Those who inspire were once those being inspired.
Today, Katrina Adams spends innumerable hours teaching tennis and life to promising players in Harlem. And on Monday, the former pro player was in Denver, meeting numerous youngsters gripping rackets and dreams.
“We were once these kids,” Adams said. “I was fortunate to have people like Althea Gibson come and speak to me, also Leslie Allen and Arthur Ashe. So I feel obligated, part of my duty, to continue to pass on the knowledge I’ve learned to youngsters and adults alike.”
Adams was joined in Denver by Chanda Rubin and Lori McNeil to form a trio of successful African-American tennis players with stories of perseverance and pride. During the day, they met the participants at a tennis camp in City Park, and did the same with some up-and-coming tennis talents at the Gates Tennis Center.
“We’re here as tennis players, players of color — we represent diversity as well as the sport. And we’re here to convey that and share our experiences,” said Rubin, who reached a world ranking of No. 6 in 1996. “You hope those experiences resonate.”
On Monday night, they took part in a fascinating oral history lecture series called “Breaking The Barriers,” which was held at the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library. Monday’s was the fourth and final segment, titled “Where are blacks in tennis today?”
“Anything with the title ‘Breaking The Barriers’ means a lot to us,” Adams said. “And to myself in particular, because if it wasn’t for those who broke the barrier of color before me, I would not have the opportunity to live the life I’m leading right now.
“Tennis is a very interesting world. It’s a sport of opportunities, but it’s a sport of challenges as well. And for anybody to continue to progress, they have to understand what those challenges are.”
Blair-Caldwell also features an exhibit with a historical timeline of blacks in tennis, beginning in the 1800s, highlighting numerous accomplishments of pioneers, notably Ashe, who won three Grand Slam tournaments, including a watershed Wimbledon title in 1975.
“It is a very cool thing. They’ve all done a great job putting (this day) together,” McNeil said.
The three women provided a spectrum of perspective. McNeil, who once made the semifinals of the U.S. Open (1987) and Wimbledon (1994), is 47 years old. Adams, a pro from 1988-99, is 42. And Rubin, who won a doubles Grand Slam title at the 1996 Australian Open, is 35.
“There are those who came before us, and you hope other people follow in our footsteps,” McNeil said. “It’s never-ending. History is a great thing.”
Benjamin Hochman: 303-954-1294 or bhochman@denverpost.com
