Honoring Althea Gibson – 75 Years of Breaking Barriers

This year marks the 75th anniversary of Althea Gibson’s groundbreaking debut at the US Open, a milestone that forever changed the face of tennis. Gibson’s courage and excellence paved the way for generations of Black athletes and continues to inspire our work today. You may have seen how the US Open evoked Althea's image and impact throughout this year's event with their 75 years of ‘Breaking Barriers’ campaign. It was a powerful reminder of her enduring legacy and the importance of celebrating the doors she opened for so many.

Althea Gibson Breaking the Barriers Brunch

On opening day of the US Open, three HJTEP students attended the USTA’s ‘Breaking the Barriers Brunch’ honoring Althea Gibson. The event brought together legendary African American tennis pros, including Katrina Adams, Leslie Allen, Arthur Carrington, Zina Garrison, Ann Koger, Lori McNeil, Ahsha Rolle, MaliVai Washington and many more.

After the brunch, our students enjoyed viewing the matches in the Arthur Ashe Stadium President’s Suite, which included fan favorite Ben Shelton.

Later that evening, two of our students, Haylee Davis and Jack Jacobs, had the honor of serving as US Open Kidcasters at the USTA Foundation Gala Lemonade Stand. They mingled with celebrity guests Andre Agassi, Tina Knowles, Alec Baldwin, and many more while representing the HJTEP family and the future of the game.