July 21, 1957 – A milestone moment in sports history. A young lady by the name of Althea Gibson became the African-American to win a major US tennis tournament. Miss Gibson opened the door and inspired many black athletes to compete at sports that had in the past not been available for them to participate in.
In 1956, she became the first African American to win a Grand Slam title when she took home the French Championships. The following year she won both Wimbledon and this US Nationals (precursor of the US Open). It wasn’t a fluke either as she repeated and won them both again in 1958 and was voted Female Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network
The Evolution of Football Tactics Through the Decades
Football became a game of strategy, a battle for control of every blade of
The Evolution of Sports Betting and Its Influence on Historic Sporting Moments
The sports betting industry has undergone a significant transformation over the past decade, shifting
The Evolution of Triathlon Pacing: From Iron Men to Digital Calculators
Triathlon is one of the youngest major sports with a specific, documentable origin story.
The Evolution of Prediction: From Ancient Gambling to FanDuel Predict
A Modern Take on a Long Tradition of Sports Forecasting Image by David from
The Result No One Expected Is Usually Built Earlier Than It Looks
A true upset does not feel surprising only because the underdog wins. It lands
FIFA World Cup’s Worst Ever Cases of Inter-Squad Turmoil
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is fast approaching, and while excitement levels are ramping
The 2026 Transfer Window Sparks Early Attention
Off-season activity in soccer during 2026 keeps showing familiar patterns: big-name transfers, shifts in
How Online Sportsbooks Have Changed the Way Fans Experience Games
Sports have always been about moments, but the way fans experience those moments has