MELBOURNE: It may not have been an 'advantage tennis history' moment but given that the women's game stands on the rock-solid shoulders of Billie Jean King's Original Nine, it is game, set and match. No question needs to be asked.
With seven of the Original Nine — Valerie Ziegenfuss (73), Peaches Bartkowicz (73), Kristy Pigeon (72), Rosie Casals (74), Kerry Melville Reid (75) Judy Dalton (85) and Billie Jean King (79) — present at a panel discussion in the sprawling precincts of Melbourne Park, to celebrate their initiative some 53 summers ago, they were asked if the modern crop of players, who are reaping the rewards, were aware of the history out of which the WTA was born.
