BILLIE JEAN KING’S NEW BOOK,

Why are sports such a necessary platform for change? Because we’re visible and we have an opportunity to do the right thing.

Even as a child you saw the inequities in tennis—like when you were excluded from a group photo for wearing shorts instead of a skirt. When did you realize you wanted to change the game of tennis? When I was 12, I had an epiphany at the Los Angeles Tennis Club. That was my moment, I knew. I got all tingly inside. I just remember looking around and realizing everybody in tennis wore white, everybody in tennis was white. And I think my question as a 12-year-old was where is everybody else? And that was the beginning.

You were outed as gay in 1981 and lost your sponsorships as a result. What do you feel looking back at that time period? My emotions run all over the place. First, I’m thrilled that things have gotten better. But we still have a ways to go. People get nervous when something’s unknown to them. We’ve got to get comfortable with being uncomfortable and need to reach out to people who aren’t like ourselves.

Even after knee replacements, are you getting back on the court? I actually started playing again, but playing would be the wrong word. It’s more like hitting the ball. [My partner] Ilana Kloss was number one in the world in doubles and can hit it on a dime, so she hits it right to me—I only move about one foot to my right or one foot to my left.

What excites you most about the game now? We have 4 million new players this year since COVID. I think the caliber right now is the best it’s ever been. You have Ashleigh Barty, Naomi Osaka and Jennifer Brady. It’s the most I’ve ever enjoyed watching tennis in my whole life.