Who was the first African American man to win Wimbledon?

Arthur Ashe was the first African American man to win Wimbledon’s singles title.

Ashe achieved the breakthrough in 1975, defeating defending champion Jimmy Connors in the final. Seeded sixth and nearly 32 years old, Ashe won in four sets, 6–1, 6–1, 5–7, 6–4, using precise tactics and controlled serve-and-volley tennis against the heavily favored Connors.

His victory made him the first Black man to win Wimbledon’s gentlemen’s singles championship. Ashe had already made history by winning the 1968 US Open, becoming the first African American man to win a major singles title in the Open Era.

A common mix-up is Althea Gibson, who was the first Black player to win Wimbledon’s singles title overall: she won the women’s championship in 1957 and 1958. Ashe later won the Australian Open in 1970, making him the only Black man to win singles titles at Wimbledon, the US Open and the Australian Open.