A pioneer and a legend.

No female tennis player would disagree: that's how much the American woman did for tennis and for women's sport in general. And for women's rights as well. Billie Jean King, first, was an incredible player ‒ one of the greatest of all time ‒ who won 12 Grand Slams, including three in one year (1972). But she was more than that. She created professional women's tennis, culminating with the creation of the WTA, of which she was the first president. She is also the one who demanded ‒ and received ‒ equal prize money for men and women at the U.S. Open.  And who had the idea to organise a match against the macho Bobby Riggs ‒ and beat him? That, too, was Billie Jean King! Her 129 titles and her number one world ranking in the late 1960s almost seem trivial alongside her fight to change mentalities. The Californian was also the first woman athlete to disclose her homosexuality. Billie Jean King, whose name was given to the stadium at Flushing Meadows and to the new Fed Cup format, is still deeply involved in tennis. And more respected than ever.