The American tennis legend Billie Jean King was an icon in the struggle for gender equality that gripped the tennis realm in the 70s and the 80s. She not only revolutionized the way people looked at women’s tennis but also inspired many young girls to pick up the racket. King had to face various hardships to bring women’s tennis to where it is today. However, there was another challenge in her personal life. Her sexuality.

In one way or another, revealing it had a severe impact on her career. The legend recently opened up about how the scenario has changed over the years.

Billie Jean King on the acceptance of different sexuality in our society

Tennis legend Billie Jean King recently gave an interview with the Oxford Union. In the interview, King spoke about the various challenges she faced in her career and her personal life. While there were a few challenges in common for all female athletes of her time, a few were specific to her and others like her.

Billie Jean King revealed how it was very difficult for her to come out and reveal her sexuality. She feared that it would make her the public villain and also impact her brand value and endorsements. Further, speaking about how far the world has come now, she gave an example to prove how society is more accepting now.

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“Kids today go. What’s the big deal? It was a big deal. Now there are celebrations. Like Jason Collins, who played in the NBA. He came out just before he retired. He got a call from President Obama. He had a job immediately in the NBA. It is totally the opposite of what it used to be,” King said.

She further added, “It depends on who you are in your journey, but for me, I would say it was the toughest journey I’ve had.”

While time has changed the outlook of society in general, some challenges still remain.

King graces the Australian Open with the original nine

The 12-time singles Grand Slam title winner was among the pioneers in propelling gender equality in tennis. Today, tennis is among the highest-paying sport for women. However, that wasn’t always the case, as in King’s playing days, the earnings were comparatively less than that of men. It took a lot of courage from a group of women players to form an association.

Today it is the WTA. The founders of the association are known as the original nine. In the recently concluded Australian Open, King was present with her original nine team members. King spoke in detail about the hardships they had to face initially and how showing courage and forming a team helped their cause.

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The modern-day women’s tennis stars owe a lot to the original nine for showing the courage that changed women’s tennis forever.