As the U.S. Open got under way in Flushing, N.Y., Althea Gibson was being honored for her pioneering efforts in tennis.  Gibson was the first African-American to enter and win titles at both Wimbledon and the tournament now known as the U.S. Open. The Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, were part of that tribute to Gibson yesterday in recognition of the 50th anniversary of Gibson's first of two U.S. Open titles.

Serena was the first African-American woman since Gibson to win the U.S. Open (1999) and Venus was the first African-American woman since Gibson to take the championship at Wimbledon (2000). Since then, the Williams sisters have won six of the last eight Wimbledon titles and four of the last eight U.S. Open titles

Both have been nursing injuries but each won yesterday. Here's a musical look at Serena, courtesy of Nike.