Althea

"""A captivating book that brilliantly reveals an American sports legend long overlooked. Sally Jacobs tells the riveting story of Althea Gibson, my personal shero, who overcame daunting odds - on the tennis court and off - to stand at the world pinnacle of her sport and became an inspiration to many."" -- Billie Jean King ""Althea was truly a multi-hyphenate before that term came to be. Her name has often been listed in conversations about trailblazers and greats, but she was, in fact, one of one. As an African American female tennis player who won the US Open 60 years after Althea won the US Nationals, I recognize the opportunities this sport has provided me thanks to the courageous life of Althea Gibson. I was captivated by this book and by the historical context of Althea's achievements, her challenges, and ultimately her determination both on and off the court."" -- Sloane Stephens ""A gripping biography that tells the inspirational story of one of America's greatest unsung athletes who was a model not only to me but many others on the court. I might not have accomplished what I did without her opening the door. Let this masterful account move others to aspire to greatness."" -- Katrina M. Adams, Executive Director, Harlem Junior Tennis & Education Program, vice president of the International Tennis Federation, former President and CEO of the United States Tennis Association, and a former WTA Tour Player. ""A comprehensive and elegantly written life of Althea Gibson, one of the greatest athletes America has produced ... An essential book about an incomparably authentic American pioneer and the times in which she lived."" -- Kirkus (starred review) ""In tennis, love means nothing. But love is everything when it comes to Sally Jacobs and her deft handling of Althea Gibson's remarkable life and legacy. That sensitivity is most impressive when tackling Althea's often turbulent days in Harlem, and Jacobs smartly evokes the give and take between a budding tennis star and her historic community. To return to tennis terminology: Jacobs aces this biography."" --Herb Boyd, author of Pound for Pound--A Biography of Sugar Ray Robinson ""Althea Gibson was difficult to know and even more difficult to understand. Sally Jacobs has carefully documented the important events in Gibson's career, bringing to light many details not previously reported while providing the historical context for the challenges she faced. The reader surely will come away with the sober understanding of the societal barriers a young, Black woman faced trying to gain entrance into a white dominated sport. Althea is a marvelous achievement."" --Gary Cogar, former museum director of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, exhibition developer of the 2007 US Open exhibit Breaking the Barriers: A History of Black Tennis, and former board member of the Black Tennis Hall of Fame"