I wanted to publish a post on the magnificent streak Madison Keys just completed in Australia, going undefeated while winning two titles, including the Australian Open, her first major championship in a stellar tennis career that began 16 years ago. But in the midst of Madison’s remarkable run at age 29, the Black tennis community … More Black tennis community loses a titan
One could reasonably argue that had Lenny Simpson not returned to his roots in Wilmington, NC, there still may not be a monument honoring Althea Gibson, who did as much as anyone past or present to break down the barriers preventing Blacks from competing in major professional tennis tournaments. Simpson, the first Black to play … More Lenny Simpson: A legend in his own right
If you had asked me before the start of this year’s US Open tennis tournament if I thought a teenager had a shot at winning the women’s title, I would have answered enthusiastically without hesitation in the affirmative. But neither Emma Raducanu, the 18-year-old Brit who won it, nor Leylah Fernandez, the 19-year-old Canadian who … More US Open draw raises eyebrows, questions
When I heard that Cecil Harris had another book on black tennis coming out, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy. Once I did, I was not disappointed. The 243-page book, Different Strokes: Serena, Venus, and the Unfinished Black Tennis Revolution, was everything I had hoped for and pleasantly more. Harris puts … More New book puts fresh spin on black tennis
For more than two decades, Robert W. Johnson Jr. presided over the instruction at the tennis boot camp in the back yard of his legendary father’s Lynchburg, Va., home. In 1955, he teamed with his dad to win the National Father and Son Doubles Championship. On July 4, Johnson will join his dad, Dr. Robert … More Robert Johnson Jr. heads 2020 BTHF class
Ever since he posted a comment on my blog page under the moniker “Mr. Tennis,” I have wanted to interview Wilbert (Bill) Davis, winner of 11 American Tennis Association national championships. But it wasn’t so much his tennis accomplishments that caught my interest, as it were the principles he began to adopt that day in … More ATA legend finds code to live by in tennis
It has been a pleasure watching Chanda Rubin grow as an analyst on Tennis Channel. She adds a wonderful blend of insight and perspective to the network’s match commentary. Yet, as I tried to connect Rubin’s keen knowledge of the rigors and nuances of professional tennis with her own career, I realized I had forgotten … More BTHF deserves award of its own
When I asked tennis pro Julien Delaine if he knew Bobby Johnson Jr., the sparkle in his eyes told me the question had struck gold. “Yeah, man!” Julien said excitedly, adding that anyone who hung around the tennis courts at 16th and Kennedy streets in Washington, D.C., had to know Bobby Johnson Jr. and his … More Son of legendary Dr. J deserves own page in annals of black tennis history
I was describing my blog recently to a real estate client and mentioned I was working on a post about Althea Gibson. “Who’s that?” she asked, then quickly apologized for not knowing. I was momentarily stunned. Here we were in the middle of Black History Month, and this intelligent black mother of three, a graduate … More Althea Gibson: A Phenomenal Woman
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