Twenty years ago, it would have been hard to imagine that the first lady and the most dominant female in pro tennis would both be black American women. But times have surely changed.
First lady Michele Obama teamed up with Serena Williams at the 2011 U.S. Open to play tennis with children from the Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program.
During her first visit to the U.S. Open, the first lady and Williams played a brief doubles match against each other, and both were assisted by students who attend the Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program.
After the match, Obama encouraged the kids to remain healthy by staying physically fit and playing sports such as tennis.
“Tennis is the kind of thing that is great for kids because it gets you moving, it keeps you focused,” Obama said. “You get to move your muscles, you have to be quick, you have to be strong. It gets your heart pumping, but it is a sport you can do forever. I know people in their 90s who are still playing tennis. And I want to be one of those people, I want my daughters to be some of those people, and I want all kids around the country to have access to opportunities and get exposure to sports like tennis, so you guys can figure out what your loves are.” –amir shaw
