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
Some of the Most Iconic Soccer Rivalries and the Stories Behind Them
Soccer is more than a game. It’s passion, pride, and pure obsession. Across the
“Dem Bums” No More: The Story of the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers
From 1939 to 1954, the Brooklyn Dodgers had only one losing season and won
From Card Tables to Championships: The Lasting Influence of Casinos on Sports History
Casinos have been complex and fascinating actors in sports culture history. From sponsoring high-profile
Remembering the 1972 Cleveland Browns
How many NFL teams during the 1970s do you remember that lost all six
How the 2025 Iowa Hawkeyes Stack Up to Historic Teams
Few programs in college football carry the kind of gritty tradition that Iowa does.
1972 Dallas Cowboys: From Duane Thomas Drama to Staubach’s Stunning Comeback
After posting an impressive 69–24–2 record over the last six seasons, including two NFC
Balancing School and Sports: Time Management Strategies for Student Athletes
Being a student athlete is about thriving in two high-pressure worlds at once: academics
The Scudetto: Italy’s Little Shield, A Legacy in Every Stitch
When a Serie A champion takes the field the following season, they do so