One of the most important and pioneering figures in tennis history, and an outspoken advocate for human rights all over the world, Arthur Ashe made his mark at UCLA before embarking on his breakthrough career in the pros. Ashe won the NCAA singles and doubles titles (with Ian Crookenden, Class of 1997) in 1965, the first Black man to do so, and led the Bruins to the team national championship. Before he was a Bruin, Ashe had already made history, in 1963, by becoming the first Black player selected to the U.S. Davis Cup team.

In 1968, Ashe became the first Black man to win a Grand Slam title when he won the U.S. Open. He later won the Australian Open in 1970 and Wimbledon in 1975, beating another former Bruin, Jimmy Connors (Class of 1986), in the final.

In 1979, while still ranked No. 7 in the world, Ashe suffered a major heart attack and eventually had to retire from tennis. He then transitioned from player to television, writing and served as the U.S. Davis Cup captain, guiding the Americans to wins in 1981 and ’82, After contracting HIV virus from a blood transfusion, Ashe worked to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS throughout the rest of his life. A member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, Ashe died in 1992. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1993.