"Billie Jean King is a legend.. When she says, you listen" - Katie Boulter on gaining 'confidence' after American's 'not appreciated enough' remark

Katie Boulter praised Billie Jean King as a true legend, saying everyone looks up to her. She added that when someone like King speaks, it’s important to listen because of her significant contributions to the sport.

After concluding a standout season at the Hong Kong Open, where she reached the final before falling to Daria Kasatkina, Boulter joined Great Britain’s team for the Billie Jean King Cup in Malaga, Spain. They reached the semifinals but fell short against Slovakia, losing 1-2.

King previously shared her admiration for Boulter, telling BBC she had been following her progress for five years. She touched on the impressive improvement and remarked that she doesn’t receive the recognition she deserves.

Katie Boulter expressed her delight at receiving such high praise from the 12-time Grand Slam champion. Speaking in an interview with The Guardian, she said:

"It was a really nice moment, very sweet. It does give you confidence, make you realize people are noticing."

"Coming from someone like her, she’s been in this game a very long time. She knows what she’s doing, she is the sport, she’s a legend and we all look up to her. We know what she’s done for us. When she says things like that, you listen," she added.

Billie Jean King had said:

"Katie Boulter, people should pay attention to her. I’ve been watching her for about five years now and every year she has got a little bit better – I don’t think people appreciate her enough. She’s got quicker, she’s got more consistent."

Katie Boulter to kick off 2025 season at United Cup

Katie Boulter pictured at the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup Finals | Image Source: Getty

Katie Boulter had a fabulous 2024 season, marked by title wins at the Nottingham Open and San Diego Open. Riding high on her success, she is set to begin the 2025 season on a strong note, starting with the United Cup, a mixed-gender team event, on December 27.

Boulter will represent Great Britain alongside Jack Draper, Billy Harris, Lily Miyazaki, Charles Broom, and Olivia Nicholls. The event, taking place in Perth and Sydney, serves as a warm-up for the Australian Open.

The 28-year-ood will be aiming for her first Grand Slam title in Melbourne this year, with her best result so far coming in 2019 and 2024, where she reached the second round. Determined to improve on that, she has mentioned she’ll be working with her boyfriend, Alex de Minaur, during the pre-season to help elevate her game.