(L. to r.) Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Billie Jean King, Franklin Johnson, chairman of the board and president of the USTA and Arlen Kantarian, chief executive, Professional Tennis, USTA, joined in announcing that the USTANational Tennis Center, the world's largest public tennis facility and home of the US Open, will be renamed for King at ceremonies on Monday, August 28, opening night of the 2006 US Open. The USTA National Tennis Center, the world's largest public tennis facility and home of the US Open, will be renamed the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center to honor the tennis legend and trailblazer whose pioneering efforts helped change the sport of tennis and launch the drive for gender equality in sports and in society, the USTA has announced. On Opening Night of the US Open, August 28, the USTA National Tennis Center will be officially renamed the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center during a special tribute and ceremony.

King, one of the most illustrious and celebrated athletes in history, is recognized for spearheading the women's movement in tennis by fighting for equal rights in the

Former New York City Mayor David Dinkins and Queens District Attorney Richard Brown were present at the announcement ceremony. sport. Among the most decorated champions in tennis history, with 39 Grand Slam titles, including 13 US Open titles, King's historic defeat of Bobby Riggs in the 1973 "Battle of the Sexes" was the most watched tennis match in history

King, who began playing tennis in the public parks of Long Beach, California, has been a pioneer on and off the court. She founded the Women's Tennis Association in 1973 and the Women's Sports Foundation in 1974. She also is the cofounder of World TeamTennis. Her dedication to advancing women's opportunities in sports helped lead to the passage of Title IX legislation. For her many achievements, King was named one of the 100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century by Life Magazine and placed No. 5 on the Sports Illustrated Top 40 Athletes list.

The USTA now honors two of the sport's greatest icons who transcended tennis and gave voice to important cultural issues in this country. In 1997, the USTA named the world's largest tennis stadium after Arthur Ashe.

"Billie Jean King is one of tennis' greatest heroes," Franklin Johnson, chairman of the board and president of the USTA, said. "Much like Arthur Ashe, for whom our showcase stadium is named, Billie Jean is a champion not only of sport, but a champion of those causes in which she so strongly believes. Her accomplishments

have benefited all women in sports, as well as countless women in any number of career fields. Those things, along with her extraordinary tennis achievements, cry out for recognition, and I am thrilled that our board unanimously agreed on renaming our National Tennis Center in her honor."

"This obviously is a great honor for me," King said. "This outstanding facility is a public park, a place where everyone can come and enjoy our wonderful sport. It is truly humbling that this will link me with Arthur Ashe, with whom I celebrated many experiences and shared dreams of the future for this great sport. I know this will continue to be a place where present and future generations of players come out, pick up a racquet, learn a sport and dare to dream big and go for it."

" Billie Jean King is a champion unlike any other, and this year's special tribute on Opening Night of the US Open will give everyone an opportunity to celebrate the legacy of a true American hero," Chief Executive, Professional Tennis, USTA Arlen Kantarian said. "This promises to be one of the most meaningful and memorable nights for the US Open and the sport."

"Billie Jean King is a legend among legends and we honor her groundbreaking achievements by renaming the USTA National Tennis Center in her honor," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said when the plans for renaming the tennis center were announced last Thursday. "She set an exceptionally high standard, not only for athletic achievement, but for dignity and perseverance in the pursuit of justice. Billie Jean King is an inspiration to all budding tennis players and all Americans. And as a New Yorker of 30 years, she is the perfect person to receive this welldeserved honor."

With more than 380 different programs that annually attract nearly 65,000 tennis players, the USTA National Tennis Center is the world's largest public tennis facility and is open to the public throughout the year. The National Tennis Center is situated on 46.5 acres in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. The staff of more than 20 coaching professionals conducts programs, clinics, leagues and tournaments throughout the year. The National Tennis Center is open seven days a week, 11 months a year, closing only on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.

In 2006, the USTABillie Jean King National Tennis

Center hosted a number of major tennis events, including the 80th annual National Public Parks Tennis Championships, the Jana Hunsacker Memorial Eastern Wheelchair Championships and the USTA NTC Women's College Invitational, among many others. The center also is the home site of 36 USTA League teams and dozens of New York City schools and colleges.

The USTA National Tennis Center opened in 1978 and inaugurated Arthur Ashe Stadium, the world's largest tennis stadium, in 1997. The center is in the midst of a major renovation that saw the addition of fountains in the South Plaza, a manually operated drawboard and new restaurants, and will also include the construction of a new, state-of-theart indoor tennis building that will be completed in 2008.