Billie Jean King is one of the most famous and greatest tennis players of all time.
She is known for her achievements off court just as much as she is on it, changing the sport for women and creating opportunities for them in the sport that previously did not exist.
Though she hung up her racket over three decades ago, Billie Jean King is still very active in tennis and up to speed with the current generation of players.
She keeps a close eye on the game and there is one WTA Tour player in particular who she thinks of very highly.
Photo by Franco Arland/Getty ImagesBillie Jean King makes a bold ranking prediction about Mirra Andreeva
One of the WTA’s best and most exciting players on tour is Mirra Andreeva. The Russian is just 18 years of age and she claimed the Dubai and Indian Wells titles back-to-back.
Furthermore, in March Andreeva was just 17 when she became the youngest player to break into the Top 10 since Nicole Vaidisova in 2007.
She has shown the game, tactical nous and the temperament at such a young age to win big titles, and King thinks she will reach the summit of the women’s game.
“I’ve seen probably six generations in my lifetime now and every generation is just amazing. The women just get better and better, and they’re bigger and stronger now,” King told Adidas’ YouTube channel.
“I talked about Lindsay Davenport and Venus is 6 ‘2 I guess and I thought they were tall, they’re all like that now.
“The women are amazing and this Mirra Andreeva, this kid, she wants to be number one and she will be, as long as she stays healthy. You don’t know what life’s going to bring you and the setbacks but she’s an amazing athlete.”
Photo by Robert Szaniszlo/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesCan Mirra Andreeva win the French Open?
Andreeva will enter the French Open as a top ten player for the first time in her young career.
Following a run to the round of 16 appearance in Stuttgart, the teenager reached the quarter-finals at the Madrid and Italian Open events, losing to Coco Gauff on both occasions.
Andreeva achieved her best result at a Grand Slam at the 2024 French Open, where she reached the semi-finals.
Andreeva ousted Aryna Sabalenka in three sets, before Jasmine Paolini ended her campaign in Paris.
Andreeva has achieved and grown significantly since that result and she will aim to match or replicate that result at the upcoming French Open.