Andrea Petkovic, a German tennis player, has paid tribute to Billie Jean King, claiming that the former world No. 1 transformed the game.
During her brilliant career, King won 39 Grand Slams. But she also battled for women’s rights and did everything she could to assist women’s tennis to thrive.
“For me she is one of the pioneers, one of the reasons why I play tennis. When things are not going well for me and I have a lot to do,
“I think of her and all that she had to endure.
“He is someone to whom I owe everything.
“Without her, professional women’s tennis as we know it today would not exist, and all thanks to her assertiveness and her willingness to take risks,” Petkovic said of King, per Punto de Break.
Ons Jabeur was praised by King
King claimed Ons Jabeur had what it takes to be a No. 1 after she became the first Arab player to get into the top-10.
“She can improve a lot, so I don’t think No 8 is going to be her top ranking at all, I think she’s got the ability to go much higher,” King told The National.
“And I think as a child, or when she was younger and maybe still to this day, a few of the things I’ve read is her saying she’s always wanted to be No 1.
“So she’s going in the right direction that’s for sure.” King also expressed her admiration for Jabeur.
“I just knew I should call her,” King said. “I do call players, not just her, or we meet through people, and I just thought it was important.
“She has such a yearning to do well for the Arab people,
“And that came through really loud and really clear.
“She’s trying to represent the Arab people and I’m very big about what you do off the court, not just on the court. So I think I really admired that part of her.”
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