Althea: the Life of Tennis Champion Althea Gibson by Sally H. Jacobs

Author:Sally H. Jacobs
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group

Buxton and Althea had also been gliding steadily through their doubles matches toward the semifinals, and they now faced the formidable duo of Fry and Brough. Each of the two, Fry and Brough, had been a partner in one of the most successful women’s doubles pairings of the early 1950s, albeit not with each other. During the series of pre-Wimbledon grass court warm-ups, the same two partnerships had met in the finals at the Queen’s Club tournament. Althea and Buxton bombed in their match against the Brough-Fry duo, largely because of erratic play by Buxton. Althea was visibly infuriated, and the two of them stalked off the court not speaking.

Jimmy Jones was quick to the scene, and in a blunt cafeteria discussion, he stressed to both of them, his gaze fixed primarily on Althea, the importance of supportive teamwork on the court. Somehow, his words made a difference. The fiercely independent Althea was able to let down her rigid defenses and embrace a partnership with Buxton. This was, after all, her “Angie,” as she fondly called Buxton. After their next practice match, Althea, by then nearly in tears, hurried over to her partner, hugged her, and uncharacteristically apologized. With the two friends now working together, their games began to coordinate. Jones helped them develop a way to privately communicate strategy during a match, and by the time they faced Brough and Fry on Centre Court at Wimbledon, they were primed. As usual, Althea dominated, pounding serves into the corners and angling lobs out of reach, but now she was doing so with Buxton, who set up the plays for Althea to drive home. Surprising nearly everyone who expected the Brough-Fry pair to be invincible, Althea and Buxton pulled it off. With a 7–5, 6–4 win, they now faced a Wimbledon final together. That night, Violet returned to the kitchen table.

Then for the doubles against Brough & Fry

It looked as though it might be a very close tie

But the girls pulled it off & now they could see

They were in the finals on Saturday—Gee!!!

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