International Women's Day: 'Female athletes transcend their sports now' - Chris Evert hails sporting 'icons'

Eurosport's Chris Evert has hailed the huge and positive impact made by a number of women's tennis stars, including current icons Naomi Osaka and Ons Jabeur, but also not forgetting the great Billie Jean King. Evert was marking International Women's Day with her comments, and she was full of praise for the way the players «use their platform to give very pertinent thoughts and talk about very important issues that relate to society» while recognising their courage in speaking up. Ad Asked by Eurosport's Arnold Montgault which tennis player she most admires, Evert had little hesitation: «I have to say Billie Jean King.

WTA Indian WellsWill Swiatek end 32-year wait for a repeat WTA winner at Indian Wells?13 HOURS AGO »I mean, if you were to ask me, she just started it all. She was the leader for women's equal rights and equal opportunities and promoting the sport of tennis for women and promoting women athletes in general. «She was basically saying it is okay to be athletic and have muscles and sweat on the court when in those days, in the 60s and 70s, it was frowned upon for a woman to be that way.

»So she changed not only the sport of tennis but the image of what a woman could be. «Female athletes transcend their sports now, they become icons. They use their platform to give very pertinent thoughts and talk about very important issues that relate to society, and they have the courage to speak up.

»Look what Naomi Osaka did with mental health. She just opened up a can of worms there and opened the door to have a conversation and to be empathetic and to realise that it is there and it is rampant — not only for athletes but people suffering from anxiety in general. «I compare female athletes now to how they were not looked