By: Women’s Fitness Asia
Billie Jean King may have left her days of dominating Grand Slam courts behind, but tennis—and fitness—remains central to her life. At 81, her passion for the sport burns as brightly as ever. “There’s nothing like it,” she says. “When the ball hits the strings, it’s magical.”
Her love for the game never faded, but there was a period when she stopped playing entirely. Knee surgeries kept her sidelined for years, and it took the encouragement of her wife, Ilana Kloss, to pick up a racket again. After two decades away from the court, King made her comeback during the pandemic, rediscovering the sport that shaped her life. Now, she and Kloss—former doubles partners who married in 2018—rally on a halfcourt, relishing every swing. “Every ball that comes to me is never the same, ever,” King says. “It’s like a new present, a new gift.”
Fitness as a Key to Longevity
For King, staying active isn’t just about playing tennis—it’s about maintaining a strong, resilient body. She has adapted her routine to emphasize strength, agility, and balance, ensuring she can continue playing the sport she loves. Before stepping on the court, she warms up with resistance bands to keep her muscles limber and reduce the risk of injury. Shoulder rotations, biceps and triceps exercises, and 20 bodyweight squats prepare her for action.
Beyond tennis, King incorporates weight training into her regimen to combat age-related muscle loss. “Even everyday tasks like picking up packages or opening a bottle get harder as you get older,” she notes. By prioritizing strength, she maintains her independence and energy. But for her, nothing compares to tennis. Restarting “absolutely has changed my life,” she says. “I feel better. My brain stays more active.”
A Legacy Beyond the Court
While King’s accolades—39 Grand Slam titles, including six Wimbledon and four US Open singles victories—solidify her place as one of the greatest athletes of all time, her impact transcends the game. She played a pivotal role in founding the Women’s Tennis Association and fought for equal prize money for female athletes. Her historic victory against Bobby Riggs in the 1973 Battle of the Sexes was a defining moment in the fight for gender equality in sports.
Despite these milestones, King believes there’s still work to be done. “Girls are behind. We haven’t had as much attention given to us,” she says. This is why she has partnered with Dove to address body confidence issues in young female athletes. Research from Dove and Nike reveals that nearly half of teenage girls quit sports due to negative comments about their bodies. King is determined to change that narrative. “We—women and girls—really are socialized not to trust our bodies,” she says. “Body image, body talk, and how you think and feel about yourself are so important in life, not just in sports.”
Confidence at Any Age
King’s advocacy isn’t just for young athletes—it’s a message for anyone, at any stage of life, who may feel limited by external expectations. Having grown up in the 1950s and ‘60s, an era rife with gender stereotypes, she knows firsthand what it’s like to push past doubt and criticism. “Every girl my age got the message, ‘Why are you trying to do this?’” she recalls. But King refused to be discouraged. “It’s really important to have strong self-talk and believe in yourself, even if others do not.”
Her lifelong determination is proof that age, gender, or societal norms should never define what’s possible. “A lot of people never thought I’d be number one in the world, and I didn’t care what they said,” she says. “I knew I had to.”
Billie Jean King’s story is a testament to the enduring power of fitness, self-belief, and resilience. Whether 8 or 80, movement is a gift—one that fuels the body, sharpens the mind, and strengthens the spirit. Through her own journey, King continues to inspire generations to stay active, trust their bodies, and embrace the limitless possibilities of sport, proving that fitness truly knows no age.
