1950 - The woman who inspired Serena Williams
In 1950, Gibson became the first black player, female or male, to compete in the U.S. Open, which was then played at Forest Hills and called the U.S. Nationals. Six years later, she became the first woman of color to win a major championship when she won the French Open, a feat she repeated when she won Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in both 1957 and 1958.
