Althea Gibson statue planned for US Open grounds

NEW YORK - The United States Tennis Association will honor Althea Gibson with a statue at the US Open.

The first African-American to win the U.S. Nationals singles title in 1957 will be commemorated at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

The U.S. Nationals were the precursor to the US Open. She won both the U.S. Nationals and Wimbledon titles in 1957 and 1958.

In a statement, USTA president Katrina Adams calls Gibson, who also won the 1956 French Open, the ''Jackie Robinson of tennis.''

King says the 11-time Grand Slam winner is ''an American treasure'' who ''opened the doors for future generations.''

A statue of Arthur Ashe was unveiled at the US Open in 2000. The USTA has not yet selected a sculptor for the statue of Gibson, who died in 2003 at age 76.