“You mean the world to me” Chris Evert sends touching birthday wish to Billie Jean King
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Chris Evert and Billie Jean King (Image via Instagram)
The last century stood witness to some breathtaking iconic rivalries in the game of tennis. Talented women and their legions of fans dotted the history of the game in the late 1900s. One such iconic rivalry that has been making all the right noises is that of Billie Jean King and Chris Evert.
A significant feature of women’s tennis has been the extraordinary longevity of the players. Hence, despite King being Evert’s senior by over 9 years, the duo often faced each other on the court. However, Evert would be the first to retire, and King would follow a year later.
The beauty of sports is that the fiercest of rivalries can be the building base of the strongest friendships. Such is the relationship between King and Evert, a bond forged in fire and aided by respect. To honor Billie Jean King on her 79th birthday, Chris Evert poured her heart out on a rather heartwarming note. She noted, “A very Happy Birthday to @BillieJeanKing So much to thank her for… so little space! Thank you for being an exceptional role model, mentor, and friend to me… You mean the world to me!”
Evert took to Twitter to claim that 280 characters aren’t enough to encompass the importance of Billie Jean King in her life. She thanked King for being an incredible friend and a mentor, and wrote that the older Americans ‘meant the world to her.’
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Chris Evert vs. Billie Jean King – a rivalry for the history books!
Chris Evert and Billie Jean King were both phenomenal tennis players, each dominating the game in their respective decades. Both the Americans won multiple majors, completed the career Grand Slam in the singles category, and were long-reigning World no. 1. The duo faced each other a record 13 times in their long careers.
King won the first 3 of their encounters, including the finals of Wimbledon 1973, and Evert won the subsequent 10. We also saw the fierce competitors on the same side, as they represented the USA in the Fed Cup for many years.
Billie Jean King, born in 1943, turned pro in 1968. Prior to the beginning of the Open Era, she had played in the amateur circuit. She won a whopping 39 major titles – 12 in singles, 16 in doubles, and 11 in mixed doubles and has completed the career Grand Slam in singles and mixed doubles. However, she fell short in the women’s doubles category, never having won the Australian Open. King was also a member of multiple Fed Cup-winning continents and also received the position of team captain several times. She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987.
Chris Evert Lloyd turned pro in 1972. The popular personality reached a record 34 Grand Slam singles finals, of which she won 18. She won each slam at least twice, making her one of the few people to complete the Career Grand Slam. Evert also won 3 Grand Slam doubles titles at French Open and Wimbledon. She collected a breathtaking 157 singles titles in her career, before calling it quits in 1989. She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1995. For her professional achievements, she was awarded the Philippe Chatrier Award.
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