Today in our History – September 11, 1999 – Serena Williams defeats # 1 seeded Martina Hingis to win the U.S. Open for Woman’s Tennis.

GM – LIF – Today’s American Champion win the Women's Singles tennis title at the 1999 US Open. This was her first Grand Slam singles title, and she became the first African American woman to win a Grand Slam tournament in the Open Era. Lindsay Davenport was the defending champion, but lost to her in the semifinals.

Today in our History – September 11, 1999 – Serena Williams defeats # 1 seeded Martina Hingis to win the U.S. Open for Woman’s Tennis.

As the roar of a standing-room-only crowd rose around her, she screamed, laughed and cried and then ran to kiss her mother, Oracene, and hug her father, Richard, both of whom had coached her to this moment.

And now, as she stood, waiting to receive the Open trophy and her check for $750,000, she was still overwhelmed.

Williams, who turned 18 Sept. 26, 1999 became only the second African-American woman to win a Grand Slam tournament. The only other black woman to do it was Althea Gibson, who won titles in the French Open (1956), at Wimbledon (1957) and in the U.S. Open (1957 and 1958).

"I'm so excited," Serena said. "And I'm proud to have done it.

One of Althea Gibson's best friends told me once that she wanted to see another African-American win a Slam before her time is up. I'm so excited I had a chance to accomplish that while she's still alive. It's just really great."

Gibson, 72, lives very reclusively in East Orange, N.J.

Serena looked as if she would power her way to her first Grand Slam title in under an hour. She used her powerful serve to keep Hingis on her heels, and her stunning backhand moved her opponent from side to side in the first set.

Only the day before, Hingis, the world No. 1-ranked player, had been treated similarly by Venus, 19, who was trying to get back to her second U.S. Open final. But Friday, Hingis was able to handle Venus, who had service problems and developed leg cramps late in the three-set match.

Yesterday, it was another story.

Hingis again showed her great ability to compete, but Serena was on her own mission.

Others had come to this place, to the brink of winning a first Grand Slam title, and others, including Venus, had been unable to make the leap.

But while Serena saw two match points come and go on two unforced errors in the ninth game of the second set, she did not give in.

Hingis was able to force a tie-breaker yesterday, but when Serena got to that point in the match, her confidence soared.

The atmosphere was electric. Serena turned her back to the court, stooped down for a few seconds and clinched her fist. Regrouping.

She got up, turned and fired. Hingis tried to stay in the match, but her backhand sailed.

But she is not the first to have the opportunity to deliver on this dream. Venus made it to the final here in 1997, but lost, 6-0, 6-4, to Hingis. And Zina Garrison, who was the first black woman to make it to a Grand Slam final since Gibson, went to the Wimbledon finals in 1990, but lost to Martina Navratilova.

Yesterday, Serena's victory was celebrated by more than 23,300 fans here, including former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn; Arthur Ashe's widow, Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe, and Garrison, who flew in for the match from Houston yesterday and sent Serena flowers and good wishes before the match.

Venus also celebrated her sister's win -- and their semifinal victory in the women's doubles.

Serena's victory was also celebrated in Auckland, New Zealand, where President Bill Clinton and his daughter Chelsea were attending a conference.

Shortly after Serena's victory, the President called to congratulate her on her historic feat.

She went on to ask him about the time difference and about Chelsea. She asked Chelsea, a junior at Stanford this fall, about her major and complimented her on being so bright.

By the time Serena was finished, she had an invitation for her and her family to visit the Clintons at the White House and for a personal tour of Stanford from Chelsea, when Serena is there next week for Fed Cup play. Research more about this great American Champion and share it with your babies. Make it a champion day!