Tennis officials aren't sure how much of that is due to the Williamses' dynamic blend of power, enthusiasm, and flashy fashion sense. Despite the current influence of the Williams sisters, many are quick to point out that tennis in the inner city had been growing for years before Serena and Venus burst onto the scene with their beaded hair and mighty forehands. And they were not the first great US tennis players who happened to be from a minority community. Althea Gibson was the first black athlete, male or female, to be allowed to play in United States Lawn Tennis Association tournaments, beginning in 1950. She won nearly 100 professional titles during the course of her career and took home five Grand Slam crowns, including the US Open and Wimbledon.
Kids play tennis at the Bronx International Youth Tennis Center in New York.
One-quarter of America's new tennis players in 1999 were black. Along with others, they founded the National Junior Tennis League in 1969. But Ashe and Pasarell both envisioned the organization as more than a way to expand the demographic base of the sport. During an era of racial tumult and social unrest, the two men hoped their tennis organization could bring character development and educational opportunities. Even so, for Daisy, Venus Williams has been the sport's biggest draw.