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Eight former number ones helm WTA`s 30th anniversary celebrations
Los Angeles, Nov 11: Eight of the 13 players who reached no. 1 in women`s tennis gathered to celebrate the WTA tour`s 30th anniversary with its founder Billie Jean King.
Los Angeles, Nov 11: Eight of the 13 players who reached no. 1 in women's tennis gathered to celebrate the WTA tour's 30th anniversary with its founder Billie Jean King.
Tracy Austin, Jennifer Capriati, Lindsay Davenport, Chris Evert, Martina Hingis, Martina Navratilova, Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne were introduced between matches at the WTA championships Sunday.
"I'm always putting out fires at my house," said Evert, who has three sons, ages 12, 9 and 7. "My kids look at me like I'm chopped liver most of the time, so it's nice to come here and have people clapping for you."
Missing were Steffi Graf, Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, Monica Seles, and Venus and Serena Williams.
Austin brought along her three boys, including 7-year-old Dylan, a budding tennis player. She described the gathering as a family reunion.
"It was a warm feeling," she said. "Everyone made their contribution in some way. Billie Jean was there at the beginning and she's still pushing hard for women's tennis. I do hope the women on tour now, even the young ones, know what Billie has done."
King, who turns 60 on November 22, recalled how her first tennis lesson as an 11-year-old changed her.
"I knew I wanted to be number one in the world," she said. "At 12, I knew I wanted to change things."
King founded the Virginia Slims tour in 1971 with nine players who signed $1 contracts with promoter Gladys Heldman, who arranged tournaments separate from men's events that offered $309,100 in prize money. By 1973, the circuit evolved into the WTA tour. This year's total prize money is $52 million.
Bureau Report
Tracy Austin, Jennifer Capriati, Lindsay Davenport, Chris Evert, Martina Hingis, Martina Navratilova, Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne were introduced between matches at the WTA championships Sunday.
"I'm always putting out fires at my house," said Evert, who has three sons, ages 12, 9 and 7. "My kids look at me like I'm chopped liver most of the time, so it's nice to come here and have people clapping for you."
Missing were Steffi Graf, Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, Monica Seles, and Venus and Serena Williams.
Austin brought along her three boys, including 7-year-old Dylan, a budding tennis player. She described the gathering as a family reunion.
"It was a warm feeling," she said. "Everyone made their contribution in some way. Billie Jean was there at the beginning and she's still pushing hard for women's tennis. I do hope the women on tour now, even the young ones, know what Billie has done."
King, who turns 60 on November 22, recalled how her first tennis lesson as an 11-year-old changed her.
"I knew I wanted to be number one in the world," she said. "At 12, I knew I wanted to change things."
King founded the Virginia Slims tour in 1971 with nine players who signed $1 contracts with promoter Gladys Heldman, who arranged tournaments separate from men's events that offered $309,100 in prize money. By 1973, the circuit evolved into the WTA tour. This year's total prize money is $52 million.
Bureau Report