Arthur Ashe’s Legendary Backhand (1975)
Arthur Ashe’s iconic win against Jimmy Connors on July 5, 1975, made him the first black man to win a Grand Slam at Wimbledon. The odds seemed to be stacked against Ashe at the time. He was nine years older than Connors, and many expected he’d be slower and tire quicker. But Ashe didn’t just beat Connors; he defeated him thoroughly, winning his first two sets 6-1. Connors was known for bad behavior on and off the court, so fans appreciated seeing a gentleman like Ashe beat the brash young upstart.