Philadelphia Style Magazine
  • Parties
  • People
  • Food & Drink
  • Home & Real Estate
  • Style & Beauty
  • More
    • Culture
    • Lifestyle
    • Watches & Jewelry
    • Magazine
    • Video
    • GreenGale Network
    • Media Kits
  • Digital Edition
  • Contact Us
  • Advertising Info
Sign Up     

Parties

See More
Read More
Nicole Miller's VIP Meet and Greet with Perry Milou
Read More
Autograph Brasserie's Galentine's Day Event
Read More
The Bridges of Madison County Opening Night Party

People

See More
Read More
Table Talk with Alicia Vitarelli
Read More
Talking Heads
Read More
What Taraji P. Henson Wants

Food & Drink

See More
Read More
5 Ramen Restaurants to Get You Through the Chilling End of Winter
Read More
5 Restaurants with Valentine's Day Menus for You and Your Sweetheart
Read More
7 Instagram Accounts to Follow for Philly Food Inspiration

Home & Real Estate

See More
Read More
5 Creative Ways to Bring Flowers into Your Home
Read More
5 Ways to Tie Spring Into Your Home Before It's Actually Here
Read More
Color Wash

Style & Beauty

See More
Read More
How to Wear the Pantone Color of the Year
Read More
7 Tips for Prepping for the Oscars
Read More
5 Ways to Treat Yourself this Valentine's Day
Culture
Read More
Lifestyle
Read More
The Main Line
Read More
Atlantic City Confidential
Read More
Watches & Jewelry
Read More
Magazine
Read More
Video
Read More
GreenGale Network
Read More
Media Kit
Read More

Search Our Site

Billie Jean King on Her Elton John Song & Her Philadelphia Freedoms

By Marni Prichard Manko | June 22, 2015 | Main Line

Share

Celebrating 40 years of World Team Tennis and the first official Philadelphia Freedoms Day, Billie Jean King talks about early-morning visits from Elton John and the Main Line’s proud tennis legacy.

Billie Jean King in action in 1965 at Wimbledon, where she won the doubles title that year. She would win the singles title for the first time the following year—and against her doubles partner, Brazilian Maria Bueno, no less.

From her game-changing Battle of the Sexes win against Bobby Riggs back in 1973 to her whopping 39 Grand Slam titles, Billie Jean King gives new meaning to the word “icon.” But her connection to Philly is deeper than most people know. As the owner of Mylan World Team Tennis’s Philadelphia Freedoms and the muse for Elton John’s hit song of the same name, King is as much a champion of this city and her local fans as she is a winner on the court. “Billie came to every match last year,” says Josh Cohen, hometown tennis guru and head coach for the Freedoms, whose upcoming season opener is slated for July 16 at The Pavilion in Villanova. “It’s nice for the players to see an icon like her giving it her all, considering she’s won Wimbledon, the French Open, and the US Open. There’s not much she hasn’t done.” Here, King sits down with Philadelphia Style to discuss her crowning achievements, community engagement, and rooting for the Freedoms all summer on the Main Line.

What’s your connection to Philly?
I’ve been coming to Philly since I was 15. I used to come here as a junior player all the time. I’ve played at Merion, on the grass at The Germantown Cricket Club, everywhere. And of course, now I spend a lot of time here because I own the team, and as a business owner I have skin in the game.

What’s your involvement with World Team Tennis (WTT) and the Philadelphia Freedoms?
My former husband, Larry King (not that Larry King), helped form and shape the league back in ’74. I always wanted tennis to be a team sport, but I wanted equality on the court, too. We created that with WTT. Plus, I played for the Freedoms in ’74, and I’ll always remember that first night at the Spectrum. I always dreamt about owning the team. And now I do.

How did Elton John end up writing “Philadelphia Freedom” for you?
I met him in ’73, two weeks before I played the match with Bobby Riggs. Right after we met, I got a message asking to call him, and I almost didn’t call back because I was too shy. But I did, and next thing I know, he shows up at my house in his Rolls-Royce at 4 am and says, “I want to write a song for you.” I told him, “I love ‘The Sound of Philadelphia,’” and he goes, “Done. How about ‘Philadelphia Freedom’?” He calls [his longtime lyricist] Bernie Taupin and says, “Write me some lyrics and fax them over.” He gets them, sits down at the piano, and in 10 minutes he cranked out “Philadelphia Freedom.” It became a number-one hit, and it’s truly the anthem of Philadelphia. And now we easily have the best signature song in all of sports.

Liezel Huber, Marcelo Melo, Taylor Townsend, Frank Dancevic, and Josh Cohen, facing off against the Kastles in DC last year

How is WTT different than the tennis people are used to?
When you go to a Freedoms match, you see teamwork, you see equality, you see a level playing field. Each team is comprised of two men and two women, and matches consist of five sets, with one set each of men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles. The team that wins the most overall games is the winner.

Describe the vibe at a WTT match.
We push the sport to be more fan friendly. So any time you see any of those fun elements, just know that without us nothing would have changed. When you go to the US Open and hear music or see the players sign the ball, just know that’s us.

What’s new for this season?
We’re really excited. Marcelo Melo, who was the MVP of the whole league last year, is back. He’s won 13 ATP doubles titles and played Davis Cup for Brazil. We also have Robby Ginepri and Liezel Huber, who was number one in the world for doubles for 199 weeks and won five Grand Slams. And there’s Taylor Townsend. She just turned 19, she was the number-one junior player, and last year she had a win over Venus Williams as our rookie. And although they don’t play for us, we’ll be playing against Serena Williams and the Bryan Brothers

Is the team involved in the community?
We’re doing things like helping revitalize Hunting Park via tennis. I was a public court rat growing up—my parents couldn’t afford to send me to a club. We have a Freedoms circuit of 10-and-under kids, and the league has given out more than 350,000 starter racquets. This team represents the community, and we want to be here 365 days a year.

July 16, 17, 19, 20, 23, 26, and 28 at The Pavilion at Villanova University, N. Ithan Ave., Villanova, 866-988-8497; philadelphiafreedoms.com

Tags: women main line interviews sports tennis athletes summer 2015
Categories: Main Line

Photography By Ray Moreton/Getty Images

Around the Web

All Calendar Culture Food & Drink Home & Real Estate Lifestyle Magazine Parties People Style & Beauty Video Watches & Jewelry

Popular Posts

Read More

January 11, 2019

Table Talk with Alicia Vitarelli
Read More

January 10, 2019

Talking Heads
Read More

January 8, 2019

What Taraji P. Henson Wants


Read the digital edition from Modern Luxury

View Digital Edition

 

 

Click here to read  
the Digital Editions

or Subscribe to the Print Edition:

SUBSCRIBE

  • Contact Us
  • Advertising Info
  • Digital Editions
  • Online Ad Specs
  • Print Ad Specs
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
    • Aspen
      • Aspen
      • Aspen Peak
      • Epic Life
    • Atlanta
      • The Atlantan
      • Jezebel
      • Modern Luxury Weddings Atlanta
      • Modern Luxury Interiors Atlanta
      • Charity & Social Datebook Atlanta
    • Boston
      • Boston Common
      • Modern Luxury Weddings Boston
      • Modern Luxury Interiors Boston
    • Chicago
      • CS
      • NS
      • Michigan Avenue
      • Modern Luxury Weddings Chicago
      • Modern Luxury Weddings North Shore
      • Modern Luxury Interiors Chicago
      • Men's Book Chicago
      • Modern Luxury City Guide Chicago
      • Charity and Social Datebook Chicago
    • Dallas
      • Modern Luxury Dallas
      • Modern Luxury Weddings Dallas
      • Modern Luxury Interiors Texas
      • Charity and Social Datebook Dallas
    • The Hamptons
      • Beach
      • Hamptons
    • Hawai'i
      • Modern Luxury Hawaii
      • Ala Moana
    • Houston
      • Houston
      • Modern Luxury Weddings Houston
      • Modern Luxury Interiors Texas
      • Charity and Social Datebook Houston
    • Las Vegas
      • Vegas
    • Los Angeles
      • Angeleno
      • Los Angeles Confidential
      • Modern Luxury Weddings California
      • Modern Luxury Interiors California
      • Charity and Social Datebook Los Angeles
    • Miami
      • Miami
      • Ocean Drive
      • Modern Luxury Weddings South Florida
      • Modern Luxury Interiors South Florida
      • Charity and Social Datebook Miami
      • Styled
    • New York
      • Manhattan
      • Gotham
      • Charity and Social Datebook Manhattan
    • Orange County
      • Modern Luxury Orange County
      • Modern Luxury Weddings California
      • Modern Luxury Interiors California
      • Charity & Social Datebook Orange County
    • Palm Beach
      • Modern Luxury Palm Beach
    • Philadelphia
      • Philadelphia Style
    • San Diego
      • Modern Luxury San Diego
      • Modern Luxury Weddings California
      • Modern Luxury Interiors California
      • Charity & Social Datebook San Diego
    • San Francisco
      • San Francisco
      • Modern Luxury Weddings California
      • Modern Luxury Interiors California
      • CityGuide
      • Charity & Social Datebook San Francisco
    • Scottsdale
      • Scottsdale
      • Modern Luxury Interiors Scottsdale
    • Silicon Valley
      • Modern Luxury Silicon Valley
    • Washington, D.C.
      • DC
      • Capitol File
      • Modern Luxury Weddings Washington
      • Charity and Social Datebook DC
    • Watches
      • Tourbillon