Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Iga Swiatek, and several other tennis stars wished Billie Jean King on her 80th birthday. King has an extraordinary total of 39 Grand Slam titles in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. She is celebrated for her legacy in the sport and her dedication to women’s rights, advocating for them both within and beyond the realm of sports. In 1973, she brought together more than 60 women players for a meeting that led to the birth of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA). On her 80th birthday, the WTA shared a video of female tennis players extending their wishes to King. Billie Jean King’s compatriots, Julie Heldman, Valerie Ziegenfuss, and Peaches Bartkowicz, also extended their good wishes. Maria Sakkari, Ons Jabeur, Madison Keys, Caroline Wozniacki, Victoria Azarenka, Daria Kasatkina, and Andy Murray’s mother Judy Murray also wished the tennis legend. After Coco Gauff’s victory at the 2023 US Open, King expressed that her victory is the reason female athletes fought for equal pay in 1973. King stated that she wants Coco Gauff to achieve the World No. 1 ranking and emphasized that she is not only an exceptional player to watch but also a “great athlete.”
A Singular Sensation: Billie Jean King
