This year's Laureus awards have been dominated by tennis stars, with three legends securing awards on Thursday night, Rafael Nadal, Naomi Osaka and Billie Jean King.
Nadal and Osaka are the best players of the previous season, while Billie Jean King received the Lifetime Achievement award. The winner of 39 Major titles in all three categories is one of the original founder members of the WTA and an advocate for gender equality.
"I'm a product of the public parks of Long Beach, California and I was extremely fortunate to have the access and opportunity to free coaching and instruction. It changed my life and opened my eyes. I knew after my first practice with coach Clyde Walker, that I wanted to be the number one player in the world. Then at 12 years old, I was thinking about my sport and I noticed everyone who played tennis wore white clothes, played with white balls and everyone who played was white.
And I asked myself, where is everyone else? From that moment on, I decided to dedicate my life to equal rights and opportunities for all. I have a vision where the world of sports looks more like our world. Represented equally by people of all genders and all races and cultures, a world where we all have a seat at the table, a voice in the conversation and a chance to lead," Billie Jean King.
She founded the @WTA in 1973 on the principle of equal opportunity and won 129 singles titles during her career 👏 @BillieJeanKing’s influence not just on the world of tennis but wider sport as well, is acknowledged in her Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award 🏆 #Laureus21
