Althea Gibson

Here’s The USTA’s Annual Post-U.S. Open Statistics Press Announcement

September 15, 2025 by tennisbloggers 1 Comment

As the 2025 US Open celebrated 75 years of Breaking Barriers, it also celebrated new champions and competition milestones, breaking records for attendance, viewership and digital reach, and engaging more people in tennis than ever before. Athletes received the largest player compensation in professional tennis history, and mixed doubles players competed for the first time in front of sold-out crowds as the reimagined Mixed Doubles Championship drove a two-day sellout in Arthur Ashe Stadium, with an additional 20,000 fans watching for free in Louis Armstrong Stadium. The US Open became the most viewed tennis telecast of the year on ESPN and broke records with billions of digital interactions. Double digit growth in F&B and merchandise sales underscored fan enjoyment on the grounds over the three week tournament.

“What we achieved together over these three incredible weeks is a reminder of the power of sport and the extraordinary potential still waiting to be unlocked in tennis. I’m deeply proud and profoundly grateful to everyone — our fans, players, partners, staff, volunteers and community leaders — who made this year’s tournament not just a celebration of tennis, but a force for good, bringing the benefits of the world’s healthiest sport to more people and places than ever before,” said Stacey Allaster, Chief Executive of Pro Tennis and US Open Tournament Director. “This year’s US Open truly embodied the spirit of ‘Spectacular,’ surpassing expectations and setting new records across the board — from fan engagement and player impact to partner success that inspired a love for tennis to grow the sport at the community level.”

Specific record-setting highlights from the 2025 US Open include:

Historic Champions and American Player On-Court Success

Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka each added to their growing legacies by winning the Men’s and Women’s Singles Championships. Alcaraz, at just 22, became the youngest men’s player in the Open Era to win six major singles titles. Sabalenka, meanwhile, became the first women’s player to win back-to-back US Open singles titles since Serena Williams won three in a row from 2012 to 2014.
Amanda Anisimova reached her second consecutive major singles final and extended the streak of American women to reach a Grand Slam singles final to five straight majors. Other notable American results included Taylor Townsend reaching the women’s doubles final for the second time in her career, as well as the women’s singles fourth round – a career-best Grand Slam singles performance, while Taylor Fritz followed up his run to the 2024 men’s singles final with an appearance in the quarterfinals.
Mixed Doubles champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori; Men’s Doubles champions Horacio Zeballos and Marcel Granollers and Women’s Doubles Champions Gabi Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe all took home $1 million as teams – record prize money for US Open doubles and mixed doubles champions.
This year’s Wheelchair Championships included 19-year-old Japanese wheelchair tennis star Tokito Oda winning his first US Open men’s singles title, completing the career “Golden Slam” and becoming the youngest wheelchair tennis player to accomplish the historic milestone. Elsewhere, Japan’s Yui Kamiji won her third women’s singles title, while Dutchman Niels Vink secured his second quad singles trophy. Doubles winners included: Gustavo Fernandez and Tokito Oda in the men’s, China’s Li Xiaohui and Wang Ziying in women’s, and Guy Sasson and Niels Vink in the quad division.
Long Island’s Jack Kennedy and Southern California’s Keaton Hance won the boys’ doubles title in an all-American matchup. In the junior wheelchair competition, Colorado’s Sabina Czauz swept the girls’ singles and doubles titles, becoming the first American to accomplish the feat since the junior wheelchair event was introduced in 2022.

Largest Player Compensation in Professional Tennis History

The USTA awarded the largest purse in professional tennis history at the 2025 US Open, making it the first tennis event to offer $90 million in total player compensation. This amount topped the total $75 million in 2024, the previous highest player compensation in tennis history, an increase of 20 percent. Men’s and Women’s Singles Champions at the 2025 US Open each earned $5 million, up 39 percent from the $3.6 million in 2024, making it the largest winning payout in the sport. For the first time ever, the winning teams from the Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles Championships each earned $1 million in prize money. Men’s and Women’s Doubles purses also were significantly increased in an effort to support the players competing in these championships, up 23 percent to $4.78 million from $3.89 million in 2024. The Men’s and Women’s Qualifying tournaments’ prize money was increased to a record $8 million, up 10 percent for this year.

Sellout Crowds for the Mixed Doubles Championship for the First Time

The US Open Mixed Doubles Championship presented by Vital Proteins drew 78,000 fans to the grounds over August 19 and 20, drove a two-day sellout in Arthur Ashe Stadium, and more than 20,000 fans scanned their Fan Access Pass to watch the matches for free in Louis Armstrong Stadium on Tuesday. The new mixed doubles format averaged 343,000 viewers across ESPN/ESPN2. The two-day championship brought mixed doubles competition to more fans than ever before, airing across 17 networks in over 170 countries and territories, with 325,000 fans watching on ESPN’s properties.

Groundbreaking Attendance and Fan Access Pass Signups

The full, three-week attendance of 1,144,562 was a 9-percent increase over 2024. This is the second consecutive year the US Open surpassed one million attendees. Main Draw singles and men’s and women’s doubles attendance – which included 27 sessions over 15 days and the first weekend start in the Open Era – eclipsed 900,000 for the first time, with 905,255 attendees – also a 9-percent increase over 2024. Fan Week attendance (239,307) was up 10 percent.

US Open Fan Week continued to grow in fan engagement, attendance and activations. This included a record 240,000 sign-ups for US Open Fan Access Pass, giving these individuals the opportunity to take part in a variety of activities throughout the week, and the entirety of the US Open. In addition, new offerings like the US Open Silent Disco and additional programming of the US Open Fan Week Main Stage, including on-site podcasts throughout the week, bolstered the experience for those in attendance.

Most Viewed Tennis Telecast of the Year for ESPN

ESPN’s coverage of the 2025 US Open delivered standout audiences across the tournament. The 15-day event is the most-viewed tennis telecast of the year, with the Men’s Championship the highest in a decade and ESPN’s second most-viewed on record, and double-digit growth throughout all rounds.

The Men’s Championship averaged 3 million viewers on ABC, up 82 percent vs. 2024, while the Women’s Championship averaged 2.4 million on ESPN, up 50 percent vs. 2024. The quarterfinals drew their largest audience in 10 years, and early round coverage through the Round of 16 posted its best numbers since 2022. The new Sunday start also proved a success, driving ESPN’s most-viewed Day 1 of Main Draw coverage since 2022, with audiences up nearly 83 percent year over year.

More Fans Engaged on Digital Platforms and Gaming Media than Ever Before

The US Open’s digital platforms, powered by IBM, totaled nearly 47 million visits – a 19-percent increase over 2024 – from 14 million unique devices over the event’s three weeks. The US Open’s official social media channels achieved 3.1 billion total interactions – surpassing the 3 billion mark for the first time and growing by 34 percent over 2024.

The US Open’s video game collaborations – featured on-site at the US Open’s Advantage Arena and playable worldwide during the event – saw record numbers of players. For example, Champions of the Court on Roblox engaged over six million new players – pushing its total player count to nearly 20 million since the US Open debuted in Roblox in 2023. Champions of the Court averaged over 740,000 players per day in-event. The US Open’s activations in Fortnite engaged more than five million new players this year, with an average play time of 37 minutes per player. Tennis Clash saw over 8.4 million matches played during the US Open.

Record Growth in Food, Beverage and Merchandise Sales

Total food and beverage sales saw a 19 percent total increase over 2024, including an all-time high 738,459 US Open Honey Deuce signature cocktails sold, representing a 32 percent increase over 2024. US Open merchandise sales also increased 27 percent year over year.

The US Open as a Platform for Growing the Game at the Grassroots Level

The USTA Foundation’s annual Opening Night Gala raised over $2.6 million to help support the more than 300 community organizations that are part of the Foundation’s flagship National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) network. Andre Agassi was honored at the event with the “Serving Up Dreams” award for his efforts to give back to young people through the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education to improve public schools and invest in communities.

The Williams Family Excellence Program was launched by the USTA Foundation in partnership with the legendary family of Venus and Serena Williams. This transformative initiative will support young people from under-resourced communities with the academic support, career pathways, and mentorship opportunities to prepare them to live their best lives both on and off the court. With a goal of reaching more than 2,500 young people ages 13 to 25 annually by the year 2035, the program will focus on post-secondary education and career development, aiming to unlock doors that too often remain closed — using tennis as a powerful catalyst for change.

Additionally, the USTA engaged nearly 1,600 kids from more than 65 different community groups from across the country to participate in its Net Generation Kids on Court program, offering kids the opportunity to play in front of fans on main competition courts.

A number of adult groups also took part in pre-match on-court activities, showcasing Red Ball Tennis throughout the event. In addition, three adaptive groups, including wheelchair participants, showcased these formats of the sport in front of the US Open crowds. Nearly 100 kids participated in pre-match coin tosses, and a select handful participated in trophy ceremonies.

Additional important milestones realized during the 2025 US Open include:

Record Number of Celebrities and VIP Guests: The US Open hosted a record 600-plus celebrity and VIP guests this year and integrated its ‘Blue Carpet’ arrivals as live content produced for broadcast and social channels, as well as in-venue for Finals Fan Fest. President Trump’s visit to the Men’s Singles Final made him only the second sitting president to attend the US Open following Bill Clinton in 2000.
Record Crowds for Finals Fan Fest and Afterparty: The US Open took its Finals Fan Fest and Afterparty to another level with a DJ set by Grammy-nominated electronic music leaders ODESZA and TOKiMONSTA – with a crowd of almost 10,000 on the day of the women’s singles final.
Sponsorship Growth and Longevity: The 2025 US Open had 28 official tournament sponsors, seven of which have been US Open partners for more than 30 years. Four new partners in argenx, Clos du Bois, Dove and Vital Proteins, joined the US Open this year.
75 years of Breaking the Color Barrier: The 2025 theme “75 Years of Breaking Barriers,” recognized and honored the 75th anniversary of Althea Gibson’s breaking of the sport’s color barrier at the 1950 U.S. National Championships. Illuminating this year’s theme was deeply powerful and dynamic theme art – a layered, silhouette profile of Gibson, incorporating iconic symbols emblematic of the US Open – created by Melissa Koby, the first Black theme artist in US Open history. Throughout the event, the USTA celebrated Althea Gibson’s legacy, including through on-site activations, in-stadium digital signage, and a recognition of players that followed in her footsteps and also helped to change the face of the game forever.
50th Anniversary of Chris Evert Winning her First US Open Title: The US Open celebrated the legacy of Chris Evert alongside the 50th anniversary of her first US Open title in 1975. She went on to win six US Open women’s singles titles and 18 Grand Slam singles titles overall as part of her Hall-of-Fame career. Evert, who currently serves as the chairperson of the USTA Foundation and as an ESPN commentator, was recognized throughout the tournament on both US Open and ESPN platforms. In addition, she presented the champion’s trophy during the trophy ceremony for the women’s singles final, which also included a video tribute to Evert shown in stadium and across broadcast
20th Anniversary of Wheelchair Tennis: The US Open celebrated the 20th anniversary of its Wheelchair Championships this year. During the tournament, the USTA was honored by the ITF with its Brad Parks Award, in recognition of the organization’s outstanding leadership and long-term commitment to developing wheelchair tennis both nationally and globally.
Purpose Driven Platform Unites Fans and Players Through the Power of Tennis: For the sixth consecutive year, the tournament’s purpose-driven platform “Be Open” united fans and players through the power of tennis. It engaged communities to celebrate and welcome more audiences into the sport. The platform included events, activations and panel discussions highlighting Asian American Pacific Islander culture; Latine roots; the culture, history and pride of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, via HBCU Live; the LGBTQ+ community with the ‘Open Pride;’ and our military members via Lt. Joe Hunt Military Appreciation. The US Open also provided a platform for competitors from around the globe with ambulatory impairments through its Parastanding Invitational Tournament. The US Open hosted its third annual Champions of Equality event, honoring award-winning director, producer and screenwriter Ava DuVernay with the Billie Jean King US Open Champions of Equality award alongside a group of the game’s foremost grassroots Champions of Equality leaders from 16 USTA Sections across the country. US Open Tournament Director Stacey Allaster was honored with a Champions of Equality award in recognition of her decades of service to women’s tennis. During the event, DuVernay was joined by seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams for a panel discussion that was moderated by 2024 Champions of Equality honoree Shonda Rhimes.

USTA Celebrates Althea Gibson In 2025 U.S. Open Theme “75 Years of Breaking Barriers”

May 30, 2025 by Randy Walker Leave a Comment

The USTA has proudly unveiled its theme for the 2025 US Open, “Celebrating 75 Years of Breaking Barriers,” in honor of Althea Gibson breaking tennis’ color barrier at the 1950 U.S. National Championships. Illuminating this year’s theme is the deeply powerful and dynamic theme art – a layered, silhouette profile of Gibson, incorporating iconic symbols emblematic of the US Open – created by Melissa Koby, the first Black theme artist in US Open history.

“Celebrating 75 Years of Breaking Barriers” will commemorate Gibson, her legacy and the future generations of barrier breakers she inspired. The theme will be championed throughout the full three weeks of the 2025 US Open, which runs August 18-September 7. A centerpiece moment will be a tribute to Gibson inside Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday, August 24, the start of the Men’s and Women’s Singles Main Draws.

“The USTA and the US Open are incredibly proud and humbled to be able to celebrate Althea Gibson – a universal inspiration and one of our game’s foremost pioneers — on the 75th anniversary of her changing the game forever,” said Stacey Allaster, US Open Tournament Director and Chief Executive, Professional Tennis, USTA. “The character and the courage she displayed at the 1950 U.S. National Championships changed the course of history and created a legacy that helped make the US Open what it is today – truly ‘Open for All.’ On the 75th anniversary of that watershed moment, we celebrate Althea, the barriers she broke and the legacy she inspired.”

The theme art was created by combining and layering images of stencil- and laser-cut paper, resulting in a piece that evokes a natural emotion with its depth. The layered style is signature to Koby, a resident of Tampa, Fla., whose resume as an artist and illustrator includes an impressive list of high-profile brand collaborations.

“I wanted to create a piece that represents Althea as uniquely and beautifully as she deserves and also inspires a deep connection of representation with anyone who sees it,” Koby said. “Whether it be the layer of her playing tennis for an avid tennis-lover, or somebody who has ties to Arthur Ashe Stadium, or somebody who just loves really strong women in sports — I wanted to make sure that in having the honor and privilege of representing Althea for the US Open, I created a piece in which everyone can find a deep connection with her but also within themselves.”

Posters of the theme art are available for purchase via USOpen.org.

Tickets to All US Open Events Go On-Sale Friday, Including Blockbuster Mixed Doubles Championship

Tickets for all three weeks of events at the 2025 US Open go on sale to the general public at 9 a.m. Friday via Ticketmaster and USOpen.org, including:

US Open Mixed Doubles Championship, reimagined and elevated to be a must-attend championship competition featuring a blockbuster field of today’s top men’s and women’s stars competing together for a $1 million champions’ prize.
Date: Tuesday, August 19 – Wednesday, August 20
Stars of the Open presented by Chase, a fan-favorite event featuring many of tennis’ biggest names alongside today’s hottest celebrities, returns as a Fan Week staple, with a portion of ticket proceeds benefitting the USTA Foundation.
Date: Thursday, August 21

US Open Fan Week runs Monday, August 18 through Saturday, August 23, this year and once again features free grounds admission to the USTA Billie Jean National Tennis Center as the US Open Qualifying Tournament – 128 men’s and women’s singles players battling for the final 16 spots in each Main Draw – plays out on the field courts.

The US Open Men’s and Women’s Singles Main Draw begins Sunday, August 24 – the first weekend start to the US Open Singles Main Draws in the Open Era. The Women’s Singles Championship will be played on Saturday, September 6, with the Men’s Singles Championship taking place on Sunday, September 7.

USTA Celebrates Althea Gibson’s Life And Legacy

August 26, 2024 by Randy Walker Leave a Comment

The US Open celebrated the life and legacy of tennis legend Althea Gibson with a tribute Sunday on the Fan Week stage at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The tribute, which commemorated Gibson’s birthday and the fifth anniversary of her statue being unveiled outside Arthur Ashe Stadium, included a special dance performance by youth from the National Dance Institute and remarks from Michelle Curry, the administrator of Gibson’s estate and chief operating officer of the Althea Gibson Community Tennis Association along with former USTA President Katrina Adams.

In 1950, Gibson broke the color barrier in tennis by becoming the first African American to compete in the U.S. National Championships. She won 11 major titles combined in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.

In 2022, publishing company New Chapter Press republished her autobiography “I Always Wanted To Be Somebody” which can be purchased here: https://a.co/d/8UoiUg4

The book was an early inspiration for Billie Jean King, whose media interview about Gibson when the Gibson statue was unveiled inspired the republishing of the book, which you can hear about here: https://youtu.be/V5tnq8ESy7Y?si=OJfBgn2GfULZJx4D

Katrina Adams on stage during the National Dance Institute tribute to Athena Gibson at the Fan Week Center Stage in Fountain Plaza at the 2024 US Open on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024 in Flushing, NY. (David Nemec/USTA)

International Tennis Hall of Fame Announces Black History Month Initiatives

February 1, 2023 by Randy Walker Leave a Comment

The International Tennis Hall of Fame is celebrating Black History Month with two new education initiatives that highlight the roles of Black tennis athletes in history and culture.

As part of the ITHF’s ongoing initiative to educate and spotlight Black tennis history, fans can now explore 16 new additions to the digital exhibit Breaking Boundaries in Black Tennis. The ITHF is additionally partnering with the National Archives and National Archives Foundation to host a lecture with Professor Ashley Brown to discuss her book Serving Herself: The Life and Times of Althea Gibson.

In 2022, Gibson’s official biography “I Always Wanted To Be Somebody” was re-released by New Chapter Press and can be purchased or downloaded here: https://www.amazon.com/Althea-Gibson-Always-Wanted-Somebody/dp/1937559971/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2P6I1KGMZ7VWG&keywords=I+always+wanted+to+be+somebody&qid=1675264731&sprefix=i+always+wanted+to+be+somebody%2Caps%2C112&sr=8-1

New Additions to Breaking Boundaries in Black Tennis Featured Throughout February. Launched in February 2022, the digital exhibit Breaking Boundaries highlights the breakthroughs, evolution, and impact of Black tennis players and contributors globally. Fans can browse the interactive globe online at breakingboundaries.tennisfame.com to explore these individuals’ on-court achievements and lasting impacts on the sport.

In the past year, fans have submitted their suggestions for noteworthy additions to the ever-evolving exhibit. Following review by the ITHF’s Black History Committee, several fan submissions have been added along with the committee’s selections.
The 16 additions for 2023 include current stars such as American Frances Tiafoe and Kenya’s Angella Okutoyi, alongside American legends like administrator Rodney Harmon, WTA champion Renee Blount and former Netherlands Davis Cup captain Stanley Franker.

“The International Tennis Hall of Fame is excited to recognize these new additions to Breaking Boundaries,” said Katrina Adams, chair of the ITHF’s Black Tennis History Committee. “Through this exhibit, the ITHF is doing vital work in preserving these individuals’ history, and sharing their stories of inspiration with the next generation. We are grateful for the tremendous reception and many fan submissions to Breaking Boundaries in the past year.”
In collaboration with the National Archives and National Archives Foundation, the ITHF will host Professor Ashley Brown to discuss her new book Serving Herself: The Life and Times of Althea Gibson on Monday, February 27.

The event will be held in the International Tennis Hall of Fame museum’s USTA Wing, with tickets on sale now for $26 at tennisfame.com/serving-herself-lecture. Attendees are encouraged to participate in a reception with light food and beverage starting at 6:00 p.m., followed by a lecture and book signing. The lecture will also be streamed live by the National Archives.

In her comprehensive biography, Brown narrates the public career and private struggles of Hall of Famer Althea Gibson. From her start playing paddle tennis on the streets of Harlem as a teenager to her 11 Grand Slam titles to her professional golf career, Gibson became the most accomplished Black sportswoman of the mid-twentieth century. In her unprecedented athletic career, she was the first African-American to win titles at Wimbledon, and what is now known as the French Open and US Open.

Based on extensive archival work and oral histories, Serving Herself sets Gibson’s life and choices against the backdrop of the Great Migration, Jim Crow racism, the integration of American sports, the civil rights movement, the Cold War and second wave feminism.

Ashley Brown is currently an Assistant Professor and Allan H. Selig Chair in the History of Sport and Society at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Professor Brown’s article “Swinging for the State Department: American Women Tennis Players in Diplomatic Goodwill Tours, 1941-1959” was honored by the North American Society for Sport History in 2015 and was subsequently published in the Journal of Sport History. The Journal of African American History has also published her scholarship.
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Althea Gibson’s Legacy To Be Honored In Harlem

July 28, 2022 by Randy Walker Leave a Comment

New York City will honor the legacy of International Tennis Hall of Fame champion and pioneering sports hero Althea Gibson by renaming West 143rd Street in Harlem, where she lived with her family, in her honor as “Althea Gibson Way.”

The renaming ceremony will be conducted on the late tennis icon’s 95th birthday on August 25th from noon to 2 p.m. at West 143rd Street between Malcolm X and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevards. Gibson family members as well as former pro Leslie Allen and other VIPs from the world of tennis are scheduled to appear at the event.

Gibson broke the color barrier in tennis when she first played in the U.S. Championships at Forest Hills in 1950. She became the first black player to win a major title at the French Championships in 1956 and won Wimbledon and the U.S. Championships in both 1957 and 1958.

Gibson is one of the most iconic and talented female athletes of all time, breaking the color barrier in tennis and becoming the first black player to play and win at Wimbledon and the U.S. Championships. After becoming the first black player to participate in the U.S. Championships (the modern-day U.S. Open) in 1950 (three years after Jackie Robinson integrated baseball), she won the first of her back-to-back titles there in 1957, also winning singles titles at Wimbledon in 1957 and 1958. After her tennis career, she also became the first black person on the LPGA Tour in golf. She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1971 and died in 2003. She was an athlete, coach, leader, activist, singer, actor and one of the most illustrious and celebrated tennis players in history.

In 2019, the United States Tennis Association honored Gibson with a statue in her honor on the grounds of the Billie Jean King USTA National Tennis Center, where the U.S. Open is played. In 2022, Althea Gibson’s autobiography “I Always Wanted To Be Somebody” was re-released and can be purchased here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1937559971/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_9QYX67JWHF6F6Z50TGQD

“I Always Wanted To Be Somebody” is the intimate and candid story of a girl who grew up in the asphalt environs of Harlem, skipping school, drinking hard liquor, stealing and fist-fighting, but went on to break the color barrier in tennis and achieving the pinnacle of the sport by winning Wimbledon and the U.S. Championships and becoming an inspiration for many future champions.

Hall of Fame tennis legend and pioneer Billie Jean King, who said she used to sleep with “I Always Wanted To Be Somebody” under her pillow as a girl, contributed the foreword to the new edition, writing, “Althea was our Jackie Robinson of tennis, and the barriers show broke down and the doors she opened have paved the way for generations of tennis players. Her contributions to our sport and to our world are many. Without Althea, there may not have been an Arthur Ashe, Leslie Allen, Zina Garrison, James Blake, Chanda Rubin, Mal Washington, Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Coco Gauff, Frances Tiafoe or Naomi Osaka.”

Althea Gibson’s Autobiography “I Always Wanted To Be Somebody” Re-Released

February 1, 2022 by Randy Walker Leave a Comment

“I Always Wanted To Be Somebody,” the autobiography of tennis legend Althea Gibson, has been re-released by New Chapter Press.

Originally published in 1960, the book had fallen out of circulation and was only available for exorbitant prices by book resellers. However, New Chapter Press, a leading publisher of tennis books, worked with the Althea Gibson family, estate and the newly formed Althea Gibson Community Tennis Association to republish the book and make it available for the masses at a reasonable $19.95 price ($9.95 via Amazon Kindle here https://www.amazon.com/dp/1937559971/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_AQM1EE03M4KEZRT2ZJMK). A portion of sales for the book will benefit the Althea Gibson Community Tennis Association.

Founded in 1987, New Chapter Press (www.NewChapterMedia.com) is also the publisher of “Juan Martin del Potro: The Gentle Giant” by Sebastian Torok, “The Pros: The Forgotten Era of Tennis” by Peter Underwood, “The Greatest Tennis Matches of All-Time” and “Pete Sampras: Greatness Revisited” by Steve Flink, “Pioneers of the Game: The Evolution of Men’s Professional Tennis” by Marshall Happer, “The Education of a Tennis Player” by Rod Laver with Bud Collins, “The Secrets of Spanish Tennis” by Chris Lewit, “The Bud Collins History of Tennis” by Bud Collins, “The Wimbledon Final That Never Was” by Sidney Wood, “Titanic: The Tennis Story” by Lindsay Gibbs, “Macci Magic: Extracting Greatness From Yourself And Others” by Rick Macci with Jim Martz, “Andy Murray, Wimbledon Champion: The Full Extraordinary Story” by Mark Hodgkinson, “Cattle To Courts: A History of Tennis In Texas” by Ken McAllister, “Sport of a Lifetime: Enduring Personal Stories From Tennis” by Judy Aydelott, “Trojan Tennis: A History of the Storied Men’s Tennis Program at the University of Southern California” by S. Mark Young, “Absolute Tennis: The Best And Next Way To Play The Game” by Marty Smith, “How To Permanently Erase Negative Self Talk So You Can Be Extraordinary” by Emily Filloramo, “Acing Depression: A Tennis Champion’s Toughest Match” by Cliff Richey and Hilaire Richey Kallendorf, “Your Playbook For Beating Depression: Essential Strategies For Managing and Living with Depression” by Cliff Richey and Mary Garrison, “The Greatest Jewish Tennis Players of All-Time” by Sandra Harwitt, “Roger Federer: Quest for Perfection” by Rene Stauffer, “The Days of Roger Federer” and “On This Day In Tennis History” by Randy Walker, “Jan Kodes: A Journey To Glory From Behind The Iron Curtain” by Jan Kodes with Peter Kolar, “Tennis Made Easy” by Kelly Gunterman, “A Player’s Guide To USTA League Tennis” by Tony Serksnis, “Court Confidential: Inside The World Of Tennis” by Neil Harman, “A Backhanded Gift” by Marshall Jon Fisher, “Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games” by Tom Caraccioli and Jerry Caraccioli (www.Boycott1980.com), “Internet Dating 101: It’s Complicated, But It Doesn’t Have To Be” by Laura Schreffler, “How To Sell Your Screenplay” by Carl Sautter, “Bone Appetit: Gourmet Cooking For Your Dog” by Suzan Anson, “The Rules of Neighborhood Poker According to Hoyle” by Stewart Wolpin among others.

"I Always Wanted To Be Somebody" — “I Always Wanted To Be Somebody”

USTA To Commission Althea Gibson Tennis Statue For US Open Grounds

February 27, 2018 by tennisbloggers

The United States Tennis Association announced that the association will commission a statue to commemorate tennis legend and American pioneer Althea Gibson with a statue on the grounds of the US Open. The USTA will begin an RFP process to identify a sculptor for this historic opportunity.

Gibson, an inductee into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1971, became the first African-American to win the US Nationals, the pre-cursor to the US Open, when she won the women’s singles championship in 1957. She repeated the feat in 1958. Overall, she won a combined eleven Grand Slam titles in singles, doubles and mixed doubles play during her illustrious career.

“It’s simple. She’s the Jackie Robinson of tennis; she deserves it,” said USTA Chairman of the Board and President Katrina Adams. “By breaking the color barrier, she made it possible for every person of color after her to have a chance to achieve their goals in the sport.”

The USTA is in the process of crafting a request for proposal to identify and select the artist/sculptor to create this lasting monument to an American icon. The USTA unveiled a statue of Arthur Ashe in August 2000, which serves as an anchor to the South Plaza on the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, home of the US Open. The Gibson statue will be the second statue to commemorate a groundbreaking tennis icon and will be the third American tennis legend honored at the site, joining Ashe and Billie Jean King, for whom the tennis center was rededicated on August 28, 2006.

“Althea Gibson is an American treasure and one of my most important heroes, and I am thrilled she will finally be honored at the National Tennis Center,” said Billie Jean King. “Through tennis she opened the doors for future generations – men and women of all backgrounds – to have a chance to compete and make a living playing professional tennis. Our sport owes a great deal to Althea and it is my hope that the children of today and tomorrow will learn more about her and be inspired by her.”

The USTA does not have a strict timetable for the completion of this project. The first immediate step will be to author and issue the RFP. Then a select committee comprised of tennis notables will review the offerings before a decision is made.

On This Day In Tennis History Is Latest Book Release From New Chapter Press

November 11, 2008 by Tennis Grandstand

WASHINGTON, D.C. – New Chapter Press has announced the publication of its latest book – On This Day In Tennis History -a calendar-like compilation of historical and unique anniversaries, events and happenings from the world of tennis through the years – written by Randy Walker, the sports marketing and media specialist, tennis historian and former U.S. Tennis Association press officer.
On This Day In Tennis History ($19.95, 528 pages), is a fun and fact-filled, this compilation offers anniversaries, summaries, and anecdotes of events from the world of tennis for every day in the calendar year. Presented in a day-by-day format, the entries into this mini-encyclopedia include major tournament victory dates, summaries of the greatest matches ever played, trivia, and statistics as well as little-known and quirky happenings. Easy-to-use and packed with fascinating details, the book is the perfect companion for tennis and general sports fans alike and is an excellent gift idea for the holiday season. The book features fascinating and unique stories of players such as John McEnroe, Don Budge, Bill Tilden, Chris Evert, Billie Jean King, Jimmy Connors, Martina Navratilova, Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Anna Kournikova among many others. On This Day In Tennis History is available for purchase via on-line book retailers and in bookstores in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. More information on the book can be found at www.tennishistorybook.com
Said Hall of Famer Jim Courier of the book, “On This Day In Tennis History is a fun read that chronicles some of the most important-and unusual-moments in the annals of tennis. Randy Walker is an excellent narrator of tennis history and has done an incredible job of researching and compiling this entertaining volume.” Said tennis historian Joel Drucker, author of Jimmy Connors Saved My Life, “An addictive feast that you can enjoy every possible way-dipping in for various morsels, devouring it day-by-day, or selectively finding essential ingredients. As a tennis writer, I will always keep this book at the head of my table.” Said Bill Mountford, former Director of Tennis of the USTA National Tennis Center, “On This Day In Tennis History is an easy and unique way to absorb the greatest-and most quirky-moments in tennis history. It’s best read a page a day!”
Walker is a writer, tennis historian and freelance publicist and sports marketer. A 12-year veteran of the U.S. Tennis Association’s Marketing and Communications Division, he served as the press officer for the U.S. Davis Cup team from 1997 to 2005 and for the U.S. Olympic tennis teams in 1996, 2000 and 2004. He also served as the long-time editor of the U.S. Open Record Book during his tenure at the USTA from 1993 to 2005.
More information on the book can be found at www.tennistomes.com as well as on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1627089030&ref=name and on myspace at http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=428100548
People mentioned in the book include, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Roddick, Lleyton Hewitt, Goran Ivanisevic, Andre Agassi, Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Lindsay Davenport, Monica Seles, Jelena Jankovic, Ana Ivanovic, Maria Sharapova, Justine Henin, Kim Clijsters, Amelie Mauresmo, Anna Kounikova, Jennifer Capriati, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Martina Hingis, Gustavo Kuerten, Svetlana Kuznetsova, James Blake, Wilmer Allison, Mal Anderson, Arthur Ashe, Juliette Atkinson, Henry “Bunny” Austin, Tracy Austin, Boris Becker, Kark Behr, Pauline Betz, Bjorn Borg, Jean Borotra, John Bromwich, Norman Brookes, Louise Brough, Jacques Brugnon, Butch Buchholz, Don Budge, Maria Bueno, Rosie Casals, Michael Chang, Philippe Chatrier, Dodo Cheney, Henri Cochet, Maureen Connolly, Jimmy Connors, Jim Courier, Ashley Cooper, Margaret Court, Jack Crawford, Allison Danzig, Dwight Davis, Lottie Dod, John Doeg, Laurence Doherty, Reggie Doherty, Dorothea Douglass Lambert Chambers, Jaroslav Drobny, Margaret duPont, Francoise Durr, James Dwight, Stefan Edberg, Roy Emerson, Chis Evert, Bob Falkenburg, Neale Fraser, Shirley Fry, Althea Gibson, Pancho Gonzalez, Evonne Goolagong, Arthur Gore, Steffi Graf, Bitsy Grant, Darlene Hard, Doris Hart, Anne Jones, Gladys Heldman, Slew Hester, Bob Hewitt, Lew Hoad, Harry Hopman, Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman, Joe Hunt, Frank Hunter, Helen Jacobs, Bill Johnston, Perry Jones, Bob Kelleher, Billie Jean King, Jan Kodes, Karel Kozeluh, Jack Kramer, Rene Lacoste, Bill Larned, Art Larsen, Rod Laver, Ivan Lendl, Suzanne Lenglen, George Lott, Gene Mako, Molla Mallory, Hana Mandlikova, Alice Marble, Dan Maskell, Simone Mathieu, Mark McCormack, John McEnroe, Ken McGregor, Kitty Godfree, Chuck McKinley, Maurice McLoughlin, Frew McMillian, Don McNeill, Elisabeth Moore, Angela Mortimer, Gardnar Mulloy, Ilie Nastase, Martina Navratilova, John Newcombe, Yannick Noah, Jana Novotna, Betty Nuthall, Alex Olmedo, Rafael Osuna, Frank Parker, Gerald Patterson, Budge Patty, Fred Perry, Nicola Pietrangeli, Adrian Quist, Patrick Rafter, Dennis Ralson, Vinnie Richards, Nancy Richey, Cliff Richey, Bobby Riggs, Tony Roche, Mervyn Rose, Ken Rosewall, Elizbeth Ryan, Gabriela Sabatini, Pete Sampras, Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, Manuel Santana, Dick Savitt, Ted Schroeder, Gene Scott, Richard Sears, Frank Sedgman, Pancho Segura, Vic Seixas, Frank Shields, Pam Shriver, Stan Smith, Fred Stolle, Bill Talbert, Bill Tilden, Tony Trabert, Lesley Turner, Jimmy Van Alen, John Van Ryn, Guillermo Vilas, Ellsworth Vines, Brian Gottfried, Virginia Wade, Holcombe Ward, Watson Washburn, Mal Whitman, Mats Wilander, Tony Wilding, Helen Wills Moody, Sidney Wood, Robert Wrenn, Bob Bryan, Mike Bryan, Todd Woodbridge, Marat Safin, Leslie Allen, Sue Barker, Jonas Bjorkman, Mahesh Bhupathi, Donald Dell, Albert Costa, Mark Cox, Owen Davidson, Pat Cash, Mary Carillo, John Isner, Roscoe Tanner, Vijay Amritraj, Mark Woodforde, Tim Henman, Richard Krajicek, Conchita Martinez, Mary Joe Fernandez, Cliff Drysdale, Mark Edmondson, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Zina Garrson, Roland Garros, Wojtek Fibak, Tom Gullikson, Andres Gimeno, Vitas Gerulaitis, Fernando Gonzalez, Tim Henman, Goran Ivanisevic, Andrea Jaeger, Ivo Karlovic, Richard Krajicek, Petr Korda, Luke Jensen, Murphy Jensen, Rick Leach, Iva Majoil, Barry MacKay, Ivan Ljubicic, Cecil Mamiit, David Caldwell, Alex Metreveli, Nicolas Massu, Todd Martin, Gene Mayer, Thomas Muster, Tom Okker, Charlie Pasarell, Mary Pierce, Whitney Reed, Leander Paes, Renee Richards, Helen Sukova, Michael Stich, Betty Stove, Ion Tiriac, Brian Teacher, Wendy Turnbull, Richards, Fabrice Santoro, Ai Sugiyama, Patrick McEnroe, Camille Pin, Phil Dent, Jelena Dokic, Mark Edmondson, Gael Monfils, Xavier Malisse, Dinara Safina, Barry Lorge, Stefano Pescosolido, Fabrice Santoro, Roscoe Tanner, Philipp Kohlschreiber, Roger Smith, Erik van Dillen, Gene Mayer, Tamara Pasek, Stefan Koubek, Jie Zheng, Gisela Dulko, Kristian Pless, Chuck McKinley, Marty Riessen, Brad Gilbert, Tim Mayotte, Andrea Petkovic, Klara Koukalova, Bobby Reynolds, Dominik Hrbaty, Andreas Seppi, Christopher Clarey, Casey Dellacqua, Anders Jarryd, Janko Tipsarevic, Nadia Petrova, Christian Bergstrom, Ramesh Krishnan, Emily Sanchez, Marcos Baghdatis, Mark Philippousssis, Wally Masur, Paul McNamee, Daniela Hantuchova, Gerry Armstrong, Younes El Aynaoui, Thomas Johansson, Pat Cash, Lisa Raymond, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Chanda Rubin, Tony Roche, Alex O’Brien, Petr Korda, Karol Kucera, Amelie Mauresmo, Juan Gisbert, Pablo Cuevas, Jim Pugh, Rick Leach, Julien Boutter, Larry Stefanki, Chris Woodruff, Jill Craybas, Sania Mirza, Mike Leach, Maggie Maleeva, Guillermo Canas, Guillermo Coria, Donald Young, Dick Stockton, Johan Kriek, Milan Srejber, Zina Garrison, Slyvia Hanika, Karin Knapp, Laura Granville, Kei Nishikori, Scott Davis, Paul Goldstein, Alberto Martin, Nicolas Kiefer, Joachim Johansson, Jonathan Stark, Jakob Hlasek, Jeff Tarango, Amanda Coetzer, Andres Gomez, Richey Reneberg, Francisco Clavet, Radek Stepanek, Miloslav Mecir, Jose-Luis Clerc, Colin Dibley, Mikael Pernfors, Martin Mulligan, Robbie Weiss, Hugo Chapacu, Victor Pecci, Charlie Bricker, Greg Rusedski, Robin Finn, Kimiko Date, David Nalbandian, Goran Ivanisevic, Mikhail Youzhny, Nicole Pratt, Bryanne Stewart, Novak Djokovic, Rennae Stubbs, Corina Morariu, Marc Rosset, Kenneth Carlsen, Kimiko Date, Ryan Harrison, Richard Gasquet, Jimmy Arias, Jim Leohr, Felix Mantilla, Cedric Pioline, Annabel Croft, Brooke Shields, Jaime Yzaga, Slobodan Zivojinovic, Alberto Mancini, Peter McNamara, Andrei Chesnokov, Fabrice Santoro, Bud Collins, Mardy Fish, Sebastien Grosjean, Donald Dell, Petr Kuczak, Magnus Norman, Hicham Arazi, Nduka Odizor, Lori McNeil, Horst Skoff, Karolina Sprem, Ros Fairbank, Linda Siegel, Chris Lewis, Kevin Curren, Thierry Tulasne, Guy Forget, Fred Tupper, Jaime Fillol, Belus Prajoux, Ricardo Cano, Georges Goven, Ray Moore, Charlie Pasarell, Paul Annacone, Tomas Smid, Dmitry Tursunov, Elena Dementieva, Arnaud DiPasquale, Carl Uwe Steeb, Bill Scanlon, Jose Higueras, Jay Berger, Jana Novotna, Bill Dwyre, Lisa Dillman, Sean Sorensen, Paul McNamee, Jiri Novak, Benjamin Becker, Ion Tiriac, Neil Amdur, Tim Gullikson, Jan-Michael Gambill, Taylor Dent, Bryan Shelton, Vijay Amritraj, Martin Verkerk, Brian Gottfried, Carlos Moya, Jacco Eltingh, Adriano Panatta, John Feinstein, Aaron Krickstein, Wilhelm Bungert, Derrick Rostagno, Torben Ulrich, Daniel Nestor, Ray Ruffels, Cliff Drysdale, James Reilly, Andy Murray, Leander Paes, Alicia Molik, Barry MacKay among others.
New Chapter Press is also the publisher of The Bud Colins History of Tennis by Bud Collins, The Roger Federer Story, Quest for Perfection by Rene Stauffer and Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games by Tom Caraccioli and Jerry Caraccioli and the soon to be released title The Lennon Prophecy by Joe Niezgoda. Founded in 1987, New Chapter Press is an independent publisher of books and part of the Independent Publishers Group. More information can be found at www.newchapterpressmedia.com