From 143rd Street in Harlem to the center court at Wimbledon is about as far as one can travel.

Most of us who aspire to be tops in our fields don't really consider the amount of work required to stay tops.

In the field of sports you are more or less accepted for what you do rather than what you are.

I think I've already got the main thing I've always wanted, which is to be somebody, to have an identify. I'm Althea Gibson, the tennis champion. I hope it makes me happy.

In sports, you simply aren't considered a real champion until you have defended your title successfully. Winning it once can be a fluke; winning it twice proves you are the best.

No matter what accomplishments you make, somebody helped you.

I don't consciously beat the drums for any cause, not even the negro in the United States.