You’ve probably heard of Althea Gibson. Maybe you know the story of Arthur Ashe. But before those legends ever stepped onto a court, there was Lucy Diggs Slowe.
Honestly, it’s wild how her name isn't the first one mentioned when we talk about pioneers. We’re talking about a woman who didn't just play the game; she essentially broke the gate down. In 1917, Slowe became the first African American woman to win a national championship in any sport. Not just tennis. Any sport.
She did this at a time when the world was trying to keep Black women in very small, very specific boxes. But Lucy? She was busy winning 17 tennis cups and basically rewriting the rulebook for what a Black female athlete could achieve.
The 1917 Breakthrough: Why Lucy Diggs Slowe Tennis History Matters
To understand why her 1917 win was such a big deal, you have to look at the landscape of the early 20th century. Black players were barred from the United States Lawn Tennis Association (USLTA). It was a "whites only" club, period.
In response, a group of Black tennis enthusiasts formed the American Tennis Association (ATA) in 1916. They wanted a space where they could compete at the highest level without the constant sting of segregation. The very first ATA national tournament was held in August 1917 at Druid Hill Park in Baltimore.
Slowe walked onto those courts and dominated.
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She won the ladies' singles title, cementing her place in history. Think about the pressure. This wasn't just a weekend match. This was the inaugural national stage for Black tennis players. Winning that title didn't just make her a champion; it made her a symbol of excellence that couldn't be ignored.
A Playing Style Built on Precision
People who saw her play often commented on her focus. She wasn't just a baseline grinder. She was a tactical player. While many women of the era played a softer, "polite" version of the game, Slowe was competitive. She had this calculated intensity.
She often teamed up with Talley Holmes, a Dartmouth grad and one of the best male players of the time, for mixed doubles. Together, they were a powerhouse. Imagine being a spectator in Baltimore or Philadelphia back then—seeing two highly educated, incredibly athletic Black individuals dismantling their opponents with that kind of grace. It was basically a revolutionary act.
More Than an Athlete: The Howard University Connection
It's tempting to just look at the Lucy Diggs Slowe tennis stats and stop there. But that would be a huge mistake. Her life on the court was deeply intertwined with her life in the classroom.
Lucy was a scholar first. She was the valedictorian of her class at Howard University in 1908. While she was a student, she wasn't just hitting balls; she was founding Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA), the first sorority for Black women. She was literally building the infrastructure for Black female leadership while practicing her backhand.
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The Dean of Women
By 1922, Slowe returned to Howard as the first Dean of Women. This is where her "tennis mentality" really showed up in her career. She was tough. She was uncompromising.
- She fought for the creation of a "women's campus" to give female students their own space.
- She scrapped the outdated chaperone system, replacing it with student government.
- She clashed—frequently—with the university president, Mordecai Johnson, because she refused to let the women's department be treated as a secondary thought.
She saw tennis as a way to build character. To her, the sport wasn't just a hobby; it was a tool for self-determination. If you could hold your own on a tennis court, you could hold your own in a boardroom or a classroom.
The 17 Cups and the Professional Era
It wasn't a one-and-done situation. Slowe didn't just win in 1917 and retire to her books. She continued to compete professionally within the ATA circuit for years.
Reports from the Black press at the time, like the Baltimore Afro-American, tracked her progress across the East Coast. She was winning singles cups in Philadelphia and New York. She was a regular on the "interstate" tournament scene before the ATA provided a more unified structure.
Basically, she was the first "star" of Black tennis.
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She eventually racked up 17 tennis championships over her career. That kind of longevity is impressive in any era, but doing it while serving as a high-ranking university administrator and leading multiple national organizations? It’s almost unbelievable.
Why Don't We Talk About Her More?
So, why isn't her name as common as Serena or Venus?
Part of it is the era. Record-keeping in the early 1900s for Black sports was often limited to Black-owned newspapers. The mainstream white media largely ignored her achievements.
Another reason is that Lucy Diggs Slowe was such a polymath that her tennis career often gets overshadowed by her academic legacy. When people think of her, they think of Howard University or AKA. The tennis part gets filed away as a "fun fact" rather than the historic, glass-ceiling-shattering achievement it actually was.
But make no mistake: without the foundation laid by Lucy Diggs Slowe tennis dominance, the path for someone like Althea Gibson would have been even steeper. Slowe proved that Black women belonged in the sport of tennis at a championship level. She gave the ATA credibility right out of the gate.
Actionable Insights: Learning from Lucy’s Legacy
If you're a student of history or an aspiring athlete, there are a few real-world takeaways from Slowe's life that still apply in 2026:
- Build Your Own Table: When the USLTA said no, Slowe didn't beg for an invite. She helped build the ATA. If the current systems aren't working for you, find your community and build something better.
- Multidimensionality is a Strength: You don't have to choose between being an "athlete" and an "intellectual." Slowe used the discipline of tennis to fuel her work as a Dean.
- Visible Excellence Matters: By winning that first national title, she provided a visual proof of concept. Sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do is just be undeniably good at what you do.
Lucy Diggs Slowe died in 1937, long before she could see the full integration of the sport she loved. But every time a Black woman lifts a trophy on center court, they are walking on the ground she cleared. She wasn't just playing a game; she was winning a battle for respect.
What to Explore Next
- Visit Druid Hill Park: If you're ever in Baltimore, visit the site where the first ATA championship was held. There’s a historical marker that honors this legacy.
- Read the Primary Sources: Look up the digital archives of the Baltimore Afro-American from 1917 to see how the community celebrated her win in real-time.
- Research the ATA: The American Tennis Association still exists today. They are the oldest African American sports organization in the U.S. and continue to support young players.