Billie Jean King Quotes

A collection of quotes by Billie Jean King.

Billie Jean King is a former professional tennis player from the United States, born on November 22, 1943, in Long Beach, California. She is widely known for her exceptional achievements on and off the tennis court. During her career, King won a total of 39 Grand Slam titles in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, establishing herself as one of the greatest female tennis players of all time.

King's most iconic accomplishment came in 1973 when she defeated Bobby Riggs in the highly publicized "Battle of the Sexes" tennis match. This victory further cemented her status as a trailblazer for gender equality in sports. She was a fierce advocate for equal prize money and opportunities for female athletes, playing a key role in the formation of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA).

Beyond her athletic achievements, King is known for her activism and fight for social justice. She is an openly gay athlete and has been a strong advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. King received numerous accolades throughout her life, including being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her contributions to society.

Even after retirement, King continued to be involved in tennis as a coach and television commentator, inspiring future generations of athletes. Her impact on the sport and her tireless efforts to promote equality have left an indelible mark on both tennis and society as a whole.

I knew after my first lesson what I wanted to do with my lif

I knew after my first lesson what I wanted to do with my life.

Billie Jean King

I love to promote our sport. I love grass-roots tennis. I lo

I love to promote our sport. I love grass-roots tennis. I love coaching. I love all parts of the sport. I love the business side.

Billie Jean King

Business Love Sports

Tennis taught me so many lessons in life. One of the things

Tennis taught me so many lessons in life. One of the things it taught me is that every ball that comes to me, I have to make a decision. I have to accept responsibility for the consequences every time I hit a ball.

Billie Jean King

Wisdom Life Responsibility Tennis Decision Consequence

I like putting money back into what made my life, and tennis

I like putting money back into what made my life, and tennis has been great to me.

Billie Jean King

If your partner wants to be private, you have to respect tha

If your partner wants to be private, you have to respect that.

Billie Jean King

Sports are a microcosm of society.

Sports are a microcosm of society.

Billie Jean King

In 1973, women got 59 cents on the dollar now we are getting

In 1973, women got 59 cents on the dollar now we are getting 74 cents on the dollar. In the area of finance and business, we are at 68 cents on the dollar.

Billie Jean King

Women's sports is still in its infancy. The beginning of wom

Women's sports is still in its infancy. The beginning of women's sports in the United States started in 1972, with the passage of Title 9 for girls to finally get athletic scholarships.

Billie Jean King

Women get the attention when we get into the men's arena, an

Women get the attention when we get into the men's arena, and that's sad.

Billie Jean King

In the seventies we had to make it acceptable for people to

In the seventies we had to make it acceptable for people to accept girls and women as athletes. We had to make it okay for them to be active. Those were much scarier times for females in sports.

Billie Jean King

Sports teaches you character, it teaches you to play by the

Sports teaches you character, it teaches you to play by the rules, it teaches you to know what it feels like to win and lose-it teaches you about life.

Billie Jean King

There is no life for girls in team sports past Little League

There is no life for girls in team sports past Little League. I got into tennis when I realized this, and because I thought golf would be too slow for me, and I was too scared to swim.

Billie Jean King

I think it's impossible to judge whether another person shou

I think it's impossible to judge whether another person should come out. You just hope they will on their own time and their own terms.

Billie Jean King

I wanted to use sports for social change.

I wanted to use sports for social change.

Billie Jean King

Men can have a huge turnover of sponsorship and still surviv

Men can have a huge turnover of sponsorship and still survive a lot better than the women. But the women's ratings are better, at least at home in the United States than in the men's tennis.

Billie Jean King

When they take surveys of women in business, of the Fortune

When they take surveys of women in business, of the Fortune 500, the successful women, 80% of them, say they were in sports as a young woman.

Billie Jean King

Tennis is a perfect combination of violent action taking pla

Tennis is a perfect combination of violent action taking place in an atmosphere of total tranquillity.

Billie Jean King

A champion is afraid of losing. Everyone else is afraid of w

A champion is afraid of losing. Everyone else is afraid of winning.

Billie Jean King

Be bold. If you are going to make an error, make a doozy, an

Be bold. If you are going to make an error, make a doozy, and don't be afraid to hit the ball.

Billie Jean King

Champions take responsibility. When the ball is coming over

Champions take responsibility. When the ball is coming over the net, you can be sure I want the ball.

Billie Jean King