Q&A With Billie Jean King

Billie Jean King, recently announced winner of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, needs no introduction.  Her 39 grand slam titles and pioneering work for women's sports has made her a legend in both the worlds of sports and civil rights.  The site of the US Open, the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center was christened in her honor.

I got the chance to talk to Billie Jean King a couple times at World Team Tennis events in July, and ask her a few questions about American tennis, World Team Tennis (the league she founded), and mixed doubles (a discipline in which she won 11 grand slams).

TDF: You’ve become such a pillar of American tennis—I was wondering if you had any thoughts on the US Davis Cup team losing to Croatia.

Billie Jean King: No, I didn’t see it.  I have to be at home to get Tennis Channel, in New York, and I’ve been traveling around with World Team Tennis.

 You said the pillar of American tennis—you  were talking about Davis Cup?

TDF: No, I was actually talking about you...

BJK: Oh! Thank you, that’s sweet, I feel very strong now (flexes).

I think we have concerns always.  I think our guys gave their best, but it hurt us that we didn’t have Roddick.  When we lost both of the first singles matches in five sets—that was our opportunity.  I know our guys gave everything that they had, and that’s all you can do.

Our Davis Cup Captain Patrick McEnroe is trying to help juniors, bring them along as practice partners.  Even some young players who have been playing World Team Tennis for our team of juniors, the New York Buzz who we call the “Baby Buzz.”

TDF: Do you think he should put more young players like Sam Querrey on the team to get them experience?

BJK: Nah, you couldn’t have put Sam on the team.  I would get the top players.  I think the players respect that.  When I was Fed Cup captain, I always went by ranking.   Made it easy.

TDF: World Team Tennis has had some great attendance here in DC this summer—do you have any plans to expand next year possibly?

BJK:No, we decided not to expand, a larger size would be more difficult.  If someone wants to have a team, they’ll have to buy it from an existing owner.  That should help the franchise value go up.

TDF: So you’re capping the number at ten?

BJK: Yes, we’re capping because we actually dropped one last year [the late Delaware Smash].  OK? We’re trying to figure out how many we want.  We want every one of them to be a jewel, we want them very good, we want good tennis.  And we have a ways to go.  Like in Washington, we have a very good model with about three thousand people a night every single night, it’s great.

That’s our goal, to sell out every night.  And that’s how we want to keep operating.

And St. Louis does well also.  The bigger markets tend to do well, obviously they have more people.

TDF: You’ve said one of your favorite events to play when you were playing was mixed doubles—would you like to see mixed doubles expand to more non-grand slam co-ed tournaments, to tournaments like Miami and Indian Wells?

BJK:  Yes, definitely.  In the sixties, as amateurs we played singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.  And I loved it.  I loved to play.

But don’t have the five setters.  Too long.  They really wear our guys out.  If you have a few of those matches in your lifetime, like that Nadal-Federer match and Roddick-Federer this year…I don’t know what it does, but it takes so much out of you over time.

I think they retire too early because of it.  I’d rather keep a name—more great players in the game longer.  I miss them when they retire early.  Thirty years old and retiring is too soon.  I’d really prefer three sets.  Because I love to see the players, I love to see what they bring to the game.  I would like to see the players around a lot longer.

TDF: Do you think Venus and Serena will be able to last until they’re forty?

BJK: They haven’t played as much as some of the other girls, so they probably can last longer.  They did a great job with their time, they should be around.

TDF:  Where does this final rank against all the World Team Tennis finals you’ve seen?

BJK: I’m trying to think if it’s the best one or not, because that’s where my mind has been going.  But right now it’s the best since it’s current.

It just showed the format at its best.  The players were fantastic.  There was a lot of nervousness from the first shot, and I like it when they feel that this is a critical point. So it was really good, and the fans were great.  The Washington, DC fans are fantastic—we love them, and I thank them for their support.

As far as its ranking among all the past finals, it’s right up there.  And Scott Oudsema, he’s gotten so much better over the season from the first time I saw him a few weeks ago, and here he’s the MVP of tonight’s match—can’t ask for more than that.