Billie Jean King is not only a Wimbledon legend but also a true ambassador for female tennis. The former world number one won a total of six Wimbledon titles and is one of few to win in both the amateur and open era. Her first Wimbledon singles title came as an amateur in 1966 and her last in 1975, spanning almost a decade of domination within the sport. Added to her singles honours, she also won ten doubles and four mixed doubles titles at Wimbledon, proving her versatility and sheer talent. She adapted well to the new open era and thrived under the pressures of a commercialised and financially lucrative Wimbledon. Her love for tennis grew and her belief in equality within the game led her to become the founder of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), which is still the cornerstone of women's tennis today. Winning a total of 39 Grand Slam titles in her career, as well as her domination at Wimbledon and her inspirational nature, Billie Jean King will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest players the game has ever seen.
I am a History graduate from Lancaster University about to embark on a Masters course in Sports Journalism. I have a passionate interest in all things sport! I one day hope to have a career in Sports Journalism, specialising in my favourite sports; football, cricket and darts.
Follow me on twitter: https://twitter.com/TomSkinner01
