Billie Jean King celebrates 'dear friend' Chris Evert's 70th birthday with heartwarming tribute

Billie Jean King shared a heartfelt birthday message for her "dear friend" Chris Evert on her 70th birthday. Both King and Evert are icons of American tennis, each achieving the World No. 1 ranking in different eras, leaving an indelible mark on the sport.

On December 21, King took to X to share an image of herself with Evert and wished her compatriot in the caption. The 81-year-old wrote:

"On this day in 1954, a future tennis legend was born! Happy birthday to 18x Grand Slam singles champion, the first woman athlete to be @SInow's sole recipient of the "Sportsperson of the Year" award, and our dear friend, Chris Evert"

Evert won 18 singles Grand Slam titles including a women's singles record seven titles at the French Open. She was the first WTA World No. 1 in 1975 and went on to hold the rank for over 250 weeks. There is immense respect between the American tennis legends Evert and King.

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Billie Jean King heaps praise on Chris Evert and her impact on women's tennis

Billie Jean King (L) and Chris Evert (Image: Getty)

Billie Jean King, a trailblazer of women’s professional tennis, offered a striking perspective on Chris Evert’s impact on the sport. She compared it to the impact Caitlin Clark has had on basketball.

"You know what Caitlin Clark did this year for women’s basketball—actually, just basketball, period?” Billie Jean King said (via WTA). "Chrissie did that for tennis in 1971. I was there, so I can tell you all about it."

Notably, in 1971, at just 16 years old, Evert made waves by winning 30 of 32 matches. She faced defeat against King in the US Open semifinals. Recognizing her potential, King rallied her peers.

"I had to have a meeting with the older players and told them to shape up,” King said. "I said, 'She’ll put money in your pocket. Guys, she’s our next superstar.' To this day, she’s the only player, man or woman, who won 90 percent of her career matches."

Chris Evert won 154 singles titles in her career and held a 1304-144 win-loss record. Her influence, however, went beyond on-court success. As her star rose, King guided her compatriot into leadership.

"'Chrissie, I’m WTA president for one more year, and I want you to be vice president,'" King recalled her conversation with Evert.

Reluctant at first, Evert eventually served as WTA president for over a decade, steering the organization into a new era. Through her grace and determination, Evert reshaped perceptions of female athletes, paving the way for future generations on and off the court.