History of the American Tennis Association
Learn about the oldest continually active African American tennis organization in the United States
American Tennis Association Bulletin (1957) by American Tennis AssociationInternational Tennis Hall of Fame
The Origin Story
On Thanksgiving Day in 1916, members from several major Black tennis clubs gathered at the YMCA in Washington D.C. and officially founded the American Tennis Association, partially in response to the USTLA's banning of African American players from their tournaments.
The inaugural ATA Tournament was held at Druid Hill Park in Baltimore, Maryland, in August 1917. Thirty-nine competitors came from thirty-three different clubs. Tally Holmes became the first Men’s Singles champion, and Miss Lucy Diggs Slowe captured the Women’s Singles event.
The American Tennis Association Ninth Annual Championships Program (1925) by American Tennis Association (ATA)International Tennis Hall of Fame
A Growing Organization
As the ATA grew each year, their annual national championship tournament did too. The 9th edition of the tournament was held at the Manual Training and Industrial School of the State of New Jersey. This began the tradition of a Black college or university hosting the tournament.
Williams Cup (American Tennis Association) (1930) by Tiffany & CoInternational Tennis Hall of Fame
The Williams Cup
Each year at the tournament, the singles champions of the CIAA (Colored [now Central] Intercollegiate Athletic Association) and the SIAC (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) would compete at the ATA Championships on behalf of their university for the Williams Cup.
By 1949, The ATA was composed of fifteen associations with 134 clubs across the country, and began to produce players who would compete and achieve great success at the highest international competitions around the world, including Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe.
Althea Gibson preparing to hit a shotInternational Tennis Hall of Fame
In 1950, Althea Gibson officially broke the "color line" with her participation in the U.S. National Championships, in part due to the advocacy of several prominent ATA officials.
She won her first major just a few years later in 1956 at the French National Championships, becoming the first Black person to win a major.
Arthur Ashe at the US Open (1968)International Tennis Hall of Fame
A few years later in 1968, Arthur Ashe followed suit, becoming the first Black man to win a major title at the U.S. Open.
American Lawn Tennis, Vol. 38, No. 10, Pages 1-32International Tennis Hall of Fame
American Lawn Tennis and the ATA
Throughout the years of American Lawn Tennis, the magazine regularly featured updates from the ATA, including tournament scores, ranking updates, and information from a variety of ATA clubs around the country.
American Lawn Tennis, Vol. 44, No. 9, Pages 1-32International Tennis Hall of Fame
Letter to the Editor
In 1950, ATA Executive Secretary Bertram Baker utilized the wide readership of ALT to correct misinformation about ATA policy, stating that players of any race are eligible to compete in ATA, citing Alice Marble and others as examples of the ATA's longstanding inclusive policy.
Zina Garrison-Jackson at Wimbledon (1994) by Carol NewsomInternational Tennis Hall of Fame
The ATA continued to produce high-caliber players including more recent Wimbledon finalists Zina Garrison and MaliVai Washington.
MaliVai Washington at Wimbledon (1985/1995) by John RussellInternational Tennis Hall of Fame
The ATA is a thriving tennis organization today, operating as the oldest continually active African American sports organization in the United States.
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