Tennis legend Billie Jean King brings her World Team Tennis tournament to Forest Hills, Queens.
Billie Jean King: A Pioneer in Sports and Social Equality
Billie Jean King, one of the most influential figures in the world of sports, remains an active advocate for social equality. Known for her groundbreaking achievements on the tennis court and her tireless work off it, King continues to be a beacon of change.
King's journey with tennis began at the West Side Tennis Club in 1959. Fast forward to 1974, she co-founded World Team Tennis (WTT) at the same venue, setting the stage for a league that embodies her life philosophy of equality and helping others.
WTT, a fan-friendly competition, pits two squads playing men's and women's singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. This year, New York's WTT franchise, the Empire, relocated to Forest Hills and is coached by Patrick McEnroe.
The Orange County Breakers, represented by players like Gabriela Dabrowski, faced the San Diego Aviators in the finals of WTT during the 2018 season. This year, the World Team Tennis Finals are set to take place at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills on Friday.
King's tennis career is marked by numerous victories, including four U.S. Open singles titles. Her most iconic win, however, was the "Battle of the Sexes" against Bobby Riggs in 1973, a match she compared to the Clinton-Donald Trump presidential race in its symbolic significance.
King's fight for equality extended beyond the tennis court. In 1973, she threatened to boycott her U.S. Open title defense if women's prize money didn't equal men's. This bold move paved the way for equal pay in sports.
King is also a trailblazer in the realm of LGBT rights. She is one of pro sports' first openly gay celebrities and actively campaigns for her close friend Hillary Clinton. She is pleased with the progress of the LGBT movement but acknowledges that there is still much work to be done.
In addition to her work in sports and LGBT rights, King has also made significant contributions to grass-roots initiatives. Alongside WTT's commissioner, Ilana Kloss, she does year-round work in New York City. WTT has provided 350,000 starter rackets to kids, helping to foster a new generation of tennis players.
Being called "the most influential female athlete ever" shocks and honours King, but it isn't her focus. Instead, she continues to work tirelessly for social equality, a cause she refers to as inclusion. King's legacy, both on and off the tennis court, continues to inspire and influence the world of sports and beyond.
The U.S. Open, the premier tennis tournament in the United States, starts on Monday at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows. As we watch the best players in the world compete, let us not forget the pioneer who paved the way for their equal opportunity to do so.
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