WTA: Billie Jean King has told how her attempts to form the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) were “very scary”, adding that she now believes tennis’ modern-day players are “fulfilling our dream”.
In order to form the WTA, King assembled more than 60 women at the Gloucester Hotel in London more than 50 years ago.
Three years prior, nine women broke off on their own out of frustration at being treated like second-class citizens during the early professional era of tennis.
The Original Nine, also known as King, Rosie Casals, Nancy Richey, Kerry Melville, Peaches Bartkowicz, Kristy Pigeon, Judy Dalton, Valerie Ziegenfuss, and Julie Heldman, all signed fictitious $1 contracts to compete in a new tour called the Virginia Slims Series.
After King’s promise to lead a boycott, that developed into the WTA, and later in 1973 the US Open became the first Grand Slam to pay equal prize money.
“We were thinking it would take a long time when we fantasised about a tour, thought about equal prize money,” King remarked.
“We considered the Original Nine in relation to three different things. First, if a girl were good enough, she would be able to compete anywhere in the globe. not to play but to contend.
“Second, we should be praised for our achievements rather than just our appearance. Thirdly, it’s crucial to be able to support yourself while playing the sport you love, in our case, tennis.
“When we were beginners, our daily pay was $14. We sincerely desired this. We want it for upcoming generations. We were aware that success would help us a little. The next generations would experience the true events.
“That felt like a nightmare. It was very scary. I was so frightened. Yet I couldn’t help but think ahead. Knowing the background makes it quite evident that they are pursuing our ideal.
All Grand Slam tournaments didn’t offer equal prize money until 2007, and in the 15 years following then, compensation has sharply increased.
According to Forbes, tennis players make up seven of the top ten highest-paid female athletes in the world in 2022, with Naomi Osaka at the top of the list with four of the top five.
King, who will turn 80 later this year, is still one of tennis’ most vocal figures and hasn’t lost any of the passion that inspired her to transform her sport.
Aryna Sabalenka’s first remarks were directed at the woman who had given her the trophy as she won the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup at the Australian Open in January and received more than £1.5 million in prize money.
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