Named one of the “100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century" and a 2009 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Billie Jean King has long been a pioneer for social justice. King grew up playing tennis in the California public parks and won 39 Grand Slam titles. She helped form the Virginia Slims Series and founded the Women’s Tennis Association. She defeated Bobby Riggs in the historic Battle of the Sexes on Sept. 20, 1973. In 1974 King co-founded World TeamTennis and the Women’s Sports Foundation. In 2006, the National Tennis Center, home of the US Open, was renamed the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in honor of her accomplishments on and off the court and in 2014 President Obama named King to the Presidential Delegation for the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. King serves on the boards of the Women’s Sports Foundation, the Andy Roddick Foundation, the Elton John AIDS Foundation and is a member of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition.