In 1959 Robert Ryland broke through barriers of race and class, and became the first African-American tennis professional. His success in both American Tennis Association (ATA), and integrated amateur tournaments around the country, made him one of the best known Black players in the United States. In 2009, in honor of his lifetime of achievements, he was inducted into the Black Tennis Hall Fame (BTHOF). 
At the Class of 2019 Induction Ceremony, Mr. Ryland graced us with his presence at Brooklyn Borough Hall, Brooklyn New York, and shared a bit of his wisdom in person, as he shares it in his book. "I THINK, IF I HAD NOT PLAYED TENNIS, I WOULD NEVER BECOME 99 YEARS OLD."
Robert Ryland 100 from Black Tennis Hall of Fame on Vimeo.
