Billie Jean King on Victories Past, and the Battles to Come

Billie Jean King became more and more animated as she spoke about her past.

King, 79, a grand champion in tennis and gender equality, wants to see more investment made in women's sport. More teams. More teams. Women owners are more numerous. More diversity in race, more data and greater access to opportunities.

She was too busy to create the template for the future to be able to enjoy the achievements she had already made.

She said that equal investment was the most important factor during a phone interview while in London for this year's Wimbledon. If I speak to a C.E.O. I will ask them, or her or whomever, "Do you spend the same amount on women's sport as men's sport?" This is the key question.