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Tennis icon Billie Jean King is the journal’s “Individual of the Yr,” whereas people and organizations from throughout the nation are acknowledged in 27 extra classes.
NEW YORK, NY (Dec. 13, 2023) — Tennis legend and social activist Billie Jean King has been named “Individual of the Yr” for 2023 by Racquet Sports activities Business journal within the publication’s January 2024 situation. King led off the journal’s 23nd annual “Champions of Tennis Awards,” which honor folks, companies and organizations devoted to enhancing the game and enterprise of tennis and racquet sports activities.
King’s document on the tennis court docket is extraordinary—39 Grand Slam titles (12 singles, 16 girls’s doubles and 11 blended doubles), seven Fed Cup titles, and far more—however as a pioneer and advocate for equality and social justice, few People can come near what she has stood for and achieved.
“With all that Billie Jean King has accomplished, and continues to do, a case might simply be made for her to be our ‘Individual of the Yr’ in just about any yr,” says Racquet Sports activities Business Editor Peter Francesconi. “However in 2023, by which Billie Jean turned 80 years outdated, we rejoice key anniversaries that she helped result in. This yr, the US Open marked the fiftieth anniversary of awarding equal prize cash to female and male gamers, which was a transfer spearheaded by King. It was additionally the fiftieth yr of the Ladies’s Tennis Affiliation, which was based by King. And 50 years in the past, her iconic win over Bobby Riggs within the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ modified our perspective on girls in sports activities and society.
“Title IX was handed in 1972 prohibiting sex-based discrimination in faculties and different schooling programming receiving federal funds, and Billie Jean made that landmark laws come alive for all People,” Francesconi provides. “Her braveness, ardour and willingness to make use of her platform to champion such essential beliefs has made the game, and this nation, higher.”
Along with its Individual of the Yr award, Racquet Sports activities Business additionally named winners in 27 different classes for its 2023 Champions of Tennis Awards (see the January 2024 Racquet Sports activities Business digital version at www.tennisindustrymag.com for extra on these winners):
- Individual of the Yr: Billie Jean King, Chicago, Sick.
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Kirk Anderson, Portland, Ore.
- Tennis Business Service Award: John Embree, Orlando, Fla.
- Professional/Specialty Retailer of the Yr: Your Serve Tennis, Atlanta, Ga.
- Business Facility of the Yr: North Hills Membership, Raleigh, N.C.
- Municipal Tennis Facility of the Yr: Kroc Tennis Heart, Greenville, S.C.
- Builder/Contractor of the Yr: Jeff Nichols/American Tennis Courts Inc., Cellular, Ala.
- Gross sales Rep of the Yr: Cynthia Shipper, Dallas, Texas
- Grassroots Tennis Champion of the Yr: Loretta Conway, Steamboat Springs, Colo.
- Junior Tennis Champion of the Yr: Rob Oppenheim, Bridgeport, Conn.
- Wheelchair Tennis Champion of the Yr: Anthony Lara, Chino, Calif.
- Group Tennis Affiliation of the Yr: Alternative Tennis Academy, Southeastern Michigan
- Racquet Technician/Stringer of the Yr: Albert Lee, Potomac, Md.
- Public Park of the Yr: Hampden Park, Studying, Pa.
- Mass Service provider/Chain Retailer of the Yr: Dick’s Sporting Items, Coraopolis, Pa.
- Excessive Faculty Coach of the Yr: Invoice Shardlow, North Yarmouth, Maine
- Tennis Advocate of the Yr: Angela Emery, Casper, Wyo.
- Park & Recreation Company of the Yr: Cellular (Ala.) Park & Rec Division
- Adaptive Tennis Champion of the Yr: Janet Lefkowitz, Greenburgh, N.Y.
- Nationwide Junior Tennis & Studying Chapter of the Yr: Benefit Children, Gilford, N.H.
- Grownup Tennis Supplier of the Yr: Tennis in Your Park, USTA Northern Part
- Progressive Media Protection of the Yr: Mark Preston/USOpen.org, New York
- Faculty Tennis Facility of the Yr: Byron Heart Colleges West Athletic Advanced, Byron Heart, Mich.
- School Tennis Facility of the Yr: Philip & Cheryl Milstein Tennis Heart, Columbia College, New York, N.Y.
- Public Tennis Facility of the Yr: Dwight Davis Tennis Heart, St. Louis, Mo.
- PTR Member of the Yr: Tito Perez, Setauket, N.Y.
- USPTA Member of the Yr: Simon Paek, Fullerton, Calif.
- USTA Part of the Yr: USTA Missouri Valley
Racquet Sports activities Business (previously Tennis Business), the most important racquet sports activities commerce journal on the planet, has been masking the tennis enterprise and the game for 52 years. It’s printed 10 occasions a yr by Tennis Channel Inc. Accessible in each print and digital editions, RSI is the official publication of the Tennis Business Affiliation, U.S. Racquet Stringers Affiliation and American Sports activities Builders Affiliation. Go to www.tennisindustrymag.com.
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