Flushing Stadium Named For Tennis Great

In naming the new Flushing Meadows stadium at the USTANational Tennis Center, Arthur Ashe Stadium, USTA President Harry Marmion said, "Arthur Ashe was an outstanding tennis player, but we are naming our new stadium in his honor because Arthur Ashe was the finest human being the sport of tennis has ever known. Arthur was — and through the example he set, still is — a role model to people throughout the world.It is only fitting that we recognize one of the brightest stars of tennis’ past through the facility that will be the focus of tennis’ future."
"Many people have honored Arthur and his work during the past few years," said Ashe’s wife Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe. "He would be most proud of this honor from the USTA. Arthur was very committed to the USTAand to helping it create opportunities for those who needed them most. Arthur Ashe Stadium at the USTANational Tennis Center will be a lasting symbol of those efforts and an inspiration to continue working toward that end."
Ashe’s fame is rooted in his becoming the first U.S. Open men’s singles champion in Forest Hills in 1968. As such, he was also the first African-American man to win a Grand Slam tournament championship.Ashe won 51 singles and doubles titles during his 12-year pro career, including four other Grand Slam tournament championships.He helped the United States win the Davis Cup five times as a player and was the captain of two championship Davis Cup campaigns.