Arthur Ashe Biography
Growing Up, Early Lessons, The Amateur Years, Chronology, Ranked Number One, Center Court
1943-1993
American tennis player
Arthur Ashe's 1993 memoir, aptly titled Days of Grace, is a reflection on his brief but rich life as a champion tennis player, a father, an African-American man, and a compassionate and courageous human being. As the first African American to win a major men's tennis title and to be ranked number one internationally, Ashe used his position and reputation to speak out against inequities not only in the world of professional sports, but also against injustices wherever he saw them. That would prove to be a sacrifice more than simply a good deed. Ashe himself admitted in 1989 that had he focused only on tennis he could have been a better competitor. At the same time, it was clear by his words and actions that he didn't want to be remembered only for all his "firsts" as a black athlete but also as an African-American man who had fulfilled his "duties as a citizen," as he noted in his memoir. When he died at age 49 of AIDS-related pneumonia, thousands of mourners from all over the world attended his funeral.
Sketch by Jane Summer
Additional topics
- Boris Becker Biography - Young Champion, Ups And Downs, Controversy Finds The Wunderkind, Chronology, Awards And Accomplishments
- Andre Agassi Biography - Tennis Prodigy, A Different Kind Of Pro, Difficult Years, A Rebirth, New Coach, New Triumphs
- Arthur Ashe - Growing Up
- Arthur Ashe - Early Lessons
- Arthur Ashe - The Amateur Years
- Arthur Ashe - Chronology
- Arthur Ashe - Ranked Number One
- Arthur Ashe - Center Court
- Arthur Ashe - Awards And Accomplishments
- Arthur Ashe - Back To Business
- Arthur Ashe - The Greatest Burden
- Arthur Ashe - Ashe's Legacy
- Arthur Ashe - Related Biography: Tennis Player Yannick Noah
- Arthur Ashe - Selected Writings By Ashe:
- Arthur Ashe - Further Information
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