By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, July 2, 2023
The WTA Tour celebrates its 50th anniversary and WTA founder Billie Jean King is pumping up the party with passion.
The legendary champion has been busy promoting tennis, counseling some players, conducting a wide-ranging interview with Christiane Amanpour and hitting some tennis balls.
Wimbledon Preview
Hall of Famer King returned to Wimbledon’s Centre Court for the first time in 40 years for this energized practice session and enthusiastic response from fans.
The owner of one of the game's greatest backhand volleys, showed her hands and skills are still sharp.
Armed with her trusty Wilson racquet and still showing the net skills that made Rocket Rod Laver tout her as one of tennis’ greatest volleyers, male or female, King praised the bounce on the Centre Court grass as much truer than in her day.
In her interview with Amanpour, King addressed Emma Raducanu's recent remarks about facing "Sharks" on the WTA Tour, mental health challenges players face, the WTA Tour's return to China and prospective partnership with Saudi Arabia.
The 79-year-old King continues to be a trailblazer on and off the court. The champion who has spent her life fighting for equal rights and gender equality breaks another barrier this year.
King will be inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame Class of 2024, in the Sports Entertainment category. She’s the first woman athlete to receive this honor.
Photo credit: Rob Newell/CameraSport