Billie Jean King Quotes

I am not trying my best because it is the Olympics. I try my best always.

I don't think anybody's goal is to be mediocre. I think everybody should want to be the best. I've always felt that way. I want to be at the best at everything I do.

If you ask any great player or great quarterback, there's a certain inner confidence that you're as good as anybody. But you can't say who is the absolute best. To be considered is special in itself.

I'd like to imagine that in order to beat me a person would have to play almost perfect tennis.

When I set my eyes on the gold at the world championships, I was able to maintain that focus that whole day. That's what I aim to do in Rio - my focus is gold, so I can keep in that good state; I can't get too complacent. I can't relax; I can't be content. I need to be 100 per cent switched on.

When I'm good at something, I always try to be the best at it and claim that throne. Even in school, I never let anyone say anything to me; I would always be the smartest.

Why do something unless you are going to be the best at it?

I want the best names in the division. The fear brings out the best performance in myself.

To beat Wladimir Klitschko, I have to be better than I've ever been.

I want to be a top player.

I'm not great until I'm the best.

It doesn't matter if it's preseason or a scrimmage. I'm trying to have a dominant performance, whether it's preseason first series or whenever I get out there.

I'm not trying to be cocky, but I set such a high standard for myself. I'm not happy when I pitch seven innings and give up two runs and get a win.

You have to give 110% all the time. 100% isn't good enough anymore.

A champion hates to lose even more than she loves to win.

I was always geared towards either wanting to finish number one or be number one as far as the best player that I could be, or be the best player at my position in the league. I wanted that to be a constant reminder to my teammates that they looked to their leader who is wearing that number, this is what you should strive for as well.

I need to be at my peak and my best is holding up the trophy. Anything less I wouldn't be really excited about. So that's all I can focus on.

My coach has said to me, "When you win a match or a tournament, you don't even think about it - the very next minute you're like".

I don't go there thinking I'm going to lose. I never go into a tournament thinking that. I'll do the best that I can. I need to be at my peak and my best is holding up the trophy. Anything less I wouldn't be really excited about. So that's all I can focus on.

I want to do the best I can right away. There's no point for me to just kind of be relaxed about it. Of course, in each match winning is out of my control, but I want to try to do the best I can as soon as I can, and I want to have 10 successful years and not five slow ones and then five good ones.

I just bring the determination to win.

I've always been a guy that has strived for dominating, not only winning.

Whatever you want, especially when you’re striving to be the best in the world at something, there’ll always be disappointments, and you can’t be emotionally tied to them, cos’ they’ll break your spirit.

To become a good player, you need talent. To become a great player, you need an attitude like Kohli.

There is only one number one. It is a lonely spot but it has got the best view of all.