Tally Holmes facts for kids
Talley Robert "Tally" Holmes (born December 9, 1889, in Washington, D.C. – died March 1, 1969, in Washington, D.C.) was an important American tennis player. He played during the 1910s and 1920s and helped make tennis more fair for everyone.
A Champion for Tennis
Talley Holmes was a key person in creating the American Tennis Association (ATA) in 1916. At that time, many tennis clubs did not allow black athletes to join. But tennis was becoming very popular in black colleges.
Starting the American Tennis Association
Because of this unfairness, Holmes and other leaders from many black tennis clubs met in Washington D.C. on Thanksgiving Day. They wanted to create a better way for young black athletes to play tennis. This meeting led to the start of the American Tennis Association. The ATA helped organize tennis for black players across the country.
Winning National Championships
The ATA also started the National Tennis Championships for African Americans. This big event still happens every year! Talley Holmes was an amazing player. He won the men's singles title at the very first National Tennis Championship in 1917. He won again in 1918, 1921, and 1924.
In 1920, another great player, Jamaican Bertrand Clark, beat him. Talley Holmes also played in men's doubles matches. He and his partner, Sylvester Smith, won championships together.
