With Wimbledon in the rear-view mirror and the U.S. Open in the windshield, here are nine quotes from tennis trailblazer Billie Jean King.
- “Champions keep playing until they get it right.”
- “Tennis taught me so many lessons in life. One of the things it taught me is that every ball that comes to me, I have to make a decision. I have to accept responsibility for the consequences every time I hit a ball.”
- “Sometimes you have to be satisfied. You try hard enough. Don’t be so self-critical; don’t be so hard on yourself.”
- “Pressure is a privilege, and champions adjust.”
- “Tennis is a perfect combination of violent action taking place in an atmosphere of total tranquility.”
- “You have to see it to be it.”
- “Self-awareness is probably the most important thing towards being a champion.”
- “No matter how old you are when a parent dies, it’s like losing an anchor that kept you safely moored.”
- “If you think you’re a failure, you’ll fail. If you think you’re a winner, you’ll win.”