The former tennis player: Arthur Robert Ashe
The former professional tennis player from the United States of America, Arthur Robert Ashe was born on July 10, 1943 in the city of Virginia. The right handed tennis ace, won a total of three Grand Slam trophies all through his career and thus registered his name as one of the best tennis players of all times from the United States of America. Arthur is also known for his contributions to upgrade communal causes.
The 1.85 meters tall, Arthur Robert Ashe was trained under the supervision of Ronald Charity who worked as his coach for quite a longer period of time and later substituted Robert Walter Johnson.
Exhausted of covering huge distances to contest at the Caucasian youths in isolated Richmond, Arthur agreed upon an offer from one of the officials of St. Louis to shift there and register his name at the Summer High school. Young Arthur was acknowledged by Sports Illustrated for his excellent game.
The American tennis ace, Ashe was granted a tennis scholarship back in the season 1963 to the University of California. That same season, he also registered his name as the very first black contender ever who was a part of the Davis Cup team of the United States of America.
Later on, Arthur grabbed his singles title of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The American tennis ace, Arthur succeeded in the United States Amateur Tournament as well as the opening United States Open championship. He also assisted in the Davis Cup team of his country that won in the end.
Arthur is certainly the only tennis player from the men’s side who has triumphed in both the Open National tournaments as well as the amateur in the same season.
Worried over the matter that tennis players were not getting winnings due with the game's increasing fame, Arthur backed the idea of establishing the Association of Tennis professionals. That season came out to be even more astonishing.
Needless to say that year would prove even more critical for Arthur when he was refused a visa by the government of South Africa therefore keeping the American tennis player away from the South African Open championship. Arthur made use of this refusal to advertise the official policy of South Africa. In front of the electronic media, Arthur stated that South Africa should be excluded from the professional circuit of the game of tennis.
Arthur Ashes turned pro back in 1969. Just after a year, the American tennis professional won the Australian Open title in 1970. Five years later in 1975, he triumphed at the grass court Grand Slam tournament, surprisingly knocking down Jimmy Connors in the final match at the All England Club. He did exhibit his wonderful show of tennis for many years, however as a result of heart problem in 1979; Arthur Robert Ashe announced his retirement from the professional game of tennis back in 1980.
He however has registered his name as the only African American player to ever grab the singles trophy at the grass court Grand Slam tournament, the Australian Open championship as well as the United States Open tournament. Arthur is certainly the one of only two players of black African dynasty to triumph in a major singles championship, the other player being Yannick Noah of France who triumphed as the French Open tournament back in 1983.
Jack Kramer who was also one of the best tennis professionals, in his autobiography back in 1979, stated about Arthur that he is one of the top twenty one tennis players of all times.
Ashe passed away from impediments from AIDS back in 1993. The Australian tennis ace suffered from toxoplasmosis however whether it was the cause of his death or not is still a riddle.
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