Arthur Robert Ashe (July 10, 1943 – February 6, 1993) was born in Richmond, Virginia. As a child growing up in segregated Richmond, Arthur’s physical stature did little to indicate his future career as a professional athlete. “Skinny as a straw,” Arthur derived countless hours of pleasure reading and listening to music with his mother, Mattie. He also showed a surprising flair for tennis from the first time he picked up a racquet. At the age of six, Mattie passed away suddenly. Though heartbroken, Arthur’s memory of his beloved mother was a source of inspiration throughout his life.

Arthur Ashe eventually became a professional tennis player and went on to win three Grand Slam singles titles. He was the first black player selected to the United States Davis Cup team and the only black man ever to win the singles title at Wimbledon, the US Open, and the Australian Open. He retired in 1980. He was ranked world No. 1 by Harry Hopman in 1968 and by Lance Tingay of The Daily Telegraph and World Tennis Magazine in 1975. In the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) computer rankings, he peaked at No. 2 in May 1976.

On February 6, 1993, Ashe died from AIDS-related pneumonia at New York Hospital at the age of 49. And on August 25, 1997, New York City opened and dedicated a stadium named after him that opened by hosting the US Open, with Whitney Houston singing "One Moment in Time" during the stadium's inauguration ceremonies dedicating the performance to the late Arthur Ashe.

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