USTA names junior tournaments after BJK

WHITE PLAINS, NY, USA – The USTA are marking the achievements of Billie Jean King by renaming youth tournaments in her honor.

The USTA Girls’ 18s and 16s National Championships will be renamed The USTA Billie Jean King Girls’ 18s and 16s National Championships presented by adidas beginning with the 2018 tournament in August. These events, played annually on hard courts at the Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego, are the premier national championships for American girls and award US Open main-draw wildcards to their 18s singles and doubles champions. The 18s tournament dates back to 1918, and its list of champions includes legends such as Chris Evert, Tracy Austin, Lindsay Davenport and Jennifer Capriati, as well as current rising stars Catherine Bellis, Sofia Kenin and Kayla Day.

The USTA Intersectional Team Championships, traditionally played over five days around the July 4 holiday, are the USTA’s national team championships for boys and girls at the 16- and 14-and-under levels, to which every USTA section sends a team of at least three boys and three girls to compete in a team-tennis format combining boys’ and girls’ singles, doubles and mixed doubles. Beginning in 2019, this event will be renamed The USTA Billie Jean King Team Championships.

“I’m honored to be part of these junior championships and support the goals and dreams of these players on and off the court,” King said.

“Billie has devoted her life to promoting tennis and ensuring that our sport is welcoming to all,” said Katrina Adams, USTA Chairman of the Board and President. “Both of these events epitomize what she stands for – excellence, team play and gender equality. We are honored to have her name associated with both these great events.”