Who was Arthur Ashe?

Arthur Ashe, an amateur tennis player, made history by winning the US Open in 1968, becoming the first African-American man to do so. He discovered tennis in a segregated park in Richmond, Virginia, and excelled academically, earning a scholarship to UCLA. Ashe's tennis career flourished as he became the first African-American on the US Davis Cup team and later won the Australian Open and Wimbledon. Off the court, Ashe was a civil rights activist and opposed apartheid. He faced health challenges, including a heart attack and contracting HIV from a blood transfusion. Despite his health, Ashe continued his activism and raised awareness for AIDS research. He passed away at 49, leaving a legacy of breaking barriers and advocating for others.

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