King is regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of women’s tennis.
The American won 39 Grand Slam titles (12 in singles) during an illustrious career which included comprehensive Fed Cup success as a player and captain for her country.
In 1973, she won the Battle of the Sexes tennis match against 55-year-old Bobby Riggs and she has longed campaigned for gender equality.
What’s your favourite Billie-Jean memory?
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Here are the other sporting superstars who are celebrating:
1959: Frank McAvennie – former Scotland, Celtic and West Ham striker (57).
1963: Tony Mowbray – ex-Middlesbrough and West Brom manager (53).
1967: Boris Becker – youngest Wimbledon champion at the age of 17 (49).
1970: Marvan Atapattu – former Sri Lanka captain (46).
1982: Yakubu Aiyegbeni – Nigerian striker previously with Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, Everton and Blackburn (34).
1985: Asamoah Gyan (soccer) – Ghana and Al-Ahli striker, formerly with Sunderland (31).
1985: James Roby – St Helens hooker (31).
1987: Marouane Fellaini – Manchester United and Belgium midfielder (29).
1989: Chris Smalling – Manchester United and England defender (27).
