Tennis has power to unite both globally and locally, says Billie Jean King in Asheville

Read more: Alison Riske makes history; U.S. leads Ukraine after Day 1 of Billie Jean King Cup Qualifier

“Anything we can do to help in peace, help get behind people … I'm glad we can be a part of helping Ukraine and the people of Ukraine,” King said.

“You can always make an impact. When I was 12, I was daydreaming. I thought everybody in tennis wore white shoes, white clothes, white balls. I asked myself, ‘Where is everybody else?’ I made a promise to myself I'd fight for equality from that moment on. I think that's what we're trying to do.”

She added: “The players, the Ukrainians, Olga [Savchuk] the captain, said this is where it's supposed to go. They know it will get to people who need it … The players feel it. They were telling me in the locker room. They know it. They feel it. They appreciate everybody here and how much they've supported it.” 

At the event, King met with both teams, as well as U.S. Paralympians Emmy Kaiser, Dana Mathewson, Conner Stroud and coach Paul Walker, and young players from the junior U.S. Billie Jean King Cup team and the USTA Player Development program. She later participated in the tie’s opening ceremony, standing proudly with both teams on the court as their national anthems were sung.  

While King noted that sport can unite and inspire on a global scale, pointing to how tennis has rallied around Ukraine both at this tie and more broadly in recent months as a prime example, she also said that bringing this international competition to communities like Asheville can only strengthen the sport at the grassroots level. Local USTA tournament and league participation has increased 20% following the last two Billie Jean King Cup played in Asheville, and King hopes that further momentum for the sport nationwide will come from the nearly 5 million people who've picked up a racquet in the last two years. 

“These are the things. The local communities are everything. The schools, the communities, the people, it is unsung heroes and sheroes. Those are the real ones. I can't thank the community enough and the other communities that participate because without [them], it wouldn't be successful.”

Tennis Plays for Peace was launched last month by the seven governing bodies of world tennis—the ITF, ATP, WTA and the four Grand Slams—with each organization committing $100,000 to the fund. Join our collective effort in providing financial support for Ukraine by donating now at tennisplaysforpeace.com.

All photos: Mike Lawrence/USTA