Black Tennis Pros

Leeds Mercury. June 25, 1924. pic.twitter.com/pV4rSanIml

— Hyder Jawád (@HyderJawad) October 22, 2019

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American Serena Williams into 2019 U.S. Open to vie for 24th Grand Slam title.

What can you say??...  There's nothing new here.  American Serena Williams holds 23 Grand Slam titles, she just earned her 100th match victory at this event, and to top all of that, she's now a wife and a mother. #ThisMama  The elements of the journey that she is on are only satisfied when she achieves her best in all aspects.

On Day 10 of the 2019 U.S. Open, in the semi-final 6-3, 6-1 defeat of Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, Serena made her efforts look so common.  Elina Svitolina certainly made an attempt to overcome the strategies coming across that net, but her efforts were to no avail.

Watching Serena play in this year's Open you can practically see a return to the mental calm, focus and determination that had previously been frustrated by injuries and losses.  Tonight's win over Svitolina did one thing, open another door to a place where Serena enjoys excellence - a grand slam final.

"I don't think about it, I just come out here and, you know, do what I can."

"I couldn't have done it without this crowd, you guys are... literally.  Been with me for twenty years and I'm still here, so."

"Yeah, you know, I ahh, this is the biggest stadium for tennis period, in the whole planet, so... I, I think of it that way.  And if you think about it that way, it's such an honor for me and my opponent to be out here and play in front of these crowds. They come to watch us, and like, it's amazing. And so, I really enjoy it.  I enjoy the opportunity to be out here, and you know, just to do my best."

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FLUSHING, N.Y., September 5, 2019 – World No. 1 and 2018 US Open champion Naomi Osaka and 2019 US Open quarterfinalist Diego Schwartzman were awarded the women’s and men’s 2019 US Open Sportsmanship Award, respectively, on Thursday. The award is presented to the professional tennis players who best demonstrate excellence in sportsmanship throughout the US Open Series and the US Open.

"Naomi and Diego are both tremendous competitors and athletes, but at this year's US Open, and throughout the entire summer, they have demonstrated a level of sportsmanship that is even more impressive than their play on the court," said Todd Martin, co-chair of the US Open Sportsmanship Award Selection Committee.  "We are incredibly pleased to present them with this year's US Open Sportsmanship Awards, and thank them for being true role models and inspirations for all those that play the game."

Eligibility requirements for winners include participating in at least two Series tournaments, as well as the 2019 US Open. Each US Open Sportsmanship Award winner receives a trophy and a $5,000 donation to the charity of his or her choice.

The USTA started a Sportsmanship Committee in 2011. Its charge is to “educate and inspire youngsters and their parents to develop and exhibit a high degree of sportsmanship and an attitude of fair play and mutual respect on and off the tennis court. Underlying the charge is the ethical imperative that fairness is more important than winning.”

The USTA Sportsmanship Award Selection Committee is comprised of USTA representatives, former players and journalists, including Co-Chairs Todd Martin and Lars Rosene, Jon Vegosen, Mary Carillo, Mary Joe Fernandez, Chanda Rubin, Joel Drucker, Steve Flink and Matt Cronin.

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That was quick!

On Day 9 in the quarterfinal round of 2019 U.S. Open, Serena Williams summarily dismissed Qiang Wang of China in 44 minutes, to the tune of 6-1, 6-0.  Ouch!

Wang clearly had a clinic run on her, however, it appears that she could use some additional weapons in
her game.  Her ability to defend Serena's tremendously offensive game was unfortunately very inept.  Given Wang's recent record, perhaps nerves or something got the better of her this evening.

This quarterfinal match acquired so much more than a spot in the semifinals against Ukrainian Elina Svitolina.  In front of a staggering crowd, celebrities and her family, Serena earned an incredible 100th match win at the U.S. Open.

"I love what I do, I love coming out in front with you guys. It's so special, I never want to let it go.

When asked if she felt like she should sing the Elton John song, "I'm Still Standing," Serena gave the interviewer a peculiar look, "Oh God, I thought you were going to ask me to sing. Listen, I'm not trying to lose fans, I'm trying to keep them on my side."

"Being American, and being able to play at your home grand slam is always interesting and fun. I grew up watching the U.S. Open and I grew up always wanting to get here and then I watched so many great champions come, and then Arthur Ashe Stadium opened and I played on it. It's like a dream come true, it's the first place I ever won one of my 23 grand slams, so it's always something special to come out on this court."

An interviewer stated, "As a parent, I've wondered if you have a new appreciation, or a deeper appreciation for what your father envisioned and the goals he set for you."

"Yeah, my Dad is amazing, personally I could never have done what he has done, not only with myself, but with Venus.  It's shocking, and as a parent, to do something every single day is very difficult, and, I can't do something with my daughter every single day.

"I remember being young, and everyday we went out and we trained and we practiced and we didn't miss a day, and to have that discipline actually makes me look at myself as a player, as a parent, and just really appreciate my dad so much more than I ever have in the past.  It just makes me see it totally different.  And, I love him to death, and he's watching all my matches, he's probably already texting me right now, like, you know Serena, you need to do this a little bit more', and I'm like okay dad I got this..."

"I'll see what he says today, but I always still take his advice. You know, he's my dad and I love him to death.

 

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After defeating 15-year-old American Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka not only hugged and comforted her at the net, but shortly thereafter walked over to not only reach out and console the tearful teen, but convinced her to jointly participate in the post-match on court interview.

Mary Jo Fernandez began the interview stating, "Coco, this crowd absolutely loves you. Tell us what Naomi told you at the net."  Gauff replied, "She told me that I did amazing and good luck. And then she asked if I could do the on court interview with her, and I said no, because I knew I was gonna cry the whole time, but she encouraged me to do it."

When asked what the experience had been like playing against Osaka, "I mean it was amazing, I mean she did amazing and I'm gonna learn a lot from this match, and she's been so sweet to me, so thank you for this."

"Once again, thank you Naomi, I don't want people to think that I'm trying to take this moment away from her, because she really deserves it, so thank you."

As Gauff turned and began to walk way, Osaka walked over to give her yet another big sister type of hug.  If you managed not to grab your heart or shed a tear in this moment, you're strong!

Fernandez then addressed Osaka, "You're a class act.  You're used to being the young one, what's it like now being the veteran and mentoring someone, like Coco."

"I don't think I'm a mentor.  I just want to say, if they're still here, you guys raised an amazing player.
I remember I used to see you guys, I don't want to cry ... I remember... I used to see you guys... sorry."

Osaka then began crying as she was speaking to Gauff's parents.  The emotion of this night was unbelieveably palpable.

"I remember I used to see you guys training in the same place as us, and for me, like the fact that both of us made it, and we're both still working as hard as we can, I think it's incredible and I think you guys are amazing, I think Coco you're amazing.

Osaka also said, "I think the energy was crazy, even though it wasn't for me.

Osaka's mother Tamaki, and both of Gauff's parents looked on with so much love, support and adoration on their faces for both of these young ladies.  This is definitely a moment that neither the players, their parents or a single person in the crowd will ever forget.

Nor will I.

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A moment that transcends the sport...#USOpen 🙌 pic.twitter.com/dBQC3EUWX6

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 1, 2019

WOMEN'S SINGLES FINAL

Serena Williams, USA(8)  vs.  Bianca Andreescu, CAN(15)


WOMEN'S SINGLES SEMI-FINALS

Serena Williams, USA(8)  def.  Elina Svitolina, UKR   6-3, 6-1


WOMEN'S SINGLES QUARTERFINALS

Serena Williams, USA(8)  def.  Qiang Wang, CHN(18)   6-1, 6-0


WOMEN'S SINGLES ROUND 4

Serena Williams, USA(8) def. Petra Martic, CRO   6-3, 6-4

Madison Keys, USA(10)  def. by  Elina Svitolina, UKR(5)   5-7, 4-6

Taylor Townsend, USA vs. Bianca Andreescu, CAN(15)

Naomi Osaka, JPN(1)  def. by  Belinda Bencic, CHE(13)   5-7, 4-6


WOMEN'S SINGLES ROUND 3

Naomi Osaka, JPN(1)  def.  Coco Gauff, USA   6-3, 6-0

Taylor Townsend, USA def. Sorana Cirstea, ROM   7-5, 6-2

Madison Keys, USA(10)  def. Sofia Kenin, USA(20)   6-3, 7-5

Serena Williams, USA(8)  def.  Karolina Muchova, CZE   6-3, 6-2

American Serena Williams on Day 5 of 2019 U.S. Open

- Twenty years ago at the U.S. Open, Serena Williams won the first of her six women's singles titles at the age 17.

- Madison Keys wasn't feeling her best during her third round defeat of American Sofia Kenin. She underwent a courtside doctor's visit during a changeover.


WOMEN'S SINGLES ROUND 2

Naomi Osaka, JPN(1)  def.  Magda Linette, POL   6-2, 6-4

Coco Gauff, USA  def.  Timea Babos, HUN   6-2, 4-6, 6-4

Taylor Townsend, USA  def. Simona Halep (ROM)   2-6, 6-3, 7(4)-6

Venus Williams, USA  def. by  Elina Svitolina, UKR(5)   4-6, 4-6

 Madison Keys, USA(10)  def.  Lin Zhu, CHN   6-4, 6-1

Serena Williams, USA(8)  def.  Catherine McNally, USA   5-7, 6-3, 6-1

American Taylor Townsend in 2019 U.S. Open 2nd Round Defeating Romanian Simona Halep

WOMEN'S SINGLES ROUND ONE

Naomi Osaka, JPN(1) def. Anna Blinkova, RUS   6-4, 6-7(5), 6-2

Coco Gauff, USA  def.  Anastasia Potapova, RUS   3-6, 6-2, 6-4

Taylor Townsend, USA  def.  Kateryna Kozlova, UKR   3-6, 6-3, 6-2

Sloane Stephens, USA  def. by  Anna Kalinskaya, RUS   3-6, 4-6

Whitney Osuigwe, USA  def. by  Elina Svitolina, UKR   1-6, 5-7

Venus Williams, USA  def.  Saisai Zheng, CHN   6-1, 6-0

Madison Keys, USA(10)  def.  Misaki Doi, 7-5, 6-0

Serena Williams, USA(8)  def. Maria Sharapova, RUS   6-1, 6-1


WOMEN'S DOUBLES ROUND THREE

 Coco Gauff, USA and Catherine McNally, USA   6-0, 6-1
                                   def. by
Victoria Azarenka, BLR and Ashleigh Barty, AUS


WOMEN'S DOUBLES ROUND TWO

Coco Gauff, USA and Catherine McNally, USA   6-3, 7(11)-6(9)
                                  def. 
Nicole Melichar, USA(9) and Kveta Peschke, CZE

Taylor Townsend, USA and Whitney Osuigwe, USA   4-6, 2-6
                                  def. by
Viktoria Kuzmova, SVK and Aliaksandra Sasnovich, BLR


WOMEN'S DOUBLES ROUND ONE

Coco Gauff, USA and Catherine McNally, USA   7(8)-6(6), 6-2
                                  def.
Julia Goerges, GER and Katerina Siniakova, CZE

Hailey Baptiste, USA and Emma Navarro, USA   4-6, 7(7)-6(4), 1-6
                                 def by.
Kristie Ahn, USA and Christina McHale, USA

Taylor Townsend, USA and Whitney Osuigwe, USA   6-2, 6-3
                                   vs.
Bianca Andreescu, CAN and Sharon Fichman, CAN

Asia Muhammad, USA and Raquel Atawo, USA   3-6, 6-4, 2-6
                                 def. by
Daria Kasatkina, RUS and Anett Kontaveit, EST

LAMONF does it!@Gael_Monfils celebrates in serious style after a 5-set thriller over Shapovalov...#USOpen pic.twitter.com/HRJX7sRrgs

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 1, 2019

 
MEN'S SINGLES QUARTERFINALS

Gael Monfils, FRA(13)  def. by  Matteo Berrettini, ITA   6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-(5)-7(7)


MEN'S SINGLES ROUND FOUR

Gael Monfils, FRA(13)  def.  Pablo Andujar, ESP   6-1, 6-2, 6-2


MEN'S SINGLES ROUND THREE

Gael Monfils, FRA(13)  def.  Denis Shapovalov, CAN   6(5)-7(7), 7(7)-6(4), 6-4, 6(6)-7(8), 6-3


MEN'S SINGLES ROUND TWO

Gael Monfils, FRA(13)  def.  Marius Copil, ROM   6-3, 6-2, 6-2

Frances Tiafoe, USA  def. by  Alexander Zverev, GER   3-6, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2, 3-6


MEN'S SINGLES ROUND ONE

Christopher Eubanks, USA  def. by  Cristian Garin, CHL   6-3, 6-7(5), 4-6, 7(4)-6, 3-6

Gael Monfils, FRA  def.  Albert Ramos-Vinolas, ESP   7(2)-6, 6-4, 6-3

Felix Auger-Aliassime, CAN(18)  def. by  Denis Shapovalov, CAN 1-6, 1-6, 4-6

Frances Tiafoe, USA  def.  Ivo Karlovic, HRV   6-2, 6-3, 1-2(Retired)

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, FRA  def. by  Tennys Sandgren,USA   6-1, 7(2)-6, 4-6, 6-7(5), 5-7


MEN'S DOUBLES ROUND TWO

Evan King, USA and Hunter Reese, USA   4-6, 2-6
                                  def. by
Marcel Granollers, ESP(8) and Horacio Zeballos, ARG(8)

Raven Klaasen, ZAF(3) and Michael Venus, NZL(3)   4-6, 6-0, 4-6
                                   def. by
Miomir Kecmanovic, SRB and Casper Rudd, NOR


MEN'S DOUBLES ROUND ONE

Nicholas Monroe, USA and Tennys Sandren, USA   5-7, 6-3, 3-6
                               def. by
Radu Albot, MOL and Malek Jaziri, TUN

Evan King, USA and Hunter Reese, USA   6-3, 6(5)-7(7), 7(7)-6(2)
                                 def.
Alexander Bublik, KAZ and John Millman, AUS

Raven Klaasen, ZAF(3) and Michael Venus, NZL(3)   6-2, 6-1
                                 def.
Adrian Mannarino, FRA and Gilles Simon, FRA


MIXED DOUBLES ROUND THREE

Raquel Atawo, USA and Fabrice Martin, FRA   6(3)-7(7) [10], 6-3 [3]
                               def. by
Latisha Chan, TWN(4) and Ivan Dodig, HRV(4)


MIXED DOUBLES ROUND TWO

Raquel Atawo, USA and Fabrice Martin, FRA   7-5, 7(7)-6(4)
                                 def.
Abigail Spears, USA and Rohan Bopanna, IND

 
MIXED DOUBLES ROUND ONE

Hailey Baptiste, USA and Jenson Brooksby, USA   2-6, 2-6
                                 def. by
Desirae Krawczyk, USA  and Joe Salisbury, GBR

Raquel Atawo, USA and Fabrice Martin, FRA   2-6, 6(10)-4(8)
                                     def.
Anna-Lena Groenefeld, GER(7) and Oliver Marach, AUT(7)

Asia Muhammad, USA and Austin Krajicek, USA   5-7, 4-6
                                    def. by
Demi Schuurs, NLD(6) and Henri Kontinen, FIN(6)

Nicholas Monroe, USA and Danielle Collins, USA   2-6, 2-6
                                   def. by
Hayley Carter, USA and Jackson Withrow, USA

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Althea Gibson Monument Unveiled On Day One of 2019 U.S. Open

The historic occasion of  the Althea Gibson Statue Unveiling on Monday, September 26, 2019, the first day of the U.S. Open, raised so many different levels of thoughts and feelings.  The day was beautiful, the weather was good and the crowd was large, we were about to witness a tremendous turn around in the consistent lack of preservation and honor that Ms. Gibson has long deserved.

The greatness that Ms. Gibson brought to the Black community, the tennis world and America should have already afforded her legacy the dignity and respect that many who have done far less have already received.

This incredible Black woman was the first to break the color barrier of the United States Lawn Tennis Association (USLTA) in 1950, and played in the U. S. National Tennis Championships in Forest Hills. She became the first African-American player to play in Wimbledon in 1951. She won the French Open Championship in 1956. Ms. Gibson won the U.S. National Championships and Wimbledon in 1957 and 1958. These victories were especially historic because the winner’s trophy was presented to her by Queen Elizabeth.

Ms. Gibson also broke the color barrier in golf, launching her golf career in 1964 and joining the
Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA).

On the day of the Unveiling, Immediate Past United States Tennis Association (USTA) President Katrina Adams, and former tennis professionals Leslie Allen and Zina Garrison, all gave tribute to, and discussed the depth of what Ms. Gibson meant to them and the role that her mentorship played in their becoming successful players. Witnessing these Black women honor the fact that had there been no Althea Gibson, they would not be where they are today, paid well deserved, respectful and loving tribute to yet another history making and door opening Black American woman.

American tennis great Billie Jean King, Angela Buxton, Ms. Gibson's former doubles partner, and the creator of the monument, Eric Goulder, also discussed and paid wonderful tribute to Ms. Gibson. Of particular note was Mr. Goulder's detailing of his concept in creating the monument.  During an interview he talked about, "The bust portion sitting atop a box, the box representing the box that the world tried to keep her in, and her now sitting atop that box she is depicted having broken out of it." And that, "Her shoulder is especially depicted in the way that it is, because so many now stand on it."

Talking to Mr. Goulder brought so much more conceptual meaning to his work. Upon returning to the statue, I now saw it in a totally different light, and was also spiritually enlightened by it.

Ms. Buxton shared shared memories of her long-time friend. “We won both the French and Wimbledon doubles together with my arm around her both times at the closing ceremonies … She slowly became the Jackie Robinson of tennis and I was soon referred to as the Pee Wee Reese, who without saying a word indicated ‘This is my friend.’”


The sculpture also will activate an augmented reality experience. Developed by MRM/McCann, visitors will be able to activate exclusive content about Althea Gibson’s life and legacy by focusing the Augmented Reality (AR) Viewfinder found within the 2019 US Open app onto the sculpture.  Narrated by Billie Jean King, the additional AR experience traces Althea’s humble roots, her early interest and involvement in tennis, her career and her legacy through video footage, photos and graphics.  Fans can also view the AR experience anywhere by using the APP to place a full-size 3D “hologram” of the sculpture into their surroundings and re-live the experience again or for the very first time.component that brings Gibson's life and career to life for fans on site during the Open via the US Open mobile app.

This honor that the USTA has bestowed upon Ms. Gibson shines such a brighter light on the historic and current day value of the life of Althea Gibson. Later in the day, I stood and watched people of many different cultures stop and observe the monument, take photos in front of it or standing beside it, and reading her quote that is engraved on one of the surrounding granite blocks, "I hope that I have accomplished just one thing: that I have been a credit to tennis and my country.

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The 2019 U.S. Open Fan Week Qualifying Tournament is now over, and the die is cast.  Amongst those who survived the Tournament is American Taylor Townsend. She was able to come back from a set down and take out Serbian Nina Stojanovic 3-6, 7-6, 6-1. Fan support on Court 4 was strong for Townsend.

Townsend will begin her trek through the main draw on Tuesday, August 27th against Ukrainian Kateryna Kozlova.

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