LORI McNeil was one of many in the world of women's professional tennis to be saddened this week by the death of Althea Gibson - the woman who broke through the sport's colour barrier in the 1950s.

Gibson, the first black Wimbledon entrant and champion, died of a respitory infection last Sunday at the age of 76. She blazed a trail for the likes of McNeil, Zina Garrison and the Williams sisters.

A supremely gifted athlete, following her tennis career, Gibson tried her hand at golf and became the first black player on the LPGA Tour, helping to pave the way for Tiger Woods.

Gibson won the first of of her two Wimbledon titles in 1957. And it was 37 years later that McNeil - playing a similarly aggressive serve-and-volley game to that of her illustrious predecessor - graced that same Centre Court in the women's semi-finals, her best effort at the oldest tournament of them all.

McNeil has become well known in Bermuda as the principal figure behind the junior tennis fund-raiser that bears her name.

Speaking from Moscow, where she is coaching Amanda Coetzer in the Kremlin Cup WTA tournament, McNeil told the Mid-Ocean News: "She was an inspiration to me with all that she accomplished.

"She was an exceptional athlete, not just in tennis, but also when she played golf later on.

"I didn't have the opportunity to spend as much time on court with her as I would have liked, although she did help me out in practice at the US Open a little bit."

It was at the US Open that McNeil became most aware of Gibson's support.

"At the Open she'd come out and watch me play," McNeil said. "If I did well, she'd be encouraging and say things like 'good job'. Whenever she spoke to me, I'd just listen.

"She was a great inspiration, although most of the matches I saw her play were on film.

"It was just unfortunate that she could not benefit financially from her success."

Gibson's first Grand Slam title was the French Open in 1956. In both 1957 and 1958, she won both the Wimbledon and US national tennis championships (the precursor to the US Open) titles. She also won six Grand Slam doubles titles.

Any player achieving that in in the modern era would be made for life, but in those days there was no pro circuit or prize money and few endorsements.

McNeil has never won a Grand Slam title, but she has won 10 singles championships and 32 doubles titles on the WTA Tour and her career earnings are more than $3.4 million.

Gibson tried to earn a living in other ways, recording an album, appearing in a movie, and getting $100,000 for playing tennis exhibitions on tour with the Harlem Globetrotters.

After retiring from tennis, she integrated women's golf, playing in 171 tournaments from 1963-77, without a title.

McNeil added: "I don't think she realised how much encouragement and inspiration she gave to others. She will be terribly missed."

Gibson overcame momentous adversity in the segregation era to become a great champion and her death brought many tributes.

For example, Venus Willaims said: "I am grateful to Althea Gibson for having the strength and courage to break through the racial barriers in tennis. Her accomplishments set the stage for my success, and through players like myself, Serena, and many others to come, her legacy will live on."

President George W. Bush also issued a statement praising Gibson's spirit, determination, and skill.

"In breaking the racial barrier in championship tennis, she furthered America's progress in recognising individuals for their character and abilities, not their skin colour," he said.

Gibson was born in 1927, in Silver, South Carolina, the eldest of five children. A self-described "born athlete," she picked up tennis while growing up in New York, slapping rubber balls off a brick wall. Gibson won her first tournament at 15, becoming the New York State black girls' champion, and boxer Sugar Ray Robinson helped pay her travelling expenses.

"No one would say anything to me because of the way I carried myself," Gibson said. "Tennis was a game for ladies and gentlemen, and I conducted myself in that manner."

In 1975, Gibson became state commissioner of athletics in New Jersey. She then served on the state athletics control board until 1988, and the governor's council on physical fitness until 1992.

In recent years, Gibson had two cerebral aneurysms and a stroke, and she struggled financially.

After Gibson's 1957 and '58 Wimbledon triumphs, more than 30 years passed before another black woman, Zina Garrison, reached the Wimbledon final, in 1990.

Venus Williams won that tournament ten years later, and sister Serena won the 1999 US Open. In 1968, Ashe became the first black man to win the US Open and he won Wimbledon in 1975.

McNeil said she regretted that this year's Lori McNeil / Elbow Beach Celebrity Classic, scheduled for last month, had been cancelled due to the scheduling difficulties of the stars.

But after two successful junior tennis fund-raisers in 2001 and 2002, she was optimistic there would be a Classic in 2004.

"I'm hopeful we'll be able to do something next year," McNeil said.

"It's unfortunate that things just did not work out this year, but Bermuda is still one of my favourite places in the world and I want to come back and do it again."