Tennis legend Billie Jean King continues to inspire athletes worldwide.
Recently, her iconic words resonated at the Australian Open when Chinese tennis star Qinwen Zheng quoted her following a dominant first-round victory.
After defeating Romania’s Anca Todoni 7-6, 6-1, Zheng shared King’s famous line: “Pressure is a privilege—it only comes to those who earn it.”
The moment reminded fans of King’s enduring influence on sports and her role as a trailblazer for women.
With 39 Grand Slam titles to her name—12 in singles, 16 in women’s doubles, and 11 in mixed doubles.
But her contributions extend far beyond the court.
In 1973, she founded the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), laying the groundwork for gender equality in professional tennis.
Her advocacy for equal pay reached its peak during the historic “Battle of the Sexes” match against Bobby Riggs, a victory that symbolized the strength and capabilities of women in sports.
Though she retired in 1990, King remains a constant presence in the tennis world.
In 2020, the Fed Cup was renamed the Billie Jean King Cup in her honor.
The rebranding included a fresh logo and a focus on themes like unity, brightness, and empowerment. King was instrumental in shaping the event’s new identity, reinforcing her legacy as a champion for progress and inclusion.
Outside tennis, King has continued to break barriers.
In 2024, she partnered with hockey player Coyne Schofield to launch the Professional Women’s Hockey League.
Using her connections with Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter, King secured significant funding to establish the league, filling a gap that the NHL had long overlooked.
She also produced See Her Be Her, a documentary that highlights women’s baseball globally.
King, who once dreamed of becoming a baseball player, said her goal was to raise the visibility of girls and women in the sport.
King’s influence isn’t limited to sports. She’s a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and equality.
In 1981, she was publicly outed as a lesbian, a decision that could have jeopardized her career. Despite warnings from her lawyer to deny the truth, King stood firm, stating,
I’m going to do it. I don’t care. This is important to me to tell the truth. The one thing my mother always said, ‘To thine own self be true.’
Via NBC News
Reflecting on the experience in a 2017 NBC interview, King said she wished she had come out sooner.
Today, she lives proudly alongside her wife, Ilana Kloss, a former No. 1 doubles player.
The couple tied the knot in a private ceremony in 2018. They now share their lives and business ventures, including minority ownership in the Los Angeles Dodgers, Angel City Football Club, and the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks.
Born and raised in Long Beach, California, King now resides in Los Angeles.
In October 2024, she celebrated the Dodgers’ World Series victory by holding the Commissioner’s Trophy and expressing gratitude to the organization’s employees.
Her commitment to empowering women, advancing equality, and celebrating achievements across all sports remains as strong as ever.
Where is Billie Jean King? She’s everywhere—inspiring, leading, and proving that pressure is, indeed, a privilege.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- In an interview, King revealed that after the legalization of same-sex marriage in 2015, the music legend Elton John nudged King and Ilana to tie the knot.
- In 2021, King revealed that Nadal is her favorite tennis player among The Big Three of him, Federer and Djokovic.