Fast Facts

BIRTH NAME: Arthur Robert Ashe

BIRTH DATE: July 10th, 1943
BIRTH PLACE: Richmond, Virginia
DEATH DATE: February 6, 1993
DEATH PLACE: New York Hospital-Cornell Medical center in Manhattan
BURIAL PLACE: Woodland Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia

NATIONALITY: American
ETHNICITY: African American
HEIGHT: 6'1"
WEIGHT: 160
HAIR COLOR: Brown
EYES COLOR: Brown

PLAYS: Right
TURNED PRO: 1969
RETIRED: 1980
HIGHEST SINGLES RANKING: #1 in the world (1968 and 1975)
SINGLES TITLES: 34

EDUCATION: Bachelor of Science – Business Administration – UCLA – Graduated 1966
OCCUPATIONS: Tennis player, journalist, television commentator, writer, activist, served in the US Army from 1966-1968, during which he became First Lieutenant.

PARENTS: Arthur Ashe, Sr. and Mattie Ashe
SIBLINGS: Brother, Captain Johnnie Ashe
SPOUSE: Jeanne Marie Moutoussamy
CHILDREN: daughter Camera Elizabeth

OTHER FAST FACTS

• Arthur graduated 1st in his class in high school.

• Arthur is the only black male tennis player to win Wimbledon (1975) and the U.S. Open (1968).

• “A Hard Road To Glory,” Ashe’s three-volume history of the African-American athlete that chronicles progress made and obstacles overcome from the period 1619-1918, was published in 1988 and soon thereafter adapted for television, ultimately winning an EMMY Award.

• Ashe had over 800 wins in his amazing career on the tennis courts

• Received honorary doctorates from numerous higher institutions during his lifetime from Dartmouth College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Princeton University, Saint John’s University, Trinity University, Hartford College, and Virginia Union University.

• A total of 11,000 people attended his funeral in Richmond and his memorial service in New York City.

• Spotted the talents of Yannick Noah while on a three-week, goodwill tour of Africa in 1971, and arranged for Noah to be sent to France to further develop his game. Yannick Noah went on to win the French Open, a Grand Slam event.

• Served in the US Army from 1966-1968, during which he became First Lieutenant

• The centerpiece of a $254 million expansion of the National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y., Arthur Ashe Stadium hosted its first U.S. Open in 1997. The U.S. Tennis Association announced the stadium's name at a February 1997 press conference. With 23,000 seats, the stadium towers over neighboring Louis Armstrong Stadium, the setting for the finals from 1978-96. Previously, the Open was played at the West Side Tennis Club in nearby Forest Hills, N.Y.

• First African-American ever picked for US Davis Cup team (1963)

• Received the 1964 Johnston Award, a prestigious honor awarded annually to the American tennis player who contributes the most to the growth of the sport while exhibiting good sportsmanship and character.

• Won NCAA individual and team (UCLA) championships (1965)

• Won three Grand Slam singles titles: 1968 US Open, 1970 Australian Open, and 1975 Wimbledon, during 10-year playing career (1969-1979)

• Elected as President of ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) in 1974.

• First (and only) African-American to be ranked #1 tennis player in the world.

• Selected as captain of Davis Cup team in 1981.

• Inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 1985.

• Named Sport Illustrated 1992 Sportsman of the Year.

• Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient.