Troy University Athletics
2005 USTA Tennis Classic Champion pulls major upset at U.S. Open
8/28/2007 5:00:00 AM | Tennis
New York, N.Y. - Former USTA Troy Tennis Classic Champion Asha Rolle defeated Tatiana Golovin, who is ranked No. 17 in the world, in an upset match during the opening round of the U.S. Open.
Rolle, a wild card entrant from
The theme was breaking barriers on opening night of the U.S. Open, and the honoree was the late Althea Gibson, who became the first person of color to win the U.S. Tennis Championship.
Three African-American women, two are famous sisters, one a late-blooming 22-year-old ranked No. 109 in the world paid homage to Gibson in the appropriate way as they advance to the second round of the U.S. Open.
“Out of all nights, I have to do this tonight,” Rolle said, right before the infamous upset against Golovin.
Due to Golovin's missed forehand it carried Rolle to the greatest achievement of her life. The officials called a replay since Golovin challenged the call of the missed forehand.
To Rolle's surprise the call went her way, and she immediately began to celebrate by falling to her knees and pounding the court with her hands.
She signed autographs within twenty minutes after the match in honor of Althea Gibson.
“I wasn't scared. I wasn't nervous. I was ready,” Rolle said. Someone asked about Gibson, Rolle replied with a smile and said, “I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for her.”
