WTA > Bille Jean King: “53 years ago today, I won $4,000 in a tournament and became the first female athlete to win $100,000 in prize money in a single year. Today, female tennis players represent 9 of the 10 highest paid female athletes”

If Billie Jean King is a tennis legend thanks to her exploits on the court (world number 1 and winner of 39 Grand Slam titles including 12 in singles), she is also a legend thanks to her involvement and her fight for equality gender and consideration of women’s sport.

Creator and first president of the WTA in 1973, the American published a message on her Twitter account on Thursday, October 3, concerning the immense progress made financially within women’s tennis.

“53 years ago today, I won $4,000 in a tournament and became the first female athlete to win $100,000 in prize money in a single year. Today, professional tennis players make up 9 of the 10 highest paid female athletes. The progress has been wonderful. But we’re not done yet! »wrote the woman who gave her name in 2020 to the new Fed Cup, the Billie Jean King Cup, the women’s tennis team competition.

Published on Thursday October 3, 2024 at 5:37 p.m.