How St. Louisan Richard Hudlin shaped tennis in St. Louis and the world

Tennis is a game that begins, literally, at “love.” But the sport hasn’t always welcomed all players. In 1945 in St.Louis, Sumner High School teacher and tennis coach Richard Hudlin decided to do something about the segregation of tennis in the city’s courts and tournaments. He sued to desegregate the recreational and sports facilities — and he won. A skilled tennis player in his own right, Hudlin also coached tennis legends Arthur Ashe and Althea Gibson, both of whom broke color barriers in tennis in the United States and abroad. Missouri Historical Society’s Cicely Hunter and Amanda Clark share what we know of Hudlin’s early days, his relationship with Arthur Ashe and his impact on the tennis world.