Chris Evert wished Billie Jean King a happy 80th birthday
Former World No. 1 Chris Evert wrote a poignant tribute to her most amazing friend, Billie Jean King, on her 80th birthday.
King is regarded as a tennis legend. Among her many accomplishments are 12 Grand Slam singles trophies, 16 doubles titles, and 11 mixed doubles titles. She also made substantial contributions to the sport by founding the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) in 1973.
On November 22, the American celebrated her 80th birthday, and she received greetings from all around the world. Chris Evert, her old arch-rival, was also among the well-wishers.
The 18-time Grand Slam winner turned to X (previously Twitter) to publish a heartfelt letter in which she called Billie Jean King her most amazing friend’ and ‘role model,’ adding:
“Happy Birthday to the most amazing friend and role model to me and many others!” @BillieJeanKing, you have an unrivalled energy and enthusiasm for life and learning. “I adore you.”
Happy Birthday to the most wonderful friend and role model to me and many! @BillieJeanKing you have the energy and passion for life and learning like no other. Love ❤️ you..
— Chris Evert (@ChrissieEvert) November 23, 2023
King replied to Evert, writing:
“Thank you, my friend!”
Thank you, my friend!
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) November 23, 2023
Chris Evert famously stated that Billie Jean King’s intervention influenced everyone on the WTA Tour to like her.
“Because I was getting all of the press,” Evert explained. “I was on Newsweek’s cover. I used to be the “It girl.” Nobody has ever seen a little girl perform so brilliantly before.”
Chris Evert noted on the ‘Design Matters with Debbie Millman’ podcast in 2022 that other players did not approach her during her first two years on the WTA Tour since she was defeating everyone and gaining all of the media attention.
“A young school girl, an all-American girl,” she went on to say. “I was the promoter’s dream, the sponsor’s dream and the reason was that the other women professionals had done everything to provide a professional tour for 200-300 women.” They have made it possible to support both the sport and the ladies.”
“They knocked on sponsors’ doors and received fantastic sponsorships.” So they did all the effort, and I just walked right in and started hitting them. Suddenly, I was the centre of attention. So I can understand why people felt the way they did,” she went on.
The 18-time Grand Slam winner went on to say that Billie Jean King was the only one who didn’t feel intimidated by her emergence. She further stated that King had a conference with the other participants in which she explained Evert’s significance to everyone and that everyone subsequently welcomed her.
“There were some of them that were nice, by the way,” Evert told me. “I wasn’t there, but supposedly, Billie Jean King had a meeting with the other players.”She said, “Listen, Chrissie is putting money in our pockets.” “She is bringing more people to the table, to the matches; she is bringing more sponsorship, money, publicity, and television, and this is very important for the growth of the game of women’s tennis.” You are lucky that she’s there. I think that changed their philosophy a little bit. King was the one person that I didn’t threaten.”
Chris Evert made her Grand Slam debut in the 1971 US Open when she was 16 years old. That year, she became the youngest semifinals in US Open history, although her run ended against eventual champion King.
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