Serena and Venus Williams, who have followed in the footsteps of black tennis pioneer Althea Gibson, will play back-to-back matches here Monday at the US Open after ceremonies to honour the late legend.
Gibson, who died of respiratory failure in 2003 at age 76, was the first black player, man or woman, to win a Grand Slam title when she took the1956 French singles crown. She also won the US Open and Wimbledon in 1957 and 1958.
"I'm grateful to Althea Gibson for having the strength and courage to triumph in extreme adversity and break through the racial barriers in tennis," Venus Williams said.
"I'm honoured to have followed in such great footsteps. Her accomplishments set the stage for my success, and through players like me, Serena, and many others to come, her legacy will live on."
Serena Williams won her eighth Grand Slam singles title earlier this year at the Australian Open while elder sister Venus captured her sixth Slam singles crown last month at Wimbledon.
Two days after what would have been Gibson's 80th birthday, the Williams sisters will be living tributes to her by playing at Arthur Ashe Stadium, named for another black tennis pioneer and dedicated on Gibson's 70th birthday.
"I love Althea Gibson. I've always dreamed of being on the same level as her," Serena Williams said.
"I thought she was such a fighter. You couldn't break her. That inspires me a lot." Eighth seed Serena will face Germany's Angelique Kerber while 12th seed Venus will meet Hungarian qualifier Kira Nagy in the feature night matches at the year's final Grand Slam tournament.
The Williams sisters have enjoyed crossover success in fashion and acting that were unobtainable for Gibson, whose stardom came well ahead of US black civil rights fights.
"I did read her books. What I read was just tear-jerking to see all the stuff she had to go through," Serena said. "She had to sleep in cars because they wouldn't allow her in the hotels. And that wasn't even what happened on tour. She didn't even get to play professional until she was older. She could have probably won so many more titles."
Among the other barrier-breakers in attendance Monday will be singer Aretha Franklin, heptathlon legend Jackie Joyner-Kersee, retired player Billie Jean King and the widow of Jackie Robinson, US baseball's first black player.
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