Wilmington-local, Althea Gibson’s historic Wimbledon victory remembered 69 years later

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Monday marks 69 years since Althea Gibson became the first Black tennis player to win the singles title at the Wimbledon Championships, a groundbreaking achievement that helped break racial barriers in professional tennis.

Gibson successfully defended her Wimbledon singles title the following year, cementing her place among the sport’s all-time greats.

According to the Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame, Gibson lived in Wilmington from 1946 to 1949 and graduated from Williston High School.

Local leaders say her journey to tennis stardom was shaped by perseverance in the face of segregation. Sonya Patrick, with the Southeastern National Black Leadership Caucus, said Gibson was denied access to local white tennis courts and instead trained at the home of a local mentor.

“She was not allowed to play at New Hanover tennis court. I think that was available at the time, or any other white tennis courts,” Patrick said. “She had to play, she had to practice at Dr. Eaton’s home. He had a tennis court in his backyard. Dr. Eaton was a professional tennis player. So he was able to train her to be one of the greatest.”

Over the course of her career, Gibson won 11 Grand Slam titles, including championships at Wimbledon, the U.S. Open and the French Open in both singles and doubles, becoming one of the most influential pioneers in the history of the sport.