I would love to be a player today. I had the right personality for it.
BILLIE JEAN KINGEach point I play is in the now moment. The last point means nothing, the next point means nothing.
More Billie Jean King Quotes
-
-
Everyone has people in their lives that are gay, lesbian or transgender or bisexual. They may not want to admit it, but I guarantee they know somebody.
BILLIE JEAN KING -
If your partner wants to be private, you have to respect that.
BILLIE JEAN KING -
The main thing is not a matter of wanting to win; the main thing is being scared to lose.
BILLIE JEAN KING -
That’s why my place in the all-time rankings means so very little to me, because I know I won’t be anybody’s number one, and it’s that same old thing: if you’re not number one, then what does it really matter?
BILLIE JEAN KING -
A champion is afraid of losing. Everyone else is afraid of winning.
BILLIE JEAN KING -
I have a lot to say, and if I’m not No. 1, I can’t say it.
BILLIE JEAN KING -
I knew after my first lesson what I wanted to do with my life.
BILLIE JEAN KING -
I didn’t really care if I had a coach that much, me personally, because I was brought up to think for myself.
BILLIE JEAN KING -
Sports are a microcosm of society. It just shows how much more competition there is in the world.
BILLIE JEAN KING -
I always listen, I ask children, I even ask adults in tennis, “What are your children playing?” And most of the time it’s not tennis. It’s pathetic.
BILLIE JEAN KING -
Ever since that day when I was 11 years old, and I wasn’t allowed in a photo because I wasn’t wearing a tennis skirt, I knew that I wanted to change the sport.
BILLIE JEAN KING -
Martina and I went through a very bad five years. Everything’s very good between us now, but it was a long haul.
BILLIE JEAN KING -
I always think it’s best to pretend you’re in a tenuous position. Just as a player, you always want to stay in the now and work hard but also have goals for the future.
BILLIE JEAN KING -
We have, or have had women presidents or prime ministers in Liberia, Chile, Germany, Great Britain…and yet the US of A still hasn’t had a women president. It’s just beyond my thinking. Look at Congress.
BILLIE JEAN KING -
Men still get a lot more opportunity. It is still a big part of the old boy network… They have more companies they can get money from.
BILLIE JEAN KING -
When people tell you not to believe in your dreams, and they say “Why?”, say “Why not?
BILLIE JEAN KING -
Champions keep playing until they get it right.
BILLIE JEAN KING -
When I’m performing at my absolute best, I think that some of the euphoria I feel must be transmitted to the audience.
BILLIE JEAN KING -
Pressure is a privilege – it only comes to those who earn it.
BILLIE JEAN KING -
Any therapist will tell you that when you’re ready, you will come out. To be outed means you weren’t ready.
BILLIE JEAN KING -
Pressure is a privilege … it’s what you do with it that matters.
BILLIE JEAN KING -
In 1973, a woman could not get a credit card without her husband or father or a male signing off on it.
BILLIE JEAN KING -
There is no life for girls in team sports past Little League. I got into tennis when I realized this, and because I thought golf would be too slow for me, and I was too scared to swim.
BILLIE JEAN KING -
Being Number One isn’t everything to me, but for those few hours on the court it’s way ahead of whatever’s in second place.
BILLIE JEAN KING -
Champions take responsibility.
BILLIE JEAN KING -
You can’tbuy that. It’s about making decisions, corrections, choices. I don’t think it’s so much about becoming a tennis player. It’s about becoming a person.
BILLIE JEAN KING