, she has left an undeniable mark on the industry.
Venus Williams
Venus Williams is the other half of the dynamic sister duo ruling the tennis world. Similar to her sister, her talent, fashion looks and advocacy set her apart from other players. The seven-time Grand Slam champion uses her platform to discuss issues in the community, such as the wage gap and ending bias in health care. The Compton, California, native with all her talent is held as one of the greatest players of all time.
Naomi Osaka
Picking up the mantle from those who came before her, Naomi Osaka helped this generation of Black tennis players usher in a new era. The 26-year-old player has seen many historic wins on the court, including one against Serena Williams. However, her legacy off the court supersedes her four Grand Slam wins. In 2021, Osaka made major headlines for withdrawing from the French Open to prioritize her mental health. Since then, she has been vocal about raising awareness on mental health and wellness, especially for her fellow athletes.
Coco Gauff
Coco Gauff continuously breaks barriers for Black tennis players on and off the court. Most recently, the young tennis phenomenon made history, as the first tennis player and youngest person to be the flag bearer at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. So far in her career, she has won seven career singles titles and nine career doubles titles. In 2023, at the age of 19, she became the youngest woman to win a US Open title since Serena Williams in 1999. Her journey is just getting started, but if these past few years have showed the world anything, it is that Gauff is a force to be reckoned with.