Kim Sands (born 11 October 1956) is an American former professional tennis player. She achieved a career‑high singles ranking of No. 44 in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) on 2 April 1984 and a career‑high doubles ranking of No. 31 on 17 August 1987. Sands is noted for being the first African‑American woman to receive an athletic scholarship to the University of Miami, where she earned a Bachelor of Education degree.
Early life and education
Born in the United States, Sands grew up playing tennis and pursued the sport at a competitive level during her teenage years. She enrolled at the University of Miami on an athletic scholarship, a milestone as the first African‑American woman to do so at the institution.
Professional tennis career
Sands turned professional in 1978 and competed on the WTA Tour until her retirement in 1988. Over her career she amassed a singles record of 43–47 and a doubles record of 37–38, though she did not capture a WTA title in either discipline.
Singles
- Highest ranking: No. 44 (2 April 1984)
- Grand Slam results: reached the second round of the Australian Open (1978), French Open (1981, 1983, 1985), and Wimbledon (1981, 1983); participated in the first round of the US Open on multiple occasions (1980–1984, 1986).
Doubles
- Highest ranking: No. 31 (17 August 1987)
- Grand Slam results: reached the third round at the French Open (1984) and Wimbledon (1979–1981); reached the third round of the US Open (1985).
Post‑tennis career
After retiring from professional competition, Sands has been involved in various initiatives related to tennis and education, though specific details of her post‑tennis activities are not extensively documented in publicly available sources.
Legacy
Sands' pioneering scholarship at the University of Miami contributed to greater diversity in collegiate athletics and provided a role model for subsequent generations of African‑American tennis players.
References
- “Kim Sands.” Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Sands.
- United States Tennis Association (USTA) Honor Roll: Women. (Archived).
- American Tennis Association, “Kim Sands – Panelist: Black Women Champions & their impact on Tennis.” (Archived).