Arthur Ashe: He Couldn't Play on His City's Best Courts… Then Won Wimbledon

As a boy, he was not allowed to play on the best tennis courts in his own city.

In 1975, almost nobody thought he could beat the world's number one player.

This is the story of Arthur Ashe.

Welcome to brightlivesenglish.com, where we teach real English using real-life stories.

Segregated. A segregated place keeps people apart because of the colour of their skin.

In those days, Richmond's parks were segregated.

Court. A court is the area where you play tennis.

Black players were not allowed on the city's best courts.

Dignity. Dignity is a calm, proud way of acting that earns respect.

Arthur played with calm dignity.

Transfusion. A blood transfusion puts blood from one person into another.

After heart surgery, he was given a blood transfusion.

Awareness. Awareness means knowing about a problem.

He worked to raise awareness of AIDS.

Now, one pattern: the imperative for advice.

We use the verb with no subject to give advice or rules.

You should respect everyone.

Respect everyone, whether they respect you or not.

Ready? Let's begin.

Arthur Ashe was born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1943.

When he was six, his mother died.

His father looked after Brook Field, a park for Black families, and the family lived in a small house right next to its tennis courts.

In those days, Richmond's parks were segregated.

Black players were not allowed on the city's best courts, in Byrd Park.

So Arthur learned on the four courts at Brook Field.

His father was strict.

Arthur had ten minutes to get to school and ten minutes to get back, not eleven.

His father's rule for life was simple: "Respect everyone, whether they respect you or not."

Dr Robert Walter Johnson coached young Black players at his summer camp.

His rules were strict too.

Smile at your mistakes.

If a ball is just out, play it as good.

Turn the other cheek.

Arthur played with calm dignity.

In 1968, he won the US Open, one of the four biggest tournaments in tennis, and became the first Black man to win it.

As an amateur, he could not even take the prize money.

In 1975, at almost thirty-two, he reached the final at Wimbledon.

His opponent was Jimmy Connors, the young champion, and Arthur had never beaten him.

Almost nobody thought Arthur could win. Could he?

His friends helped him make a plan.

Chip the ball soft and low.

Don't give him any pace. Serve wide.

At every break, Arthur read the plan on a small folded sheet of paper.

Then he sat still with his eyes closed.

It worked. Connors could not find his rhythm.

Arthur won the first two sets easily, lost the third, and won the fourth.

He was the first Black man to win the men's singles at Wimbledon.

In 1979, he had a heart attack, and soon he stopped playing.

In 1983, after heart surgery, he was given a blood transfusion.

Years later, doctors discovered that the blood had carried HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

In 1992, he told the world.

He spoke at the United Nations and worked to raise awareness of AIDS.

He died in February 1993, aged forty-nine.

Today, the main stadium of the US Open carries his name.

And in Richmond, the city that once kept him off its best courts, a statue of Arthur Ashe now stands.

Let's review. In those days, Richmond's parks were segregated.

Black players were not allowed on the city's best courts.

Arthur played with calm dignity.

After heart surgery, he was given a blood transfusion.

He worked to raise awareness of AIDS.

And remember: respect everyone, whether they respect you or not.

Arthur Ashe's story teaches us: calm dignity can be stronger than anger.

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