Yet another black female who was a pioneer in the sports world was Tennis player Ora Washington, who won her first American Tennis Association singles title in 1929. She defended the title for the following seven years, until 1936 where she lost, then regained the crown in 1937. Washington’s seven consecutive wins were a record until 1947, when it was broken by Althea Gibson, who ended up winning 10 straight titles.
ALSO!
Did you know: At the 2000 Olympic games in Sydney, Australia, Venus and Serena Williams teamed up and won the doubles gold medal? They were the first pair of sisters to accomplish this milestone, and repeated it in 2008.
Great fact! I didn’t know about Ora Washington. Most people talk more about Althea Gibson as the first African-American female tennis star before the coming of Williams sisters. Thanks!