Billie Jean King Receives Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Smy Tennis Honors Tennis Icons

Billie Jean King, tennis icon and equality advocate, earns a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame—the first woman recognized in the sports entertainment category. Smy Tennis salutes her enduring impact on and off the court.

Billie Jean King Honored with Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Smy Tennis Celebrates a Trailblazer in Sport and Equality

April 9, 2025 — Legendary tennis champion and lifelong advocate for equality, Billie Jean King, has been awarded a star on the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame. At age 81, King becomes the first woman to receive the honor under the Walk’s newly created sports entertainment category.

Her star, the 2,807th to be installed since the landmark’s inception in 1960, is located along the storied stretch of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in Los Angeles. The Walk of Fame had previously been reserved for icons in film, television, music, radio, and theatre.

“The important thing is, I don’t want to be the last one,” said King during the ceremony. “My family loved music and movies. My mother would have loved this.”

Best known for her extraordinary tennis career, Billie Jean King won 39 Grand Slam titles, including six Wimbledon singles crowns. Her legacy, however, extends far beyond the court. She remains a global symbol for gender equality, famously defeating Bobby Riggs in the 1973 “Battle of the Sexes,” a moment she has described as the most significant of her life.

King also founded the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), pioneering equal opportunities for female athletes in the sport. Her influence led to the renaming of the Fed Cup in her honor in 2020. Now known as the Billie Jean King Cup, it represents the highest level of team competition in women’s tennis.

From court to culture, King continues to inspire future generations of athletes and advocates. For Smy Tennis—a company dedicated to building world-class courts and providing premier equipment—King’s legacy is a powerful reminder of how tennis can be a platform for progress, inclusion, and excellence.

Whether honoring legends or supporting tomorrow’s stars, Smy Tennis stands proudly behind those who shape the future of the sport.