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Family Circle names court after King

Tennis Headlines

Rosie Casals, left, and Billie Jean King talk about the original nine members of women's professional tennis and the 40-year history of the Family Circle Cup during a news conference at the Family Circle Cup tennis tournament in Charleston, S.C., Saturday, April 7, 2012. Both Casals and King were part of the original nine. (AP Photo/Mic Smith)

(AP Photo/Mic Smith)

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) Women's tennis pioneer Billie Jean King had the stadium court at the Family Circle Tennis Center named in her honor.

The tournament announced the honor Saturday night during an exhibition celebrating the 40th Family Circle Cup. The tournament was the first played in 1973 and offered women an unheard of $100,000 in prize money.

King was instrumental in creating the Women's Tennis Association. She and other members of women's tennis' original nine founding members were reunited at a gala dinner on Friday and introduced before the exhibition, which featured greats such as Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova and John McEnroe.

"Billie Jean King Court" was unveiled on the walls behind both baselines.

Serena Williams takes on Lucie Safarova in the final Sunday.

Updated April 7, 2012

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