As a pioneer in the world of tennis, Billie Jean King has always been known for her relentless spirit and unwavering commitment to the sport. She broke numerous barriers, not only as a tennis player but also as a woman who fought for gender equality, on and off the court. So, it comes as no surprise that she would send a heartfelt 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡day message to another trailblazer in the sport of tennis, Venus Williams, on her 43 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡day on June 17.
King took to social media to wish Williams a happy 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡day, celebrating the tennis legend’s numerous accomplishments. Recently, Venus Williams returned to the sport after a long break owing to an injury. So this 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡day is definitely a special one. And King made sure to write a sweet message for her on social media making it clear that there is no one who can take Williams’ place in tennis.
Venus Williams, like Billie Jean King, has been a trailblazer in her own right. Williams has made an indelible mark in the tennis world. She has also been a staunch advocate for gender equality in sports, fighting for equal prize money for male and female tennis players. Not just that, she has also been an alpha representative of the black community in the world of sports.
To acknowledge her achievements and wish her on her 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡day, Billie Jean posted on Twitter, “Thinking of Venus Williams on her special day. She is the first black woman in the Open Era to rank no. 1 in singles and has played in 89 Grand Slams, the most ever by any player”.
This message from King is a clear indicator of how supportive the world of tennis can be if players decide to support each other for good.
Even though Venus’ comeback journey’s start has been a little rocky with her loss at the Libema Open, her fans never stopped rooting for her. She will next be playing the Birmingham Classic which commences on the 19 of June. Elina Svitolina and Venus Williams have received a wildcard entry into the main draw of this tournament.
Her first match will be against Camila Giorgi who is currently ranked at 47 according to the WTA rankings. Besides the Birmingham tournament, she will also be playing at the Rothesay Classic.
