Billie Jean King has instructed Sky Sports activities the WTA stay ‘leaders in girls’s sport’ after signing a record-breaking sponsorship contract.
King was talking on the day the WTA and Mercedes-Benz introduced a long-term partnership understood to be value £37.5m per yr for as much as 10 years, with the potential to be the biggest in girls’s sport.
“It’s extraordinary. It’s not just about women’s tennis, it’s about what’s happening for women and people that have less, really, and it’s amazing,” King instructed Sky Sports activities.
“I’ve been thinking back and our mission statement when we started – I founded it in 1973 – was that any girl born in this world, if she’s good enough, would have a place to compete, because we didn’t have that.
“After which she could be appreciated for her accomplishments, not solely her appears. And the third half was, an important factor is to have the ability to make a dwelling enjoying the game we love.
“That is been a driving drive for me, not simply in tennis, however for social justice and different equality, all of the issues I care about.
“Being right here at present at Mercedes-Benz Museum, and simply interested by these days and what we have simply gotten now, and the way it’s such an indicator of progress, alternative, issues that basically matter to individuals, and significantly, clearly, to girls’s tennis.
“Because of this, we’re still the leaders in women’s sports.
“It is a tremendous partnership. It is psychological, since you’re asking me. All people’s round for this announcement. That helps, as a result of we will inform the story once more about girls’s tennis, about sponsorship, about being a pacesetter, all this stuff that basically matter.
“For women’s sports, I love the fact that we’re the leaders. WTA is the leader. And we’ve always wanted to be that way. And we’ve always helped women’s sports too.
“I used to personal tournaments again within the previous days. So, I perceive the economics. I perceive how onerous it’s. And I simply hope the gamers actually respect it.”
King based the WTA in 1973, and in addition beat Bobby Briggs in Battle of the Sexes that very same yr
‘I might like it if Serena Williams returns – her serve is the best in historical past of sport’
King was effusive in her reward of Serena Williams, who has re-registered with tennis’ drug-testing physique, sparking rumours of a dramatic return to the tour.
The 44-year-old has denied these claims however when requested concerning the 23-time Grand Slam winner, King stated: “I think she wants to try to play again. But I think she’s also very bright and very smart that she knows she’s not going to be No 1 again.
“However if you happen to like to play, why not? I imply, she’s all set in life. She does not want it financially, and he or she enjoys it.
“I met her when she was six and Venus was seven at a tennis clinic we gave in Long Beach, California. They came with their dad Richard. It was an amazing day. I’ll never forget it.
“We had the children hit forwards and backwards from the viewers. As a result of they’re so distinctive. You may see instantly they’re distinctive.
“Personally, I might like it [if Williams came back].
Williams gained a staggering 23 Grand Slam titles between 2002 and 2017
“I want everyone to understand one thing about Serena. Serena has the most beautiful service game in the world, ever. No one’s ever had a better technique on their serve than Serena Williams.
“I noticed it when she was six years previous. I noticed her serve. I went: ‘Oh my God, do not change a factor’.
“If she does come back, I want people to appreciate her serve. Pete Sampras and I used to talk about it. Her serve is so perfect technically. All the kids out there that want to be great, watch her serve.
“Her serve is the all-time method ever within the historical past of the sport, nonetheless.”
‘Sabalenka vs Kyrgios Battle of Sexes? Mine was about social change – this is not’
World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka will play a Battle of the Sexes exhibition match against Nick Kyrgios on December 28 – the fourth time a woman has faced a man in a singles match.
The first came in May 1973 when Bobby Riggs beat Margaret Court, but later that same year King defeated Riggs in straight sets.
For King, this current Battle of the Sexes clash is far removed from her one.
“You guys are all speaking about it, that is the way in which it is good,” she said. “It is very completely different. After I performed Bobby Riggs in 1973, it was all about social justice, about tradition. It was actually about social change. This match shouldn’t be that.
Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios face one another in a Battle of the Sexes contest this month
“I played Bobby straight out, same court, three out of five sets, boom. He didn’t think I would do that, but I did.
“Whereas this one, I feel they have completely different court docket construction. I do not know. I feel it is in all probability going to be enjoyable, however I actually hope Sabalenka wins.
“It’s not about social justice, it’s about entertainment, I guess. I think it’s okay [for the sport]. I’ll have to think more about it, I guess. I hope they have fun.
“They will make numerous cash. No matter. I come from a era who made $14 a day earlier than we had professional tennis, so I’ve an understanding then and now that a whole lot of youthful individuals do not. They suppose it begins out with quite a bit.
“The fact that they can even get that kind of money to play is fantastic.”
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