Billie Jean King says a change in attitude can improve US tennis,

Billy Jean King is honored along with the eight other women
who formed the Women's Professional Tour in 1973
during a ceremony at the Family Circle Cup tennis tournament
in Charleston, S.C., last month.
(Mic Smith / Associated Press / April 7, 2012)

An extract from an article in the Los Angeles Times on Gay Games Ambassador Billie Jean King's outlook on tennis in the US, which for her can be improved by imitating team sports for youth:

She's about as corporate as Bubba Watson. When she talks about her World Team Tennis, she isn't selling tickets, she's setting examples and embracing concepts.

"Let's say you talk to kids and they are playing lacrosse and tennis," she says. "They talk about lacrosse, and they talk about team. Tennis? They talk about their lesson. If they have to choose one or the other, they'll choose the team. They get a uniform. They get to be part of something with other kids. Tennis needs to stress teams. Get rid of the word 'lesson.' Call the teachers coaches, not tennis pros."

She was addressing the current sorry state of United States professional tennis.

Read in full HERE.