Never shy in terms of speaking out against racial injustice both in the United States and abroad, Arthur Ashe is as well-known for his civil rights advocacy as he is for his tennis.
On the court, he had an ability to combine immense shotmaking with strategic excellence. Ashe became the first Black man to win a Grand Slam when he won the U.S. Open in 1968, and the first to win a Wimbledon singles title in 1975.
Ashe’s bronze plaque reads:
💬 “His name synonymous with integrity, dignity and class, Arthur Ashe was a champion of extraordinary talent and a man of singular grace. The first winner of this event in the Open Era, he also was the first Black man to claim a major title.
“One of tennis’ greatest ambassadors, Ashe used his celebrity to raise the profile of his sport and of countless causes.
“The man for whom the U.S. Open’s grandest stage is named will forever be recalled as a champion of the sport and the epitome of the power of fortitude and courage.”