Billie Jeans King still serves for equality | The Express Tribune
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LONDON: Fifty years after playing a leading role in the revolutionary foundation of the Women's Tennis Association, Billie Jean King remains a "visionary" with a message for the next generation. Fuelled by her desire to ensure female players were paid the same prize money as their male counterparts, King was the catalyst behind the WTA's birth at a London hotel in 1973. Now 79, King, a 12-time Grand Slam singles champion, remains fiercely committed to the cause of equality, while also keeping a close eye on trends that affect the modern player. And, on her return to the Gloucester Hotel on Friday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the WTA, the American was keen to pass on her wisdom to the young stars who are the future of women's tennis. Female players including Naomi Osaka , Paula Badosa and Amanda Anisimova have highlighted their struggles with mental health issues on the tennis circuit, a high-pressure environment that often leaves compet