Did Billie Jean King dominate in women’s singles? Yes. In women’s doubles? Yes. In mixed doubles? Yes. Yet, her most fascinating win comes from women’s partnership. Ilana Kloss and King, who tied the knot in 2018, were dating for over forty years. That’s the pair with the most endurance. Once upon a time, King accomplished everything in tennis, and then she stopped playing for good. Twenty years hence, at almost 80, King returns to the court. As King reunites with tennis, she provides credit to her life partner. Kloss’s influence proved to be simple and effective.

In 1987, Billie Jean King and her husband, Larry King were separated. Soon after that, King engaged in a romantic relationship with Kloss. Kloss met King while working as a tennis ball girl, and now she influenced King to hit the ball once again. Tennis is King’s first love, and even though she didn’t play for almost two decades, she always had a soft corner for it. In an exclusive interview with The Messenger, King talks about her new experience with tennis and how Kloss convinced her to swing again.

Billie Jean King rediscovers her true passion

Billie Jean King used to play tennis all day and every day. Then, after a point, she stopped playing. Now that she looks back, she doesn’t even realize the reasons behind her not playing for so many years. As the former World no. 1 held the racket once again, feelings from the past overwhelmed her. King didn’t pay heed to her age. She was doing what she loved to do, and Kloss motivated her to do it again.

The love story of Billie Jean King and her passion restarted with a powerful question. Ilana Kloss knows King too well to not hit the right spot. King said, “She said to me, ‘Why don’t we go out and hit? You love tennis so much. What’s the worst that could happen?'”

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The question was actually rhetoric. King loved tennis, and she didn’t have any explanation against Kloss’s statement. And so, she did it. 

As Billie Jean King entered the court with the intention to play after so long, her thoughts were rushing. What would happen? How will she play? King didn’t know so much, all she knew was that her heart wanted it, and so she kept going. It took just one hit for King to get all her answers. She said, “The first ball I hit, I’m so thrilled. I love the feeling and the magic of it and the sound. I love tennis.” This is who King was, and this is who she continues to be a tennis lover. 

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Billie Jean King will continue to play, and she has her plans ready

Billie Jean King could not justify her time away from tennis. She said, “It was a long time. It was too long, I don’t know why, because I love it so much.” It is evident that tennis got King’s endorphins over the roof. However, at the age of 79, it might be difficult for King to keep enjoying tennis. But, King has got her plans straight, she said, “As you age, it [makes] you change whether you like it or not. You’re slower, you’re not as quick, you’re not as strong, usually. That’s why lifting and doing things to keep strong is really important as we get older.” King is excited to get fitter and play more tennis. 

In this sweet story of Billie Jean King embracing her passion, Kloss stands as the orchestrator. King said, “I’m so glad that Ilana asked me to play again.” Through tennis, perhaps King and Kloss will revisit their initial days of romance, which would certainly result in another epiphanic moment. King’s partnership with Kloss has been a precious gem, and today, King gets to experience the greatest perks.

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