Arthur Ashe once said, "Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome." Ashe couldn't have represented this quote any better, as he overcame his trials and tribulations that lead to his success. As he experienced this odyssey, every step molded him into not only one of the tennis greats, but a true leader in society. His life was a journey indeed, a journey that paved the way for: tennis, African American athletes, the downfall of segregation, and AIDS studies. .
On July 10th 1943, tennis received one of the most significant contributions; Arthur Ashe was born. Arthur Ashe wasn't just one of the greatest players in tennis, he was one of the main reasons for tennis" success. Ashe picked up a racquet as early as seven when he became interested in tennis shortly after his mother Mattie Cunningham died. He started working his magic at the age of ten, when he caught the eye of part-time tennis coach, Ronald Charity. From there on out, Ashe started to take tennis seriously. Four years later, after being taken under Charity's wing, Ashe competed in the Maryland boy's championship. This was a huge accomplishment for Ashe, because he was the first African American to compete in this tournament and by doing so he was breaking down social barriers at the same time. His outstanding play wasn't unnoticed as he received a scholarship to play at UCLA (University of California at Los Angeles). At UCLA, Ashe's talent was recognized by the nation, as he won the intercollegiate singles title, intercollegiate doubles title and the NCAA men's single championship. After graduating college with a degree in business administration, Ashe took on the U.S. Open in 1968. He is still the only African American to do so. As the more events Arthur Ashe participated in, the larger the crowds would get. He brought much publicity to tennis due to his outstanding play. Ashe took the burden of tennis onto his shoulders in 1969, when he and several other players got together to form an organization that later became known as the ATP.
