Arthur Ashe
Arthur Ashe, winning the 1975 ABN World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam
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| Country (sports) |
 United States
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|---|---|
| Born |
July 10, 1943 Richmond, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | February 6, 1993 (aged 49) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Turned pro | 1969 |
| Retired | 1981 |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Prize money | US$ 1,584,909 (ATP) |
| Int. Tennis HoF | 1985 (member page) |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 649–212 |
| Career titles | 33 (Grand Prix, WCT and Grand Slam) |
| Highest ranking | No. 1 (1968, Harry Hopman) No. 2 (May 12, 1976) by ATP |
| Grand Slam Singles results | |
| Australian Open | W (1970) |
| French Open | QF (1970, 1971) |
| Wimbledon | W (1975) |
| US Open | W (1968) |
| Other tournaments | |
| Tour Finals | F (1978) |
| WCT Finals | W (1975) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 323–176 |
| Career titles | 18 (14 Grand Prix and WCT titles) |
| Highest ranking | No. 15 (August 30, 1977) |
| Grand Slam Doubles results | |
| Australian Open | W (1977) |
| French Open | W (1971) |
| Wimbledon | F (1971) |
| US Open | F (1968) |
| Team competitions | |
| Davis Cup | W (1963, 1968, 1969, 1970) |
Arthur Robert Ashe, Jr. (July 10, 1943 – February 6, 1993) was an American World No. 1 professional tennis player. He won three Grand Slam titles.
Ashe was the first black player selected to the United States Davis Cup team and the only black man ever to win the singles title at Wimbledon, the US Open, and the Australian Open. He retired in 1980. He was ranked World No. 1 by Harry Hopman in 1968 and by Lance Tingay of The Daily Telegraph and World Tennis Magazine in 1975. In the ATP computer rankings, he peaked at No. 2 in May 1976.
In the early 1980s, Ashe is believed to have contracted HIV from a blood transfusion he received during heart bypass surgery. Ashe publicly announced his illness in April 1992 and began working to educate others about HIV and AIDS. He founded the Arthur Ashe Foundation for the Defeat of AIDS and the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health before his death from AIDS-related pneumonia on February 6, 1993.
On June 20, 1993, Ashe was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by the United States President Bill Clinton.
Arthur Ashe was born in Richmond, Virginia, to Arthur Ashe Sr. and Mattie Cordell Cunningham Ashe on July 10, 1943. He had a brother, Johnnie, who was five years younger. In March 1950, Ashe's mother Mattie died from complications related to a toxemic pregnancy (now known as pre-eclampsia) at the age of 27. Ashe and his brother were raised by their father who worked as a handyman and salaried caretaker-Special Policeman for Richmond's recreation department.
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