Ben Shelton’s Dad Bryan Also Has A “First Since Arthur Ashe” Stat

Ben Shelton Has Done Something Not Done Since Arthur Ashe – His Father Bryan Also Has That Distinction

By Randy Walker

@TennisPublisher

Ben Shelton has done something that hasn’t been done before since Arthur Ashe.

His father Bryan already has that distinction.

As Ben Shelton is the first black American man to reach the U.S. Open final since Arthur Ashe in 1972, you can look back at an accomplishment his father Bryan completed in 1991 that was also something not done since Ashe.

Back on July 14, 1991, as documented in my book “On This Day In Tennis History” (for sale and download here On This Day in Tennis History: A Day-by-Day Anthology of Anecdotes and Historical Happenings: Walker, Randy: 9780942257427: Amazon.com: Books) Shelton won his first ATP singles title at the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Newport, R.I. on the grass courts of the Newport Casino in Newport, R.I. The win gave him the distinction of being the first black man to win an ATP Tour singles title since Arthur Ashe won the title in Los Angeles in 1978. The description of Papa Shelton’s achievement is see below, as excerpted from the book.

1991 – Bryan Shelton, a former All-American from Georgia Tech University ranked No. 147, becomes the first African-American man to win a singles tournament since Arthur Ashe won in Los Angeles in 1978, defeating Argentina’s Javier Frana 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the final of the Hall of Fame Championships in Newport, R.I. Says Shelton, “It’s exciting and it’s an achievement I’m proud of.”