American Tennis player #arthurashe in Johannesburg for the #southafricanopen in #1974. Seen here with young #kaizerchiefs and #orlandopirates fans in Jabavu, Soweto.

Ashe donated funds towards the building of the #arthurashetenniscenter in Jabavu Behind him is David Nthuping, whose camera took the photo.

He broke sports boycotts agains apartheid SA to play the SA Open. Was denied a visa twice (72,73) and was only allowed to play in 74. He insisted that there be black spectators in the audience, who cheered and whistled during his matches in the tournament.

In the match footage, you can see him going to the stands pleading with them to keep it down.

He lost in the semi finals to Jimmy Connors, who had won Wimbledon the year before. Ashe played Connors in the finals at Wimbledon in ‘75. Beating him to become the 1st Black man to win the Wimbledon championship. (Althea Gibson won in 57).