Billie Jean King is no stranger to making her admiration for Serena and Venus Williams known, and it is clear it is still there as the tennis legends celebrate 38 years of knowing each other.

The 82-year-old icon shared a heartfelt post recently praising the Williams sisters for their lasting impact on the sport. Billie Jean King took to X to share a 1992 photo with Rosie Casals, Venus Williams, and Serena Williams.

"38 years ago today, I met two future legends. On April 30, 1988, at a WorldTeam Tennis clinic powered by @dominos in Long Beach, CA, I met @Venuseswilliams and @serenawilliams for the very first time, with my longtime doubles partner Rosie Casals right by my side. Even then, their spark was undeniable," Billie Jean King wrote.

For those who may not know, when Billie Jean King first met Venus Williams and Serena Williams, Venus was just eight years old, and Serena was only seven.

This also isn’t the first time Billie Jean King has talked about meeting the Williams sisters.

She’s shared it several times, including last year, and again in May 2022 when she posted a photo from their second meeting, saying, “They were as impressive then as they are now.”

Billie Jean King has long admired Serena Williams, saying in a 2022 interview that she has earned love and respect across generations.

“She’s got that magic that draws people in. And she thrives on the crowd.” She also added that Serena Williams has “changed how tennis is played, she has pushed the other players to improve.”

And that respect is mutual, with Serena Williams having repeatedly cited Billie Jean King’s influence on the game.

Serena Williams Reflects on Billie Jean King’s Lasting Impact

In 1973, Billie Jean King played a big part in starting the Women’s Tennis Association, fought for equal prize money, and made history by defeating Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the Sexes.”

With 39 Grand Slam titles, she is still one of the most influential figures in tennis, and Serena Williams has always displayed her deep respect for the legend.

Speaking about her impact in a July 2024 interview with Vanity Fair, Serena Williams said, “We had Billie Jean King, and not every sport had that... Billie did so much for women’s tennis and put it on the map. I don’t think other sports necessarily had that person... I think we were so fortunate to have that.“

Because of her impact, Billie Jean King was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, becoming the first woman in the Sports Entertainment category.

She was also honored last year at the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, Maryland, where she led a clinic for young players, showing that even at 81, her passion for the sport remains strong.

What do you think about Billie Jean King's passion for tennis? Comment down below!

Written by

Sauramita Debbarma

Edited by

Utsav Gupta