Dame Ruia Mereana Morrison is a retired New Zealand tennis player. Morrison was the first New Zealand woman and the first Māori person to play at Wimbledon and reached the fourth round in both 1957 and 1959. She also won 13 national New Zealand tennis titles.
Morrison in early 1960s
Ruia Morrison circa 1950s
Ruia Morrison visiting Queen Victoria School for Māori Girls circa 1960s
Morrison's investiture as a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit by the governor-general, Dame Cindy Kiro, at Government House, Auckland, on 27 May 2022
1957 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles
Althea Gibson defeated Darlene Hard in the final, 6–3, 6–2 to win the ladies' singles tennis title at the 1957 Wimbledon Championships. Gibson was the first African American player to win a Wimbledon singles title. Shirley Fry was the reigning champion, but did not compete.
Darlene Hard congratulates Althea Gibson after the final
Parade in Gibson's honor in New York City