Tennis legends Billie Jean King and the Williams sisters have long stood as champions for women’s rights, making their impact off the court just as powerful as their dominance on it. Serena Williams once captured this spirit perfectly, saying, “The day I stop fighting for equality and for people that look like you and me will be the day I’m in my grave.” And it is this shared commitment that built a lasting bond between Serena Williams and Billie Jean King. Reflecting on Serena Williams‘ influence, King once remarked, “When Serena steps away from tennis, she will leave as the sport’s greatest player.” Today, as Serena Williams celebrates her 44th birthday, the trailblazer who founded the Women’s Tennis Association in 1973 couldn’t resist sharing a heartfelt tribute.

Just hours ago, Billie Jean King took to X to post a throwback selfie featuring Serena, herself, and her wife Ilana Kloss, sharing it with her 535k followers to commemorate Williams’ 44th birthday on September 26th . She captioned the post, “It’s @serenawilliams’ special day! Sending our best wishes to the 23x Grand Slam singles champion, and the highest-earning woman athlete of all time! 🎊.”

Their bond runs deep – after all, it was King who played a pivotal role in Serena’s early journey. Back in 2000, Williams wasn’t able to qualify for the singles event at the Sydney Olympics despite her US Open triumph the year before. However, she teamed up with sister Venus in doubles, and under King’s guidance (the Olympic team coach at the time), they struck gold. But when exactly did Serena and Billie Jean King first cross paths?

Billie Jean King first met the Williams sisters at a Domino’s Pizza World Team Tennis clinic in Long Beach back in 1988. Venus was just eight years old, while Serena was only seven, but even then their raw talent was unmistakable.

Recalling that first encounter, King shared a post on X earlier this year with a nostalgic picture, writing, “On April 30, 1988, 37 years ago today, I first met @Venuseswilliams and @serenawilliams at a Domino’s Pizza @WorldTeamTennis clinic in Long Beach, CA. They were as impressive then as they are now. 📷: Carol Newsom, taken at our second meeting, 1992, with Rosie Casals.”

To her, Serena Williams “changed how tennis is played,” and consistently pushed her rivals to raise their level. But what does the 44-year-old have to say about King’s invaluable contributions on and off the court?

Serena Williams hails Billie Jean King’s role in tennis boom

From demanding equal prize money to her iconic victory over Bobby Riggs in the ‘Battle of the Sexes,’ Billie Jean King has repeatedly broken down barriers and challenged outdated notions of gender in the sport.

So, in an interview with Vanity Fair in July 2024, Serena Williams reflected on King’s influence, saying, “We had Billie Jean King, and not every sport had that. I think I would be remiss not to say that because Billie did so much for women’s tennis and put it on the map. I don’t think other sports necessarily had that person, that one person, but now they have media; now they have a lot of people. But I think we were so fortunate to have that.” Her words capture just how unique and pivotal the 81-year-old’s presence was in shaping women’s tennis for future generations.

And in case you missed, given her extraordinary contributions, King was recently honored with a ceremony on Hollywood Boulevard, where she became the first woman to receive a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame’s new Sports Entertainment category. Her impact on Serena Williams, both as a role model and as a pioneer, remains undeniable. That said, does Serena Williams see herself carrying forward the same torch of advocacy that King lit more than five decades ago? What do you think?