Today is opening day of the US Open, the final event of Grand Slam tennis tournament season. The courts at Flushing Meadows have been busy over the weekend with qualifying rounds. Both of the Williams sisters will play today, which is beyond appropriate since it is the 50th anniversary of Althea Gibson’s first U.S. Open tournament title.

Gibson in considered the Jackie Robinson of tennis since she was the first black athlete - male or female - to win a Grand Slam event. Tonight's tribute to Althea Gibson in Arthur Ashe Stadium is titled "Breaking Barriers" and will salute black women pioneers in sports, entertainment, politics and the arts and will include a performance by Aretha Franklin. Sounds like a rocking good time!

Both Serena and Venus dominated the U.S. Open early in the decade, but returning champion Maria Sharapova will definitely give them a run for the money. Look for cutting edge tennis fashion from all three champions.

I will be watching, will you? Let me know in the comments section below.

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