Arthur Ashe

Lore & Background

Arthur Ashe was born in Richmond, Virginia, to Arthur Ashe Sr. and Mattie Cordell Cunningham Ashe. His mother died when he was six, and he was raised by his father, a caretaker for Richmond's recreation department. Ashe began playing tennis at age seven on the courts of Brookfield park, a blacks-only public playground, where his talent was noticed by instructor Ron Charity. He was later coached by Robert Walter Johnson, who taught him sportsmanship and composure. In 1960, Ashe moved to St. Louis to attend Sumner High School, where he could compete more freely, and won the U.S. Interscholastic tournament in 1961.

Ashe attended UCLA on a tennis scholarship, graduating with a degree in Business Administration. He served in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1969, reaching the rank of 1st Lieutenant. In 1968, he won the US Open, becoming the first black male champion and the only player to win both the amateur and open national championships in the same year. He also helped the U.S. Davis Cup team win the title in 1968 and 1969. Ashe was ranked world No. 1 in 1975 by multiple tennis authorities and received the ATP Player of the Year award that year.

After retiring in 1980, Ashe underwent heart bypass surgery in 1983 and contracted HIV from a blood transfusion. He publicly announced his illness in April 1992 and founded the Arthur Ashe Foundation for the Defeat of AIDS and the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health. He died from AIDS-related pneumonia on February 6, 1993. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in June 1993, and the Arthur Ashe Stadium, the main court for the US Open, is named in his honor.

Reader's Guide

Arthur Ashe's significance extends beyond his tennis achievements. As the first Black man to win the singles titles at Wimbledon, the US Open, and the Australian Open, he broke racial barriers in a predominantly white sport during the 1960s and 1970s. His 1968 US Open victory was historic not only for his race but also because it was the first US Open of the open era, and he was the only player to win both the amateur and open national championships in the same year. Ashe's composure on court, instilled by his coach Robert Walter Johnson, became a hallmark of his career.

After retiring, Ashe's legacy shifted to activism. His contraction of HIV from a blood transfusion led him to publicly announce his illness in 1992 and dedicate his remaining time to educating others about HIV and AIDS. He founded two organizations focused on defeating AIDS and improving urban health. His posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom and the naming of Arthur Ashe Stadium—the largest tennis arena in the world—underscore his lasting impact on both sports and public health. Ashe's life demonstrates how an athlete can transcend competition to address broader social issues.

Did You Know?

• Ashe was the only player to win both the amateur and open national championships in the same year (1968).
• He could not accept the $14,000 first-prize money for his 1968 US Open win because he needed to maintain amateur status for Davis Cup eligibility.
• Ashe's brother Johnnie served an additional tour in Vietnam so Arthur could compete in the 1968 US Open and avoid the Vietnam War.
• He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Bill Clinton on June 20, 1993.