>> Sreenivasan: ON THIS EDITION FOR SUNDAY, AUGUST 26: AMERICA MOURNS SENATOR JOHN McCAIN.

>> A TRULY EXTRAORDINARY GIANT OF THE SENATE AND REALLY OF THE COUNTRY.

>> HE LEAVES A LEGACY OF SERVICE AND COURAGE.

>> Sreenivasan: AND IN OUR SIGNATURE SEGMENT, HOW PROFESSIONAL TENNIS IS TRYING TO DIVERSIFY THE NEXT GENERATION OF PLAYERS AS THE U.S. OPEN TURNS 50.

NEXT ON PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND.

FROM THE TISCH WNET STUDIOS AT LINCOLN CENTER IN NEW YORK, HARI SREENIVASAN.

>> Sreenivasan: GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

SENATOR JOHN McCAIN, THE INFLUENTIAL ARIZONA REPUBLICAN SENATOR AND TWO-TIME PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE DIED YESTERDAY AT HIS HOME NEAR SEDONA ARIZONA.

HE WAS 81 AND HAD AN AGGRESSIVE BRAIN CANCER FOR THE PAST YEAR.

CROWDS LINED THE ROUTE AS THE HEARSE BEARING HIS BODY TRAVELED FROM HIS RANCH TO A PHOENIX FUNERAL HOME LAST NIGHT.

IN WASHINGTON, D.C. FLAGS WERE LOWERED TO HALF STAFF.

AND IN VIETNAM WHERE THEN NAVY PILOT McCAIN WAS CAPTIVE FOR MORE THAN FIVE YEARS AS A PRISONER OF WAR, MOURNERS PLACED FLOWERS ON A MEMORIAL HONORING HIM.

AS SENATOR HIS POLITICAL LEADERSHIP WAS KEY IN NORMALIZING RELATIONS BETWEEN VIETNAM AND THE U.S. JOHN SIDNEY McCAIN THE THIRD WAS BORN IN 1936 ON AN AMERICAN NAVAL BASE, THE SON OF A NAVAL OFFICER STATIONED IN THE PANAMA CANAL ZONE.

HE WENT ON TO ATTEND THE NAVAL ACADEMY IN ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND, FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF HIS FATHER AND GRANDFATHER, WHO BOTH SERVED AS FOUR-STAR ADMIRALS.

McCAIN GRADUATED IN 1958 AND BECAME A NAVY PILOT TWO YEARS LATER.

HE VOLUNTEERED FOR COMBAT DURING THE VIETNAM WAR.

IN OCTOBER OF 1967 HIS PLANE WAS SHOT DOWN OVER HANOI, DURING A BOMBING MISSION.

HE WAS CAPTURED, BEATEN AND TORTURED, AND HELD AS PRISONER OF WAR FOR FIVE AND A HALF YEARS.

IN THAT TIME HE TRIED TO TAKE HIS OWN LIFE TWICE AND SIGNED A COERCED CONFESSION.

HE REFUSED AN OFFER OF EARLY RELEASE AFTER THE VIETNAMESE LEARNED THAT HIS FATHER WAS A HIGH RANKING NAVY OFFICIAL.

McCAIN WAS RELEASED IN 1973, RETURNING TO THE U.S. A HERO.

IN 1982, McCAIN BEGAN WHAT WOULD BE HIS DECADES LONG POLITICAL CAREER WINNING A SEAT IN THE U.S. CONGRESS FROM HIS HOME STATE OF ARIZONA TWICE.

FOUR YEARS LATER HE WAS ELECTED TO THE SENATE WHERE HE REMAINED FOR SIX TERMS.

BUT HIS POLITICAL CAREER WAS NOT ALWAYS SUCCESSFUL.

IN 2000 HE MADE HIS FIRST PRESIDENTIAL RUN, AND LOST TO GEORGE W. BUSH IN THE PRIMARIES.

>> I KNOW HOW TO FIGHT AND I KNOW HOW TO MAKE PEACE.

I KNOW WHO I AM AND WHAT I WANT TO DO.

>> Sreenivasan: IN 2008, HE RAN AGAIN, THIS TIME WINNING THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION, CHOOSING SARAH PALIN AS HIS RUNNING MATE, AND THEN LOSING TO BARACK OBAMA.

THROUGHOUT HIS LONG CAREER IN OFFICE, SENATOR McCAIN CONTINUED TO BE A POLITICAL "MAVERICK."

HE OPPOSED THE USE OF TORTURE DURING PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH'S ADMINISTRATION, AND SPONSORED AN ANTI-TORTURE BILL THAT PASSED CONGRESS AND WAS SIGNED BY PRESIDENT BUSH IN 2005.

IN JULY 2017, AFTER SURGERY TO REMOVE A BLOOD CLOT IN HIS EYE REVEALED A MALIGNANT BRAIN TUMOR, SENATOR McCAIN MADE A DRAMATIC RETURN TO THE CAPITOL FOR A LATE NIGHT VOTE AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP'S PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO END OBAMACARE.

HIS VOTE DEFEATED THE BILL.

BEFORE THE VOTE, HE ADDRESSED HIS COLLEAGUES: >> WE'RE GETTING NOTHING DONE, MY FRIENDS.

WE'RE GETTING NOTHING DONE.

>> Sreenivasan: PRESIDENT TRUMP FREQUENTLY CRITICIZED AND EVEN INSULTED SENATOR McCAIN BOTH DURING THE 2016 CAMPAIGN AND IN OFFICE.

LAST NIGHT HE SENT OUT A BRIEF TWEET THAT READ: "MY DEEPEST SYMPATHIES AND RESPECT GO OUT TO THE FAMILY OF SENATOR JOHN McCAIN.

OUR HEARTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU!"

IN A STATEMENT, FORMER PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH WHO DEFEATED McCAIN IN HIS FIRST PRESIDENTIAL RUN, REMEMBERED HIM AS A FRIEND, SAYING, "SOME LIVES ARE SO VIVID, IT IS DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE THEM ENDED.

SOME VOICES ARE SO VIBRANT, IT IS HARD TO THINK OF THEM STILLED."

AND IN HIS STATEMENT, PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA ACKNOWLEDGED HIS POLITICAL DIFFERENCES WITH HIS FORMER PRESIDENTIAL OPPONENT BUT SAID THEY SHARED "FIDELITY TO SOMETHING HIGHER-- THE IDEALS FOR WHICH GENERATIONS OF AMERICANS AND IMMIGRANTS ALIKE HAVE FOUGHT, MARCHED, AND SACRIFICED."

TODAY, SENATOR McCAIN'S COLLEAGUES RECALLED HIS MILITARY CAREER, HIS COURAGE, AND HIS DEVOTION TO SERVICE.

>> HE MADE SURE THAT HE GOT NO SPECIAL TREATMENT BECAUSE HIS FATHER WAS THE FOUR-STAR COMMANDER OF U.S. PACIFIC COMMAND AT THAT TIME.

AGAIN, A REAL FORCE IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS AND ALWAYS ONE WHO FELT THAT SERVING A CAUSE LARGER THAN SELF WAS THE GREATEST OF PRIVILEGES.

>> HE LEAVES A LEGACY OF SERVICE AND COURAGE.

>> HE WOULD QUICKLY FORGIVE AND MOVE ON.

AND TO SEE THE GOOD IN HIS OPPONENTS, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, PARTICULARLY THESE DAYS, WE COULD USE A LOT MORE OF.

THAT'S A LESSON THAT HE TAUGHT EVERYONE.

>> Sreenivasan: THE SENATOR WHO SERVED HIS COUNTRY IN POLITICS AND IN THE MILITARY WAS BOTH OUTSPOKEN AND BRAVE, EVEN WHEN HE WAS BEING TREATED FOR BRAIN CANCER, AND FACING THE POSSIBILITY THAT HE WAS NEARING THE END OF HIS LIFE.

>> HOW DO YOU WANT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO REMEMBER YOU?

>> HE SERVED HIS COUNTRY.

AND NOT ALWAYS RIGHT.

MADE A LOT OF MISTAKES.

MADE A LOT OF ERRORS.

BUT SERVED HIS COUNTRY.

AND I HOPE WE CAN ADD "HONORABLY."

>> Sreenivasan: SENATOR JOHN McCAIN'S BODY WILL LIE IN STATE IN ARIZONA'S CAPITOL, THEN IN THE U.S. CAPITOL ROTUNDA.

HIS FUNERAL WILL BE HELD AT WASHINGTON, D.C.'S NATIONAL CATHEDRAL.

AT HIS REQUEST, THE EULOGIES WILL BE DELIVERED BY FORMER PRESIDENTS BARACK OBAMA AND GEORGE W. BUSH.

HE WILL BE BURIED AT THE NAVAL ACADEMY IN ANNAPOLIS MARYLAND.

>> Sreenivasan: FOR A PERSONAL LOOK BACK AT SENATOR JOHN McCAIN'S CAREER AND HOW HIS LEGACY MAY AFFECT THE COUNTRY'S POLITICAL FUTURE, WE TURN NOW TO NEWSHOUR WEEKEND SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT JEFF GREENFIELD WHO JOINS US FROM SANTA BARBARA.

JEFF, YOU'VE COVERED HIM A LONG TIME.

ANYTHING THAT COMES TO MIND A STORY?

>> WELL THE SHEER COMPLEXITY OF THE MAN IS WHAT MOST FOCUSED MY ATTENTION, A GUY WHO COULD -- HAD A FIERCE TEMPER, BELIEVE ME I WAS THE VICTIM OF THAT, COULD ALSO RECONCILE WITH POLITICAL FOES, EVEN WITH A VIETNAM DISSENTER WHO HAD GONE TO VIETNAM WHEN HE WAS IN PRISON AND TORTURED.

I GUESS MY MOST VIVID MEMORY, A LOT OF JOURNALISTS WILL TELL YOU, THE "STRAIGHT TALK EXPRESS" BARRELING THROUGH NEW HAMPSHIRE IN 2000 WHEN HE WAS IN FULL COMMAND OF HIS FACULITIES, TELLING THE PRESS EVERYTHING HERE IS ON THE RECORD, GOING TO HUNDREDS OF TOWN HALLS, DEFYING HIS PARTY ON ISSUES OF TAX CUTS, TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM.

EVEN AS IN OTHER MOMENTS HE WOULD COMPROMISE POLITICALLY.

I ONCE SAID TO HIM WHEN HE WAS COMING BACK FROM THE POLITICALLY DEAD AT THE END OF 2007, IS THERE SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT REQUIRES YOU TO BE DANGLING OFF A CLIFF HANGING TO A FRAYED ROPE BEFORE YOU START TO SUCCEED, AND HE KIND OF LAUGHED AND SAID I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING TO THAT.

SO AS I SAID, THIS WAS A VERY COMPLICATED MAN, BUT SOMEBODY WHO WAS VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE NORMAL CUT OF YOUR POLITICIANS.

AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY HE'S GETTING SO MUCH REVERENCE IN SPITE OF HIS FLAWS AT HIS PASSING.

>> Sreenivasan: HE'S THE FIRST TO ADMIT THAT HE DID NOT LIVE A PERFECT LIFE, THAT HE HAD MADE SEVERAL MISTAKES, ONE OF THOSE MISTAKES WAS THE KEATING 5 SCANDAL, WHERE HE AND FOUR OTHER SENATORS WERE ACCUSED OF INFLUENCING WHAT HAPPENED TO CHARLES KEATING, WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO THE SAVINGS AND LOAN BANK THAT CHARLES KEATING WAS RUNNING.

HOW SIGNIFICANT WAS THAT BLEMISH OR STAIN ON HIS RECORD FOR HIM?

>> I THINK IT CHANGED HIS LIFE.

EVEN THOUGH HE WAS RELATIVELY EXONERATED, HE SAID HE HAD MADE MISTAKES, NOT AS GREIVOUS AS OTHER SENATORS, HE FELT DEEPLY DISHONORED BY THAT, FELT GUILTY, AND IT'S WHY HE TURNED AND MADE CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM ONE OF THE CENTERPIECES OF HIS POLITICAL EFFORTS, ALIGNING HIMSELF WITH ONE OF THE MOST LIBERAL DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE, RUSS FEINGOLD.

AND HIS WHOLE FUTURE POLITICAL MESSAGE I THINK WAS SHAPED BY THE FACT THAT HE NEEDED TO REDEEM HIMSELF IN HIS OWN EYES FOR THAT MISTAKE.

>> Sreenivasan: JEFF, SENATOR McCAIN IS GETTING A SENDOFF USUALLY RESERVED FOR PRESIDENTS.

PUT THAT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE POLITICAL CLIMATE WE'RE LIVING IN NOW.

>> THE CONTRAST BETWEEN McCAIN, THE RECONCILIATION WITH FORMER FOES, THE INSISTENCE ON PUTTING COUNTRY FIRST, UNMISTAKABLY IS IN VERY SHARP CONTRAST TO OUR CURRENT PRESIDENT.

WHEN JOHN McCAIN DIED, AMID ALL THE OUTPOURING FROM PAST POLITICAL OPPONENTS, THIS PRESIDENT EXTENDED, QUOTE, "HEARTS AND PRAYERS TO THE FAMILY."

AND IN HIS MESSAGE THERE IS NOT A WORD ABOUT JOHN McCAIN'S SERVICE TO HIS COUNTRY OR WHAT HE ENDURED IN VIETNAM.

AND I THINK TO SOME EXTENT, YOU CAN'T SEPARATE THE PASSING OF McCAIN FROM THE FEELING THAT'S IN THE COUNTRY NOW.

ON A DIFFERENT NOTE, I THINK YOU HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT McCAIN'S CHOICE FOR RUNNING MATE IN 2008, GOVERNOR PALIN, IN THE WAY SHE CAMPAIGNED AND THE WAY SHE APPEARS WAS TAPPING INTO THE MORE ZEALOUS SENTIMENTS THAT TRUMP SUCCESSFULLY TAPPED INTO IN THE BASE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

SO FOR ALL KINDS OF REASONS, McCAIN'S DEATH THROWS A KIND OF SPOTLIGHT, I THINK, ON WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

>> Sreenivasan: LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT SENTIMENT THAT IS THE FUEL FOR THE PRESIDENT NOW.

COMING OFF OF THIS WEEK, WHERE OF COURSE HIS CRITICS SAY IS ONE OF HIS WORST WEEKS EVER, ARE HIS SUPPORTERS AFFECTED BY THIS?

>> I'VE BEEN HEARING FOR THREE YEARS NOW THAT THIS IS IT FOR TRUMP, HE CAN'T SURVIVE THIS.

WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION SO OFTEN WE COULD PROBABLY RUN TAPED REPLAYS.

BUT YOU LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE FOR INSTANCE BETWEEN THE WATERGATE METAPHOR THAT EVERYBODY RAISES AND NOW.

ONCE AGAIN HIS PARTY CONTROLS BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS.

THE PEOPLE IN THAT CONGRESSIONAL WING KNOW THAT THE BASE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS DEVOTED TO TRUMP AND WILL PUNISH REPUBLICANS WHO DISSENT FROM THAT.

AND YOU'VE GOT A COUNTER MEDIA, WHETHER IT IS FOX NEWS OR BREITBART OR TALK RADIO THAT KEEPS CHANGING THE GOALPOSTS.

EVERYTIME WE LEARN OH THAT DID HAPPEN, THEY'LL SAY THAT DOESN'T MATTER.

IF HE USES HIS PERSONAL FUNDS TO PAY OFF GIRLFRIENDS TO HIDE AFFAIRS, THAT'S PERSONAL.

CAMPAIGN FINANCE VIOLATIONS, THEY REALLY AREN'T.

DID HIS LAWYER FLIP AND IS NOW SAYING THE PRESIDENT HAS DONE TERRIBLE THINGS?

HE'S AN ADMITTED LIAR.

SO UNLESS AND UNTIL THESE DIFFERENT PERILS, THE FLIPPING OF MICHAEL COHEN, THE IMMUNITY GRANTED TO HIS TOP FINANCIAL ADVISOR AND A TABLOID PUBLISHER, UNLESS THEY REVEAL SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO SHAKE THAT BASE, I DON'T THINK THINGS WILL CHANGE, AND TODAY'S "WALL STREET JOURNAL"/NBC POLL SUGGESTS THAT THE PRESIDENT'S SUPPORT IS PRETTY MUCH WHERE IT WAS WHEN THE WEEK STARTED.

>> Sreenivasan: ALL RIGHT, JEFF GREENFIELD, THANKS SO MUCH.

>> OKAY.

>> Sreenivasan: READ MORE AND WATCH OUR EXTENDED REPORT ON THE LIFE OF JOHN McCAIN ON OUR WEBSITE, pbs.org/newshour.

>> Sreenivasan: MULTIPLE PEOPLE ARE DEAD IN WHAT'S BEING DESCRIBED AS A MASS SHOOTING AT A RIVERFRONT MALL IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, ACCORDING TO FLORIDA AUTHORITIES.

THE JACKSONVILLE SHERIFF'S OFFICE SAYS THERE WAS ONLY ONE SUSPECT.

THE AP QUOTES A SOURCE AS SAYING THE SUSPECT DIED OF A SELF- INFLICTED GUNSHOT WOUND.

AUTHORITIES SAY THEY HAVE CLEARED THE AREA.

THE SHOOTING OCCURRED DURING A VIDEO GAME TOURNAMENT, AND SOUNDS OF GUNFIRE WERE HEARD ON A LIVESTREAM FROM THE WEBSITE TWITCH.

IT'S UNCLEAR HOW MANY OTHERS WERE INJURED IN THE SHOOTING.

POPE FRANCIS WRAPPED UP HIS TWO DAY VISIT TO IRELAND TODAY, AMID NEW ACCUSATIONS BY AN ARCHBISHOP THAT FRANCIS KNEW ABOUT ABUSES BY A NOW-DISGRACED CARDINAL.

POPE FRANCIS HELD AN OPEN AIR MASS IN DUBLIN IN FRONT OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF WORSHIPERS BEFORE DEPARTING FOR THE VATICAN.

HE ASKED FOR FORGIVENESS FOR THE "CRIMES" OF THE CHURCH'S SEXUAL ABUSE SCANDAL.

BUT THE POPE DID NOT ADDRESS ACCUSATIONS LEVELED IN A PUBLIC LETTER PUBLISHED TODAY BY THE FORMER VATICAN AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES.

ARCHBISHOP CARLO MARIA VIGANO, A FIERCE CONSERVATIVE CRITIC OF THE POPE, CALLED ON POPE FRANCIS TO STEP DOWN.

HE SAID THE POPE AND OTHER SENIOR CHURCH OFFICIALS IGNORED ACCUSATIONS AGAINST DISGRACED EX-CARDINAL THEODORE McCARRICK FOR YEARS.

McCARRICK RESIGNED FROM THE COLLEGE OF CARDINALS IN JULY AFTER ALLEGATIONS THAT HE SEXUALLY ABUSED MINORS AND ADULTS OVER DECADES.

THE HEAD OF THE ISLAMIC STATE IN AFGHANISTAN AND TEN OTHER ISIS FIGHTERS WERE KILLED LAST NIGHT IN AIR STRIKES ACCORDING TO AN AFGHAN OFFICIAL.

THE STRIKE WAS CARRIED OUT BY AFGHAN AND COALITION FORCES IN THE NANGARHAR PROVINCE, ALONG THE BORDER WITH PAKISTAN.

THE REGION HAS BECOME A STRONGHOLD FOR THE ISLAMIC STATE.

AIR STRIKES HAVE INCREASED IN AFGHANISTAN AS ISIS-CONTROL HAS WEAKENED IN IRAQ AND SYRIA.

>> Sreenivasan: TOMORROW MARKS THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST U.S. OPEN TENNIS TOURNAMENT HERE IN NEW YORK.

THE MAIN STADIUM AT THE FLUSHING QUEENS FACILITY IS NAMED FOR THE FIRST WINNER OF THE TOURNAMENT, AFRICAN-AMERICAN TENNIS CHAMPION ARTHUR ASHE.

BUT WHILE PLAYERS LIKE THE WILLIAMS SISTERS AND SLOANE STEPHENS HAVE DOMINATED AMERICAN WOMEN'S TENNIS FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS, AMERICAN MEN HAVE NOT FARED NEARLY AS WELL.

IT'S BEEN 15-YEARS SINCE ANDY RODDICK PLAYED IN THE U.S. OPEN FINALS, THE LAST GRAND SLAM CHAMPIONSHIP WON BY AN AMERICAN MALE.

NEWSHOUR WEEKEND'S CHRISTOPHER BOOKER RECENTLY TALKED WITH U.S.T.A.

PRESIDENT KATRINA ADAMS ABOUT AMERICA'S INABILITY TO FIELD TOP-TIER MALE PLAYERS, AND HOW EFFORTS TO DIVERSIFY THE GAME MAY CHANGE THAT.

THIS STORY IS PART OF OUR ONGOING SERIES ABOUT POVERTY AND OPPORTUNITY IN AMERICA: CHASING THE DREAM.

>> WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO SNAP IT?

I'M NOT GOOD AT SELFIES.

>> Reporter: EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN NEARLY 20 YEARS SINCE KATRINA ADAMS LAST PLAYED PROFESSIONALLY, FANS STILL CLAMOR TO HAVE THEIR PICTURE TAKEN WITH HER.

AS THE FIRST FORMER PROFESSIONAL PLAYER TO SERVE AS CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND PRESIDENT OF THE U.S. TENNIS ASSOCIATION AND CHAIR OF THE U.S. OPEN, ADAMS HAS ONE OF THE BROADEST RESUMES IN TENNIS.

FROM HER EARLIEST DAYS LEARNING TO PLAY IN CHICAGO, TO HER 12 YEARS ON THE W.T.A.

TOUR, SHE HAS LIVED AND BREATHED THE GAME FOR MOST OF HER LIFE.

>> THE U.S. OPEN.

COME ON MAN, THIS IS NEW YORK.

ITS LIVE ITS HAPPENING, ITS SHOW TIME.

>> Reporter: BUT WHEN KATRINA ADAMS STARTED PLAYING TENNIS IN 1975, IT WAS ARTHUR ASHE WHO EVERYONE WANTED A PICTURE OF.

SEVEN YEARS AFTER HIS 1968 U.S. OPEN WIN HAD BLOWN OPEN THE DOORS OF U.S. TENNIS FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN, ASHE WAS A SENSATION.

>> IT MEANT A LOT TO SEE HIM PLAYING THIS SPORT THAT I HAD JUST PICKED UP.

YOU GO BACK TO 1968 AND YOU LOOK AT WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN AMERICA FROM A CIVIL RIGHTS PERSPECTIVE FROM A HUMANITARIAN PERSPECTIVE.

AND THEN YOU SEE ARTHUR ASHE WIN AND RAISE THAT TROPHY AND YOU KNOW THERE'S NO GREATER MOMENT IN HISTORY I THINK FOR US IN TENNIS THAN THAT BECAUSE IT REALLY STARTED TO TRANSCEND AND TRANSFORM HOW TENNIS WAS VIEWED IN AMERICA.

>> Reporter: ASHE'S ADDITIONAL GRAND SLAM WINS IN AUSTRALIA IN 1970, AND WIMBLEDON IN 1975, ESTABLISHED HIM AS ONE THE WORLD'S GREATEST.

BUT HIS TRIUMPHS STAND AS THE LAST TIME AN AMERICAN MALE PLAYER OF COLOR HAS WON THOSE EVENTS.

MICHAEL CHANG WON THE FRENCH OPEN IN 1989, THE LAST TIME A NON-WHITE, AMERICAN MAN HAS WON A GRAND SLAM SINGLES FINAL.

IN 1996 HE WAS THE LAST AMERICAN MALE PERSON OF COLOR TO EVEN APPEAR IN A GRAND SLAM FINAL.

AMERICAN MEN HAVE WON 98 OF THE 364 GRAND SLAMS PLAYED SINCE 1924, ONLY SIX OF THOSE WERE WON BY PEOPLE OF COLOR, JUST OVER 6%.

THE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN IMPROVING.

OF THE 18 AMERICANS WHO QUALIFIED FOR THIS YEAR'S U.S. OPEN, FOUR ARE PLAYERS OF COLOR.

29-YEAR-OLD DONALD YOUNG, 23-YEAR-OLD MACKENZIE McDONALD, 20-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL MMOH AND 20-YEAR-OLD-FRANCES TIAFOE.

THAT REPRESENTS 22% OF THE MALE U.S PLAYERS.

>> THEY'RE DEVELOPING.

THEY ARE CONTINUING TO RISE IN THE RANKS.

WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF GOOD YEARS HERE.

YOU'VE GOT A COUPLE OF OTHER YOUNGER YOUNGSTERS COMING UP IN FRANCIS TIAFOE, TAYLOR FRITZ, MACKY MACDONALD HAD AN UNBELIEVABLE SHOWING AT WIMBLEDON.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF PLAYERS THAT ARE IN THE PIPELINE THAT ARE THAT ARE COMING UP AND IN TIME THEY WILL BE BACK AT THE TOP OF THE RANKS.

>> Reporter: AN INTEGRAL PART OF DEVELOPING A PIPELINE, IS FINDING AND CULTIVATING UNTAPPED TALENT IN UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES.

AFTER WINNING THE U.S. OPEN IN 1968, ARTHUR ASHE CO-FOUNDED THE NATIONAL JUNIOR TENNIS LEAGUE, THE N.J.T.L.

SINCE ITS FOUNDING, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF KIDS IN UNDERSERVED AREAS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE GONE THROUGH PROGRAMS UNDER THE N.J.T.L.

>> IF I TAP YOU, I WANT YOU TO STEP FORWARD TO THIS LINE.

>> Reporter: THE JUNIOR TENNIS CHAMPIONS CENTER, THE J.T.C.C., HAS BEEN PROVIDING FREE TENNIS LESSONS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AND THE SURROUNDING AREA FOR NEARLY A DECADE.

>> SOME OF YOU ARE GOING TO BE ON THIS COURT, SOME OF YOU ARE GOING TO BE OVER THERE.

CAN I HAVE A HIGH-FIVE?

THAT WAS DOPE.

>> Reporter: THROUGHOUT THE EIGHT WEEK SESSION, COACH ANNESSA TAYLOR AND THE OTHER COACHES ARE WATCHING CLOSELY, LOOKING FOR ONE OR TWO KIDS WHO NOT ONLY SHOW ABILITY, BUT SEEM PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN TENNIS.

WHAT MAKES ONE KID STAND OUT FROM ANOTHER AT THIS LEVEL?

>> IT IS ALMOST THAT GLOW OR THAT EXCITEMENT TO BE HERE.

YOU CAN TELL THAT ONE KID WHO HAS NEVER PICKED UP A RACKET BEFORE BUT THEY'RE HAPPY TO HAVE A RACKET IN THEIR HAND AND THEY'RE EAGER TO LEARN WHEN THEY'RE SITTING THERE HUGGING THEIR RACQUETS, WHEN THEY'RE SITTING IN THAT READY POSITION, WHEN THEY'RE FOCUSED ON THE BALL.

I THINK THAT'S WHEN YOU REALLY SEE THAT POTENTIAL IN THAT KID BECAUSE THEY'RE LIKE I CAN DO THIS.

I CAN FOCUS.

I LOVE IT.

HMM, LETS TRY WITH THIS ONE.

>> Reporter: OF THE ROUGHLY 400 CHILDREN WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE CLINICS, ABOUT 30 WILL BE OFFERED SCHOLARSHIPS TO ATTEND TRAINING SESSIONS AT J.T.C.C.

'S FACILITY IN COLLEGE PARK MARYLAND.

AND THOSE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE KEY.

FOR A HANDFUL PLAYERS, THIS CAN BE THE BEGINNING OF A TENNIS AND EDUCATION PROGRAM WITH THE J.T.C.C.

THAT CAN LAST UNTIL THEY ARE 18.

MANY OF THEM WILL GO ON TO PLAY IN COLLEGE AND PROFESSIONALLY.

13-YEAR-OLD ROBIN MONTGOMERY, WHO STARTED IN ONE OF THESE PROGRAMS, WON A JUNIOR NATIONAL TITLE THIS YEAR.

AND SCHOLARSHIPS HELPED FRANCES TIAFOE TRAIN AT THE CENTER SINCE HE WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD.

NOW AT AGE 20, TIAFOE IS RANKED 42nd IN THE WORLD.

>> YOUNGER PLAYERS LIKE FRANCES ARE BRINGING UP TENNIS IN THIS COMMUNITY, SO MORE PEOPLE ARE WANTING TO PLAY.

>> Reporter: 19-YEAR-OLD JUSTICE JONES STARTED AT THE J.T.C.C.

WHEN HE WAS FIVE YEARS OLD.

NOW A SOPHOMORE IN COLLEGE, HE PLAYS FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE.

>> I DEFINITELY THINK MY GENERATION, AND INCLUDING ME, WE ARE PART OF A CHANGE IN THE GAME, BECAUSE USUALLY PEOPLE LIKE ME, THEY JUST WANT TO PLAY BASKETBALL, FOOTBALL, AND ALL THOSE OTHER SPORTS, BUT WE ARE PUSHING TO PLAY TENNIS NOW.

>> Reporter: BUT TENNIS CAN BE AN EXPENSIVE JOURNEY IF YOU WANT TO PLAY COMPETITIVELY.

>> OUR SPORT IS VERY CHEAP TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY.

IT'S FREE FOR THE MOST PART.

BUT ONCE YOU DEVELOP AND YOU START TO GET ON A COMPETITIVE TRACK IT'S NOT SO CHEAP.

>> Reporter: THE J.T.C.C.

ESTIMATES THAT IF A YOUNG PERSON GOES THROUGH THEIR ENTIRE PROGRAM, IT COMES WITH A PRICE TAG OF NEARLY $300,000.

THERE IS THE COST OF COACHING, COST OF TRAVEL TO TOURNAMENTS, ENTRY FEES AND EQUIPMENT, TRAINERS, ALL OF WHICH IS PAID FOR BY THE INDIVIDUAL, NOT A TEAM.

>> EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE YOU KNOW HUNDREDS OF PROGRAMS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

IF YOUR PARENTS AREN'T IN A POSITION TO EVEN HAVE THE RESOURCES TO FIND THAT PROGRAM IT'S NOT THEIR FIRST THOUGHT BECAUSE THEY'RE SAYING OK YOU CAN MAKE $100 MILLION OVER HERE PLAYING BASKETBALL OR FOOTBALL OR BASEBALL.

YOU MIGHT MAKE $100,000 PLAYING TENNIS.

>> Reporter: NOW FOR WOMEN, IT IS THE SAME, BUT THE EXTERNAL FACTORS ARE DIFFERENT.

IF YOU ARE A TOP-TIER ATHLETIC WOMAN, THERE ARE FEW PROFESSIONAL LEAGUES FOR YOU TO PLAY IN.

CERTAINLY NOTHING AS LUCRATIVE AS TENNIS CAN BE FOR THE TOP PLAYERS.

BUT IF YOU'RE A MALE, STAND OUT ATHLETE LIKE LEBRON JAMES', WHO GREW UP PLAYING ON THE BASKETBALL COURTS IN AKON, OHIO, THE COURTS OF THE U.S. OPEN MAY HAVE SEEMED LIKE A LESS LUCRATIVE OPTION.

>> HE'S A PHENOMENAL ATHLETE.

I THINK IF HE CHOSE TENNIS AND HE WANTED TO BE THE NEXT ARTHUR ASHE AS AFRICAN-AMERICAN GRAND SLAM CHAMPION HE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN THAT.

I WOULD SAY AND I WOULD HOPE THAT A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE PUTTING IN PLACE NOW THAT IT TAKES TIME FOR THAT SEED TO BE WATERED AND START TO GROW AND STRENGTHEN AND MAYBE FIVE TO 10 YEARS AWAY FROM REALLY SEEING AN INFLUX OF TALENT OF COLOR.

>> Reporter: AND WHAT HAPPENS IS FRANCES TIAFOE WINS THE OPEN THIS YEAR?

>> FRANCIS TIAFOE WINS THE OPEN THIS YEAR I'M GOING TO DO CARTWHEELS.

I'LL TELL YOU THAT WOULD BE AMAZING TO SEE THAT HAPPEN.

I MEAN OBVIOUSLY YOU'VE GOT THE LIKES OF RAFAEL NADAL, ROGER FEDERER, NOVAK DJOKOVIC, THESE TOP GUYS THAT ARE PLAYING REALLY WELL.

AND YOU KNOW I THINK HE'S PRIMED TO DO WELL.

BUT IT'S ANYBODY'S MATCH AT THE END OF THE DAY.

AND I THINK IF WE CAN GET HIM ON THAT FINAL STAGE ON TELEVISION WHERE THE WORLD IS TUNED IN, WE CAN GET MORE YOUNG KIDS OF COLOR THAT ARE WATCHING HIM PERHAPS HE CAN JUST START THAT WAVE THAT VENUS AND SERENA DID JUST A FEW YEARS BACK.

>> Sreenivasan: FINALLY TONIGHT, PULITZER-PRIZE WINNING PLAYWRIGHT NEIL SIMON HAS DIED, ACCORDING TO HIS PUBLICIST.

HE WAS 91 YEARS OLD.

SIMON WAS A PROLIFIC COMEDIC WRITER.

HIS HIT PLAYS INCLUDED "BAREFOOT IN THE PARK," "THE ODD COUPLE," AND THE EUGENE TRILOGY-- THREE PLAYS THAT DREW ON HIS UPBRINGING AS A DEPRESSION-ERA CHILD RAISED IN NEW YORK.

SIMON ALSO ADAPTED SEVERAL OF HIS PLAYS INTO FILMS, INCLUDING "THE ODD COUPLE" WITH JACK LEMMON AND WALTER MATTHAU.

IN ADDITION TO THE PULITZER, SIMON WON FOUR TONY AWARDS, THE MARK TWAIN PRIZE FOR AMERICAN HUMOR, AND HAD A BROADWAY THEATER NAMED AFTER HIM IN 1983.

THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION OF PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND.

I'M HARI SREENIVASAN.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.