“Billie Jean King’s contribution is power,” Curtis said. “She’s power on the courts, she’s power in the courts, she’s power in the press, power in her public advocacy, power in her fight for freedom, power to be who she is now.”
King grew up in Long Beach, 34 miles south of Hollywood. She played at the Los Angeles and Beverly Hills tennis clubs, where she’d spot stars like Lucille Ball and Doris Day.
“We’re just alike,” he said. “We’re super competitive as hell, we’re control freaks because we know that if you put it in our hands we’re going to win. You’ve been a winner your whole life, you love to help people and last but not least, you always will stand for what’s right.”
The ceremony reunited King with players Rosie Casals and Julie Anthony from the earliest days of the WTA Tour, as well as the tour’s retired athletic trainer Connie Spooner. Also attending were five-time major champion Maria Sharapova and Stacey Allaster, former WTA CEO and current U.S. Open tournament director.
