Alec+Tzianabos

Arthur Robert Ashe junior was a man like no other. He was a tennis superstar in the 1960’s. But, he wasn’t just a tennis player. He was an African-American tennis player. In the 1960’s nobody thought that an African-American would ever be a professional athlete, and for a high class sport like tennis, no one thought it would happen. Arthur had changed the U.S.A by just playing his favorite sport. On the day of July 10, 1943, Arthur Robert Ashe Junior, was born Richmond, Virginia. He was born in a segregated hospital like all other black people. He was raised in Richmond Virginia where there was a lot of segregation, and racism for African-Americans. His father was a caretaker for Brook Field Public Park. It had a pool, basketball courts, baseball fields, and Arthur’s favorite, a tennis court. Arthur was a sick kid who had the measles, mumps, chickenpox, whooping cough, and diphtheria that made him very weak. But, when he was okay, he would go down to the courts and play tennis. Ashe was very good, but there was a problem with that. There weren’t a lot of good African-American Tennis players that Ashe could hit with. When Ashe was 7 years old, his mother died of toxemia, a blood poisoning disease. He wouldn’t go to the burial he was so sad. After that, he only focused on school and tennis.
 * __ Arthur Robert Ashe Junior __**

Ashe kept playing his best tennis, and went on to start playing tournaments. He began to win a lot and beat older competitors. He finally went to college at UCLA, which had one of the best tennis programs in the country. He won both doubles and singles tennis NCAA titles at UCLA. After Ashe graduated in 1966, with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration, he was inducted into the Army, which stalled his tennis career for a while. After getting back into his tennis career, Ashe started playing for the Davis Cup team for the U.S. He then started playing in the Professional Tennis Association. He won the 1969 U.S Open. In 1970, he won the Australian Open. In 1975, he had the toughest match of his career. Ashe had to play, Jimmy Connors, a young, strong player. Ashe had played him before, but lost to him 3 times. When he stepped onto the grass court at Wimbledon, he bowed to the Royal Box. Everyone expected Ashe to get creamed. Jimmy had even filed a lawsuit for libel. Ashe had not been guilty, and he kept his cool going into the match. It was a tough match, but Ashe took the victory, 6-1, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4. He finally became number one. This is the biggest reason why he had become famous. A black man from Richmond, Virginia, became the number one tennis player in the world was incredible after going threw segregation and racism. Arthur Ashe had done the near impossible. Despite the hatred and his mother’s death, he still became number one. He later commented “When I took the match point, all these years, all the effort, all the support I had received over the years had all come together.” He then went on to marry his love of his life, Jeanne Marie Moutoussamy in 1977. But, in 1979 he had a heart attack, and had to under go quadruple-bypass surgeries. After that he retired in 1980, and became the coach of the U.S Davis Cup tennis team. He also was a commentator for ABC and HBO. But, in 1983 he had to under go another bypass surgery. In 1985, he was inducted into the tennis Hall of Fame. But, then again in 1988, he needed another surgery on his brain, and they found a virus of AIDS. Ashe was a tennis player, but he was also very strong on political issues. He had a strong mind about many things, including the apartheid in South Africa. Back in 1985, he was arrested for protesting the country’s racism. He was again arrested for speaking out against President Bush’s policy regarding the treatment of Haitians refugee’s with HIV/AIDS. And on December 21st, 1986, Ashe’s daughter, Camera Ashe, was born. Finally, on February 6, 1993, Arthur Ashe died of AIDS related pneumonia. In 1996, Arthur Ashe monument was built in, Richmond, Virginia. And in 1997, in New York City the Arthur Ashe Stadium was open. Arthur Robert Ashe was a very influential person. The day I learned about this assignment, I was sitting on the couch watching the U.S Open when I saw Arthur Ashe Stadium. I wanted to do Arthur Ashe for my assignment because I was curious on why the stadium was named after him. After researching about him, I have learned that he was a great man and loved the game of tennis. He was also a man who spoke up for what he believed in. He was such a powerful man who has been through so much during his life. I now think that’s why the stadium was named after him.

Book: Arthur Ashe Tennis Great Place of publication: United States of America Publshing Company: Chelsea house publisher** Y**ear of publication: 1991**
 * Bibiliograpghy

Bibliography Title of encyclopedia: encyclopedia Americana Place of Publications: Farmington Hills Michigan Publishing Company: encyclopedia Americana corporations Year: 2004**
 * encyclopidia: Arthur Robert Ashe Jr.

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