Billie Jean King feels ‘exciting’ Coco Gauff’s US Open triumph was ‘appropriate’
Tennis legend Billie Jean King has described it as “fantastic” and “very exciting” that Coco Gauff won her maiden Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open.
King was “very anxious” for Gauff to make her major breakthrough and believes it was “appropriate” it came on the 50th anniversary of equal pay at the US Open.
The American, who won 39 Grand Slam titles across, singles doubles and mixed doubles, was the driving force behind equal prize money being awarded at the 1973 US Open. That was the first time a Grand Slam tournament offered men’s and women’s players an equal paycheck.
Gauff defeated Aryna Sabalenka, who has since become world No 1, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the final of the US Open last month to triumph in her second major final appearance.
The 19-year-old American is at a career-high ranking of world No 3 after a superb run of 22 wins in her last 24 matches since an opening-round exit at Wimbledon in July.
In an interview with Sky Sports, King hailed Gauff for her victory at the hard-court Grand Slam and suggested it was significant for a number of reasons.
“It was fantastic. We’ve all been very anxious for her to win a major. Her winning was very exciting. We were celebrating 50 years of equal prize money for women, so it was really appropriate that she won,” said the American.
“She’s a really great kid. Although she’s not really a kid anymore, she’s starting to be an adult. She’s got a wonderful family and I was really happy for her.
“And it was great for the United States because when you have someone homegrown do well, like with Andy Murray for instance, [Emma] Raducanu, it helps get children into our sport. And that’s what I like; I want us to grow tennis.”
Gauff was downed by world No 2 Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals of the WTA 1000 event in Beijing earlier this month in her only tournament since the US Open.
King, a 12-time major singles champion, also called for the Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup to be combined to form a mixed World Cup team competition.
“I think it’s really important to have a World Cup for tennis. The whole world understands a World Cup. They know it’s country versus country,” declared the 79-year-old.
“I want us together, I always want the men and women together. I think we can enhance it and make more of a focus on us. I think people like it when we are all happy together.”
