Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King
Billie Jean Kingis an American former World No. 1 professional tennis player. King won 39 Grand Slam titles, including 12 singles, 16 women's doubles, and 11 mixed doubles titles. King won the singles title at the inaugural WTA Tour Championships. King often represented the United States in the Federation Cup and the Wightman Cup. She was a member of the victorious United States team in seven Federation Cups and nine Wightman Cups. For three years, King was the United States'...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionTennis Player
Date of Birth22 November 1943
CityLong Beach, CA
CountryUnited States of America
You have got to want to be the best before you can even begin to reach for that goal, and you have got to be prepared to sacrifice a lot to get there.
I think self-awareness is probably the most important thing towards being a champion.
I have often been asked whether I am a women or an athlete. The question is absurd. Men are not asked that. I am an athlete. I am a women.
When you oppress people either by gender, by race, by sexual orientation, when you do that and the doors become ajar, they will fly open and they will come and they have.
Don't let anyone define you. You define yourself.
Pressure is a privilege - it only comes to those who earn it.
Champions keep playing until they get it right.
The most important words that have helped me in life, when things have gone right or when things have gone wrong are 'accept responsibility.'
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.
I try to perfect my strong points and make my weaknesses adequate.
The main thing is to care. Care very hard, even if it is only a game you are playing.
I would just never out anybody. I think everyone has to find it in their own way and their own time.
I always listen, I ask children, I even ask adults in tennis, "What are your children playing?" And most of the time it's not tennis. It's pathetic.
My whole life has been about equal rights and opportunities. For me it really goes back to the health of mind, body and soul.