American Masters - Season 29 - Eps 6: Althea
This is the story of Althea Gibson (1927-2003), a truant from the rough streets of Harlem, who emerged as the unlikely queen of the highly segregated tennis world in the 1950s. She was the first African American to play and win at Wimbledon and the U.S. Nationals (precursor of the U.S. Open) — a decade before Arthur Ashe. Interviewees include Wimbledon champion Dick Savitt and Billie Jean King.
About American Masters

Title: American Masters
First Air Date: 1986-06-23
Last Air Date: 2025-02-21
Status: Returning Series
Rating: 6.944/10 (from 18 votes)
Language: EN
Seasons: 40
Total Episodes: 301
Network: PBS
Genres: Documentary
Production Companies: Eagle Rock Entertainment, Thirteen
Synopsis
American Masters is a PBS television series which produces biographies on enduring writers, musicians, visual and performing artists, dramatists, filmmakers, and others who have left an indelible impression on the cultural landscape of the United States.