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Tennis legend Billie Jean King is hopeful Coco Gauff\u2019s US Open triumph can inspire the growth of the sport in America – just as Andy Murray’s Wimbledon success inspired Brits.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Arthur Ashe Stadium erupted with delight when Gauff won the first grand slam of her career in September. In a title run that showcased her dominance, resiliency and elite athleticism, the word No.3 illustrated why she is one of the\u00a0 planet’s best players. King, who presented Gauff with the US Open trophy, was delighted with the tennis star\u2019s success at a milestone edition of the grand slam, as it celebrated 50 years since the formation of the WTA.<\/p>\n
And Murray becoming the first British man to win Wimbledon in 77 years in 2013 – and Emma Raducanu shocking the world by winning the 2021 US Open – has done wonders for Great Britain and its tennis. After Gauff’s breakthrough, 79-year-old King hopes the States can follow the blueprint set by the UK. “It was fantastic,”\u00a0King told Sky Sports. “We’ve all been very anxious for her to win a major. Her winning was very exciting. We were celebrating 50 years of equal prize money for women, so it was really appropriate that she won.<\/p>\n
“She’s a really great kid. Although she’s not really a kid anymore, she’s starting to be an adult. She’s got a wonderful family and I was really happy for her. And it was great for the United States because when you have someone homegrown do well, like with Andy Murray for instance, [Emma] Raducanu, it helps get children into our sport. And that’s what I like; I want us to grow tennis.”<\/p>\n
Follow us on X<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0for the best and latest in sports news<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Gauff became the first American teenager to win the US Open since Serena Williams in 1999. She joined the 23-time major winner as well as Venus Williams and Sloane Stephens as the only American women to have captured the grand slam since the start of the millennium.<\/p>\n King was speaking ahead of the Billie Jean Cup in November, where 12 countries will compete against each other in a bid to win the championship. This year\u2019s event will take place in Seville, Spain and it is the 60th anniversary of the tournament previously known as the Federation Cup.<\/p>\n The 18-time grand slam singles winner described the event as sport\u2019s \u2018World Cup\u2019 and hopes to see the tournament named in her honour continue for generations to come. \u201cIt’s the World Cup. Ilana [Kloss] and I were in Australia watching the soccer [Women’s World Cup] and it was so exciting,” King added.<\/p>\n “This is our 60th anniversary of originally the Federation Cup and now the Billie Jean King Cup, which we’ll be celebrating. We want the next 60 to be better than ever.” Gauff was due to be part of Team USA but she pulled out of the recently concluded Zhengzhou Open due to injury and confirmed she will also miss the team event.<\/p>\n Don’t miss… <\/strong> ![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/72\/590x\/secondary\/5021903.jpg?r=1697725317995\")
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