no mention of the exhibition match between Ashe and Morris, though separate Morris says that Ashe, who normally attacked the net, stayed back that day, stories noted Ashe’s selection to the Davis Cup team, the results of the ATA approaching only on short balls, which Morris — a baseliner — tried not to give tournament, and the results of the state closed tournament. him. Morris’ best shot, a flat backhand, was working. So was Ashe’s serve. The exhibition match was reported in the newsletter of the N.C. Tennis “The biggest thing was his angles,” says Morris. “He’d serve out wide, Foundation. then he’d serve down the middle. It was hard for me to pick up sometimes.” Morris says the score didn’t tell the whole story. Ashe had difficulty handling Morris’ serve, too. The “I have to be honest: I really don’t think he played court was slick. The points were short and, like many his best tennis — or was trying to. I don’t think in a exhibition matches, dotted with teasing. regular match, I would have been able to beat Arthur “We’d laugh and say, ‘Well, I was gonna get you Ashe.” with that one.’ It was not a real knock-’em-out, serious Morris stayed in the game for many years. As a sematch,” says Morris. “It was a fun match, and I think nior, he was ranked in the world’s top 10. He coached the people there enjoyed it.” the UNC-Chapel Hill men’s tennis team to two ACC Morris remembers that the only water on court was titles. He retired as the athletic director of his alma in an empty metal tennis ball can that sat on the umpire’s chair. Ashe drank from the can on a changeover. mater, Presbyterian College, in 2000. A shoulder replacement in 2003 ended his tenLater, Morris learned that some people in the crowd wondered if he would drink from the same can as a nis playing, but he still follows the sport that gave black man. He did. It never crossed his mind to refuse. him pleasure for so many years. He’s a fan of an“I was thirsty,” says Morris. “I was hot.” other Greensboro boy, John Isner, whose big serve he Each man conducted himself as the “ultimate admires. Morris after State Singles Championship 1961 “I’m not sure I could see it,” says Morris, laughing. gentleman,” says Greensboro’s Thomas Bynum Jr., He’ll follow Isner at the U.S. Open, hoping that who watched the match. he makes it to Arthur Ashe Stadium where the big “It was a great thing for our city,” he says. “I wish a lot more things like that matches are played. And when he hears Ashe’s name, he’ll think of a match on a would have happened back then.” hot weekday afternoon in Greensboro almost 50 years ago. The summer of 1964 was a tense time for U.S. race relations. New civil rights Today, anyone would be embarrassed to host an exhibition match on laws had just been passed, and there was much frustration — among black and Memorial’s hard courts, which are terribly run-down. There’s no marker comwhite people — over their enforcement. Blacks had rioted in several cities in the memorating the match. But in Morris’s mind, he’ll always have that day. months preceding the match. A year before, African-Americans had marched in “Whenever they say ‘Arthur Ashe Stadium,’ it brings back memories,” says Greensboro to protest segregation. Morris. “He was a great guy. He left us too early.” OH Local newspapers — including one that covered the black community — made
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
August 2012
O.Henry 39