Rod Laver and Billie Jean King are two of the most influential tennis players to have ever played the sport.
Without them, much of what we enjoy today about the sport likely would have never materialised.
Their push for greater pay has allowed stars to dedicate their lives to tennis, thus improving the level with each passing generation.
And whilst the likes of Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will naturally steal the spotlight for their work over the last few decades, it should never be forgotten what Laver and King did to make what these contemporary legends achieved possible.
Rod Laver shares what he thought the first time he saw Billie Jean King play
As the two sat beside one another in a 2019 interview, they took turns in expressing mutual respect and gratitude.
After all, these were two pioneers of their times, and they forged a path that every player since has followed with much greater ease.
What the 87-year-old said about Billie Jean was particularly heartwarming, highlighting just how much she changed the game: “Well, there was no was Billie Jean game. It was just sort of playing from the baseline, Billie Jean’s, her whole structure, the way she played the game, it was, you know, aggressive. Everything was aggressive, and that was the thing that the women didn’t do.
“And that was one of the reasons why this one had a lot of wins, not playing her best because you’re flattened when you think Billie Jean, with the big serve, she comes in to volley. What do you mean she comes into volley?!”
Roger Federer’s relationship with Rod Laver
Whilst Laver was left stunned by what King managed on the court, it is Federer who has been left in awe of the Australian.
He has regularly expressed his admiration for the legendary veteran, even naming his competition, the Laver Cup, after him.
And, opening up on their relationship as recently as 2018, the Swiss superstar revealed: “We profited both from it, John and myself, to be playing on a professional tour, earn our living through it.
“It’s a generation that I feel like we both are very thankful to. They put a lot into it, and all they received was a tap on the back, Well done, thank you for playing. Today it’s so different. We have these most modern stadiums, press, sponsors. There’s so much to it now.
See how you get on with this tricky tennis quiz!
“Back then, it was different, very different. As I got to know Rod, obviously things changed entirely. I met a man who is incredibly humble, a legend, the nicest man. It’s nice to be able to call him a friend today.”
Federer was not the only man to laud this legendary figure, as Bjorn Borg claimed he was inspired by Laver too.
Naturally, all the praise Federer gave to Laver applies to King, who existed in the same era and fought for similar ideals.
