Be a part of history as the Althea Gibson Community Education and Tennis Center, 10th and Girard Avenue in Philadelphia honors tennis great Angela Buxton on Friday, September 1 at noon. The event will feature tennis play, a special visit from Buxton the 1956 Wimbledon doubles champion and a bar be que tennis cookout to celebrate the 50th anniversary of her Wimbledon Championship.
Buxton became the first British women to reach a Wimbledon final in 17 years, when she teamed with Althea Gibson to win the Wimbledon Double Championship in 1956.
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| Angela Buxton |
Buxton was ranked fifth in the World in 1956, after capturing the Wimbledon Doubles and reaching the Singles finals, taking the English Indoor and London Grass Court Singles Championships, the English Hard Court Doubles crown with Darlene Hard, reaching the semifinals of the French Singles, and winning the French Open Doubles with Althea Gibson.
Buxton's road to success was hindered by her Jewish beliefs. She had difficulty developing her game because of anti-Semitism; young and talented, she was refused membership by many of London's premier clubs, because of her beliefs. The prejudice against her kept her from being paired with any of England's top players in doubles competition. Buxton joined forces with a young American Althea Gibson, an African-American shunned by her American teammates to become one of the most dominant pairs in the tennis history.
The Althea Gibson Community Education and Tennis Center, constructed by the Community Education and Tennis Association (CETA), is located in North Central Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at 10th and Girard Avenue. This year round facility is built on one-acre of land donated by the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia. The 21,080 sq. ft. Center, completed in June of 2003, boasts two indoor tennis courts, three lighted outdoor courts, a secured parking lot and 3,800 sq. ft. of space dedicated to educational programs.
The Althea Gibson Community Education and Tennis Center’s Mission is to promote sound minds and bodies for children ages 8 to 17 living in the area bounded by Spring Garden Street, Cecil B. Moore Avenue, 6th Street and Broad Street in Philadelphia.
Bring your racket and join us as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Althea Gibson’s Grand Slam wins.
RSVP by calling 215-232-7404