Billie Jean King is an American former World No. 1 professional tennis player. King won 39 Grand Slam titles: 12 in singles, 16 in women’s doubles, and 11 in mixed doubles. She won the singles title at the inaugural WTA Tour Championships. She 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, she was the United States’ captain in the Federation Cup. King is an advocate for gender equality and has long been a pioneer for equality and social justice. She was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1990. In 2006 the USTA National Tennis Center in New York City was renamed the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. In 2018, she won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award. May her quotes inspire you to take action so that you may live your dreams.
1. “It’s just really important that we start celebrating our differences. Let’s start tolerating first, but then we need to celebrate our differences.” Billie Jean King
2. “It is very hard to be a female leader. While it is assumed that any man, no matter how tough, has a soft side and a female leader is assumed to be one-dimensional.” Billie Jean King
3. “Don’t let anyone define you. You define yourself.” Billie Jean King
4. “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
5. “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
6. “Men still get a lot more opportunity. It is still a big part of the old boy network. They have more companies they can get money from.” Billie Jean King
7. “This is the century of women.” Billie Jean King
8. “It’s fun to meet people from throughout the world who you don’t have to explain yourself to.” Billie Jean King
9. “Parity at last!” Billie Jean King
10. “I like entrepreneurial people; I like people who take risks.” Billie Jean King
11. “I have a lot to say, and if I’m not No.1, I can’t say it.” Billie Jean King
12. “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
13. “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
14. “I didn’t really care if I had a coach that much, me personally, because I was brought up to think for myself.” Billie Jean King
15. “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
16. “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
17. “Tennis is a perfect combination of violent action taking place in an atmosphere of total tranquillity.” Billie Jean King
18. “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
19. “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
20. “Don’t go into debt, and don’t spend a lot. It’s not how much money you make, it’s how much you spend.” Billie Jean King
21. “I used to be told if I talked about my sexuality in any way that we wouldn’t have a tennis tour.” Billie Jean King
22. “Women get the attention when we get into the men’s arena, and that’s sad.” Billie Jean King
23. “Ever since that day when I was 11 years old, and I wasn’t allowed in a photo because I wasn’t wearing a tennis skirt, I knew that I wanted to change the sport.” Billie Jean King
24. “Sports are a microcosm of society.” Billie Jean King
25. “That is where the power, opportunity, and choice come from when you have money. Money equals opportunity. There is no question.” Billie Jean King
26. “A champion is afraid of losing. Everyone else is afraid of winning.” Billie Jean King
27. “Pressure is a privilege – it only comes to those who earn it.” Billie Jean King
28. “I have often been asked whether I am a woman or an athlete. The question is absurd. Men are not asked that. I am an athlete. I am a woman.” Billie Jean King
29. “Champions take responsibility.” Billie Jean King
30. “Sometimes you have to be satisfied. You try hard enough. Don’t be so self-critical; don’t be so hard on yourself.” Billie Jean King
31. “The main thing is to care. Care very hard, even if it is only a game you are playing.” Billie Jean King
32. “I think self-awareness is probably the most important thing towards being a champion.” Billie Jean King
33. “No one changes the world who isn’t obsessed.” Billie Jean King
34. “Face your fears; live your passions, be dedicated to your truth.” Billie Jean King
35. “Champions keep playing until they get it right.” Billie Jean King
