"Little girls want to grow up and become athletes now": Evert recognises impact of Billie Jean King, Jabeur and Osaka on International Women's Day

With today (Wednesday 8 March) being International Women's Day, Chris Evert spoke to Eurosport about iconic women in tennis and how different generations have had different superstars for different reasons who all transcend sport and become icons.

Evert began with Billie Jean King who as part of the Original 9 was the first true women's trailblazer in tennis but one of the first in women's sport as a whole and continues to be recognised as an iconic figure not only in sport but for women. But also Naomi Osaka was also pointed to for speaking out on her mental health struggles.

"I have to say Billie Jean King. I mean, if you were to ask me, she just started it all. She was the leader for women's equal rights and equal opportunities and promoting the sport of tennis for women and promoting women athletes in general.

"She was basically saying it is okay to be athletic and have muscles and sweat on the court when in those days, in the 60s and 70s, it was frowned upon for a woman to be that way.

"So she changed not only the sport of tennis but the image of what a woman could be.

"Female athletes transcend their sports now, they become icons. They use their platform to give very pertinent thoughts and talk about very important issues that relate to society, and they have the courage to speak up.

"Look what Naomi Osaka did with mental health. She just opened up a can of worms there and opened the door to have a conversation and to be empathetic and to realise that it is there and it is rampant - not only for athletes but people suffering from anxiety in general.

"I compare female athletes now to how they were not looked up to 40 years ago, 50 years ago. I think that they are very much respected, admired, and little girls want to grow up and become athletes now, not models or movie stars, necessarily. They want to grow up and be athletic and empower themselves that way."

But as well as Osaka from the present day, Ons Jabeur was also pointed out by Evert as a player who has transcended sport in Africa and the Middle East and shown girls in that they can become athletes too.

"I think everybody brings something, all the top players. I mean, I don't know how you can differentiate between Naomi for what she did for mental health and Jabeur for the influence she has in the Arab world and the African world.

"Ons has been a role model for women in that part of the world who haven't had the rights and haven't had the freedom and the resources that we've had over here in America or in other parts of the world. Talk about transcending the sport! She has just influenced a culture and a society that needed a leader like her. So I would say both of those young women currently in today's game have really made a significant impact on society in the world."