The 2025 U.S. Open in Flushing, New York marked the 75th anniversary of Althea Gibson’s historic debut, highlighting her role as the first Black athlete to break the color barrier in professional tennis. Gibson, a Florida A&M University (FAMU) alumna who attended on a tennis scholarship, became a trailblazer in the sport after turning professional in 1950 and later won five Grand Slam singles titles, including back-to-back victories at both the U.S. Open and Wimbledon in 1957 and 1958.
To commemorate this milestone, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) dedicated significant portions of this year’s tournament to celebrating Gibson’s achievements and legacy. The event continued its tradition of recognizing Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), with HBCU Live events having been featured at the U.S. Open since 2020.
On August 22, members of FAMU’s Beta Alpha Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., performed at a celebration honoring Gibson. The event was hosted by alumni Rashan Ali with DJ Radio Champ providing music. The FAMU Women’s Tennis team also participated under Head Coach Rochelle “Nikki” Houston.
During the second round on August 27, FAMU’s Marching “100,” recognized as ESPN Band of the Year, performed multiple times throughout the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center to welcome attendees arriving for matches. With daily attendance surpassing 100,000 patrons, these performances were scheduled during peak entry periods.
Throughout the facility, displays featuring Gibson’s image were prominent. The official logo for this year’s tournament incorporated a silhouette of Gibson set against a blue tennis court background. Merchandise such as posters and coffee mugs bearing this design was available at souvenir shops.
Additional elements from FAMU included sets by DJs “DJ Bo Weezy,” “DJ Nyla,” “DJ Toure,” and “DJ R-tistic” outside Arthur Ashe Stadium, while “DJ Fly Guy” provided music inside.
That evening saw FAMU President Marva Johnson J.D., join celebrations as both the Marching “100” and FAMU Cheerleaders performed on center court at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Led by head drum major Oluwamodupe Oloyede and directed by Shelby Chipman, their performance received strong applause from those in attendance. Many FAMU alumni took part in photo opportunities with band members.
President Johnson also participated in officiating duties for one of the night’s key matches between Mattia Bellucci and Carlos Alcaraz by tossing the coin alongside Oloyede at center court; Alcaraz went on to win in straight sets.
Florida A&M University joined others in honoring Althea Gibson for her lasting impact on sports history: “As the U.S. Open celebrates her legacy, Florida A&M University proudly joins in honoring Althea Gibson — a Rattler whose vision, resilience and excellence changed the course of sports history.”
