The 2017 US Open Tennis Championships has crowned its 2017 Women’s Singles champion, Sloane Stephens, who walked away with the win over her good friend, Madison Keys. Tomorrow, Rafael Nadal will take on South Africa’s Kevin Anderson for the men’s crown.
Celebrating the 20th year of hosting the finals in the wondrous Arthur Ashe Stadium, the legacy and spirit of Ashe is not only commemorated by the monument, but also embodied and exalted by many of today’s American tennis leaders and custodians of the sport, specifically African-American men.
In the spirit of acknowledging Diversity and Inclusion in American tennis, the following is the second installment of Diversity & Inclusion in Sports: African-American men leading America’s tennis industry.
“My potential is more than can be expressed within the bounds of my race or ethnic identity.” — Arthur Ashe, Days of Grace: A Memoir
Willie Emerson || American Tennis Association President || Maryland
Bernie Chavis || American Tennis Association Part President, Executive and Author || Pennsylvania
Mark Riley || Boys' 18 & 16 National Championships Director and Kalamazoo College Men's Tennis Head Coach || Michagan
Jimmy McDaniel || American Tennis Player || California
George Henry || GTen Servies Founder and USPTA Certified Coach || Pennsylvania
Marcell Freeman || Former ATP Touring Pro and UCLA All-American || New York
Juan Farrow || Southern Illinois-Edwardsville University Hall of Fame Inductee and All-America || Virginia
John Wilkerson || Zina Garrison Academy Senior Director of Tennis, Former Touring Pro and USPTA Certified Teaching Pro || Texas
Henry Brandon || Former Touring Pro and NCAA National Team Champion || California
Bob Davis || Black Tennis Hall of Fame Executive Director || Florida
Jerome Jones || Safe Passage Foundations Executive and Competitive Junior Player || California
Eric Riley || Former ATP Touring Pro, Hitting Partner and World-Class Coach || Pennsylvania
George Guy || Philadelphia Tennis Club President || Pennsylvania
Dr. Reginald Weir || American Tennis Player and Physician || New Jersey
