A statue of Althea Gibson sits in front of Arthur Ashe Stadium at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center during the first round of the US Open tennis tournament in New York. Frank Franklin II/AP hide caption toggle caption Frank Franklin II/AP Sports New Statue At U.S. Open Honors African American Tennis Pioneer Althea Gibson August 26, 2019 • She was the "Jackie Robinson of tennis," said Billie Jean King as the first African American player and champion in international tennis. She later integrated women's professional golf.
