Won five Grand Slam singles titles — the French Championships in 1956, Wimbledon in 1957 and 1958 and the US Championships in 1957 and 1958 — and at Roland Garros in 1956 became the first Black player to win a major. She played aggressively close to the net behind a serve she used to move opponents around the court, and was named female athlete of the year in 1957 and 1958. After leaving amateur tennis in 1958 she sang, acted, and in 1964 became the first African-American woman to play the LPGA tour.