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Billie Jean King looks back on magical night 14 years ago when site of US Open was named in her honor

By Greg Hernandez on Aug 28, 2020 6:20 pm | Comments (2) |

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On this night 14 years ago, August 28, 2006, I experienced one of the greatest honors of my lifetime when the USTA National Tennis Center, home of the @usopen, was renamed the @usta Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. It had been raining the entire day. And 30 minutes before the ceremony was to begin, it stopped. I often think my father, who had passed away in June, played a part in that. The night was incredibly special. With Ilana (@cooksandking), my mother, and Ilana’s mother Ruth beside me, and on the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior’s “I Have a Dream” speech (about which I was thrilled), I felt so honored that this center, one of the largest public tennis facilities in the world, would have my name on it. And what many people do not know is that the center is open to the public for play except during the US Open and select other events. Indeed, it is set within Corona Park. To be a part of something that had never happened before that night was not lost on this lover of history. I became the first woman to have a major sports venue named in her honor. More of this, please! I finished my speech that night by saying, “Mi casa es su casa.” My house is your house. It was true then, and it’s true now. My hope is that once we are through the pandemic (and that day will come!) everyone has the opportunity to visit. It truly is a magical place. : Cameraworks USA, Susan Mullane/Fred Mullane #usta #nationaltenniscenter #usopen #gratitude

A post shared by Billie Jean King (@billiejeanking) on

FILE UNDER: Tennis

Comments

(All comments are reviewed before being published, and I review submissions several times per day.)

2 Remarks

  1. August 29th, 2020 at 3:08 pm
    jad says:

    I thought it was named after Arthur Ashe…

  2. August 29th, 2020 at 4:56 pm
    Greg Hernandez says:

    The main Stadium is named after Ashe – the complex is named after King.

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