Pioneer King worries about future
On the 40th anniversary of her last U.S. Open title, Billie Jean King spoke to Douglas Robson of USA TODAY Sports on a range of topics. Some excerpts from their conversation:
Q: This is the 40th anniversary of your last U.S. Open win, on grass at Forest Hills. What do you remember?
A: What I remember about that tournament is I almost didn’t enter it. I worked really hard during the season off the court and on the court, so I was really tired. And then at the last second, I thought, “Ahh, I probably won’t do very good, I’ll probably lose first round, but I will put my name in.” I entered and I actually won. I couldn’t believe it. I was down to Evonne (Goolagong) in the final. That’s probably one of the best matches.
Q: Who did you consider your toughest opponent in your era?
A: Besides myself ? The usual characters: Margaret Court, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Goolagong, all of them.
Q: You successfully defended your title once, and Serena Williams is double defending her title this year. Does that make it any easier or any harder for a player?
A: I loved it when I was in that position, but I don’t know what Serena is feeling. I think she’s had a tough year. It’s probably very tough but also more rewarding if she should win it because of her not feeling great in the last couple of months. She loves challenges. She certainly has her hands full this year.
Q: What are you most proud of in your long history in tennis and in championing women’s equality?
A: It’s not about women’s equality. That’s where everybody gets mixed up. I had an epiphany when I was 12, and that was the fight for equal rights and opportunities for boys and girls, men and women, the rest of my life. Tennis has given me everything, and because of tennis I have a platform to help make it happen.
Q: Are you satisfied, then, with where things are for women in professional tennis and in professional sports?
A: No. We’re in bad shape. We’re not doing well. Tennis is doing well, but tennis isn’t all of women’s sports. If you look at women’s ... team sports, nobody really supports it financially. Women don’t support it, either, which is not good. If people want women to have opportunities, you have to support different activities and invest in it. People do not invest in women as much as men, especially in sport.
Q: You were more or less forced to come out of the closet by a palimony suit. Are you surprised how far gay rights have moved in this country over the last five or 10 years?
A: When you read about it, it’s quick. But when you live it, it’s extremely slow. I’m happier where we are, but then I feel like we have had setbacks like in Russia and other countries. It’s a very double-edged sword. But in the United States we are going in the right direction, and I think President Obama is a big reason for that.
Q: When will we see an openly gay male tennis player?
A: I don’t know why they don’t come out now, because I don’t think they would lose their endorsements. That’s the main thing. I don’t want them to get hurt by it financially. In fact, maybe they would get an extra endorsement if they may be gay. It’s very different than it used to be. I hope somebody will come out. It would be helpful.
Q: How do we get more people playing and more champions from this country?
A: No lessons. When a child signs up to play tennis, he or she is put on a team. They decide on the name, and they do all their stuff in teams, like skill drills, practice, let’s go hit. And make sure they play two or three times a week. ... We have to get the babies to play, because kids identify with the sport by the time they are 6 or 7 years old now.