50 Years After Revolutionizing Tennis, Billie Jean King Turns Emotional as 19YO Coco Gauff Emerges as a Flag Bearer for Women’s Sports

Coco Gauff is undeniably the best player in the world at the moment. After her recent success at the US Open, she has become a strong force to be dealt with. Due to his heroic performances, she has received worldwide praise from fans and even the legends of the game. Recently Billie Jean King, one of the most prominent names in tennis came ahead to talk about the 19-year-old sensation.

Reflecting on the form that she is in, she mentioned how the young gun is the answer to all the hard work that she did 50 years ago. She also mentioned how Gauff’s grandmother was also a key figure in embedding a fighting spirit in Coco Gauff.

Coco Gauff is the reason why Billie Jean King fought so hard 50 years back

Billie Jean King has been a trailblazer for gender equality & draws inspiration from a new generation of athletes. Among them, Coco Gauff shines as a ray of hope and change. King’s admiration for the young tennis sensation is huge as she thinks that she has fulfilled her 50 years of fight for change.

In King’s eyes, Gauff embodies the very spirit of the struggles she herself faced 50 years ago. Gauff’s determination and resilience, inherited from her grandmother, who shattered barriers as the first Black child to attend an all-white school in Delray, Florida, is proof of the progress made since King’s days as a player.

“When I see her, she’s the reason we fought so hard 50 years ago. I think she’s such a force. It comes from her grandmother. Her grandmother was the first Black child to go to an all-white school in Delray. To hear her story, if you’re a granddaughter & you’re hearing your grandmother talk about going to a white school, being the only Black child, I think she’s such a force. I want her to be happy, number one. She’s really exciting to watch & a great athlete,” mentioned Billie Jean King in an interview with People.

For King, Gauff represents more than just a talented athlete; she symbolizes the continuation of a legacy, a torchbearer of courage and inspiration for the generations to come. Billie Jean King’s wish is not only for Gauff’s sporting success but, above all, for her happiness. However, it is interesting to know that Billie Jean King’s efforts are beyond recognition in tennis. She was the one who fought for equality.

Also read: ‘She Dragged Her A**’- Caroline Wozniacki’s Sly Dig at Coco Gauff’s Australian Open Slayer Stirs Up Forgotten WTA Drama Amongst Fans

Billie Jean King laid the foundation of the modern-day WTA

WTA today is sending shockwaves across the world. A pure example of this was witnessed at the US Open when the men’s final had comparatively fewer views than the women’s finals. However, what looks like growing today required a lot of effort 50 years ago.

Billie Jean King, along with 9 other players fought for equality when they signed a $1 dollar contract. That one-dollar contract later laid the foundation for the modern-day WTA. Thus, Billie Jean King has been a role model for many as her efforts to fight for equality are widely appreciated across the world today. Also, her revelation about Gauff suggests that the 19-year-old player is on the right track to stardom and could make his way to become the next big thing in tennis.

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