USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
That name has a very nice ring to it… and it is such a fitting honor for the living legend, Billie Jean King, as well as a wonderful companion for the late great Arthur Ashe for whom the stadium court is named. Billie Jean had a stellar career winning 12 Grand Slam singles titles including titles at each of the Slams and 4 U.S. singles championships on 4 different surfaces, i.e. clay, grass, hard and carpet, as well as collecting 20 titles at Wimbledon in singles, doubles and mixed doubles. She was involved in the founding of the Virginia Slims Tour, the Women’s Tennis Association, the Women’s Sports Foundation and World Team Tennis. Billie Jean has also served as captain of both the US Olympic tennis and Federation Cup teams and won probably the most famous tennis match of all time when she beat Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the Sexes.” The French Open has named its secondary stadium after Suzanne Lenglen and the Australian Open has the Margaret Court Arena, but this announcement stands apart and rightly so. Billie Jean King epitomizes the joy of tennis and has spent her post-playing days in a myriad of roles all associated with getting people to play and enjoy tennis. Billie Jean has also worked for social causes such as women’s rights, but it is her contributions to tennis which will probably be her lasting legacy. Many former stars have used their positions to further causes and help the sport of tennis, but no other former tennis great has had the impact on tennis that Billie Jean has had since her days on the court ended. Let’s hope she inspires others…
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