European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 27, 1967, Darmstadt, Hesse It exp Tennis Star Hiie Tarn King is eur fed Ham by or husband because she bikes crowds. Ii Jea up Way Billie Jean King Domi nates american and world Tennis these Days perhaps . Officials Are wishing that there were women s com petition in the Davis cup. The 23-year-old, 5-foot-6 belter she will be 24 in november has few worlds left to conquer now that she s added that elusive . Singles Crown to her list. In typical fashion Billie Jean has slammed and agonized herself through the top tournaments again leaving Hera Likely candidate for the country s top Amateur Tennis award for the second straight year. Her triple Crown singles doubles admixed doubles in the National singles duplicated her feat at Wimbledon earlier this year in the All England championships. In both singles finals he victim was Ann Haydon Jones of Brit Ain but the one at Forest Hills was theone she really wanted. I wanted this one so badly the pres sure almost got to me admitted the new titleholder after an 11-9, 6-4 Vic tory in her Jinx tourney. Billie Jean s Forte is her aggressive tenacious play. She commits errors but often because of her forc ing style. Then glowering like an angry Bear and buoyed by her inimitable self administered Pep talks you be got the touch of an of is typical America s currently most colourful and controversial Gal Netter invariably bounces Back with Power and brilliance her opponents can Seldom Cope with. And she s not bashful off the court either. I have a tendency to say things that should be off the record she confides. For instance she remarked to a re Porter asking about american Tennis players i Don t know if our men really want to be the Best in the world there s no glory in this of her favorite targets is the clubby atmosphere which surround american Amateur Tennis. If she had her Way Tennis would be forever banished from the society pages and clubs in favor of Public places Parks and Arenas into places where everyone would feel Shell Tell anyone most emphatic ally that Tennis is not a Sissy game but takes tremendous stamina and does not mix with sipping mint juleps under an umbrella. Such talk does anything but please the usually Stuffy United states Lawn Tennis association an organization wit which she has had her differences. As a youngster in her native Long each calif., Bilue Jean then Moffit found her slamming net Rushing style ineffective against the but it was t Long before her Man s wednesday september 27, 1967 by Don Sauer staff writer game style began to pay off. She wonder first important tournament at 15. Billie Jean really hit the big time in i960, crashing into the top 10 by zooming spectacularly from 19th to fourth place in the Usta ratings. In1961 she moved up another rung in 1963 still another to second and in 1965shared no. 1 with Nancy Richey of Dallas. Last year the top spot Walsall her s. In each of the last five years Shehas captured Well Over 80 per cent of her competitive matches and in 1966won 10 of the 16 tournaments in which she . King takes Tennis seriously and her rigorous daily routine shows it. He seven Day a week training includes at least two hours of morning work As Wellas All afternoon. She prefers to play men though she does t take on he husband Larry because they Are when san franciscan Rosemary Ca Sals no. 2 ranked is in town the two split their time Between Golden Gat Park in the Bay City and the Berkeley Tennis club across the Street from the Kings apartment. After cooking dinner at 6 or 7 p.m.,Billie Jean spends a Good Many evenings Reading psychology a subject in which she eventually Hopes to get a degree. Larry who attends the University of California has taught her Bridge to improve her concentration and apparently she Learned her lessons Well As the couple finished fourth in Billie Jean first tournament. But Larry himself an excellent ten Nis player leaves the coaching to others. Phe irrepressible mrs. King is Al described As a Ham by her spouse who Points out that she loves to play be fore a crowd. And Billie Jean s run Ning commentary when she s angry with an official or herself certainly lets the fans know she s there. In fact the us la once considered censure several years ago because of Billie Jean s Lan Guage on the court. A suggestion that she d like to see ten Nis fans shout and cheer and occasion ally boo like in other sports raises Eye brows in that hallowed organization. But what really set things off was that1965 dual to ranking. The instigator was Sam Bumann president of the Texas Awn Tennis association who with his Clay court backers favored National Lay court Champion miss Richey be cause mrs. King had skipped the tour Ney. The result was a Compromise which satisfied neither Billie Jean reached a second round match against Kerry Melville of Australia in the 1966 National singles she found Bumann in the elevated Umpire s chair. She raised a fuss to no Avail. The Usta ruled against her an Bumann declined to move. Bille Jean promptly blew it in straight sets though she had beaten the australian girl just two weeks previously 6-1, 6-2.just How much of a settling influence her 1965 marriage has been is hard today. But it seems As though Billie Jean s play has become less flamboyant anymore consistent and her language has changed lately and she As much Asad mits the same. The record Speaks for itself. The Only thing that might keep Billiejean from staying on top is her love for food. To complicate things an intestinal ailment which will mean close watch of the diet requires fattening starches As Staples. Her reaction and of will you look at these Chub Bies her legs aggressive tenacious play is Billie Jean s Forte on the court. The stars and stripes Page 11
