Billie Jean King: 'Snubbing female coaches is a big mistake'

Billie Jean King believes that players are making a "big mistake" by not appointing more female coaches.

The 70-year-old, who won 39 Grand Slam titles during her career, has claimed that women are seen as inferior to their male counterparts.

"I've coached Tim Mayotte and a couple of others, but nobody ever asks us," BBC Sport quotes King as saying. "It's a big mistake because we are a great resource, and they should ask.

"Nobody ever comes to me and says 'will you help me with my game?' anymore. The last one to ask me to help was Martina Navratilova when she was playing her last few years of singles.

"We've been taught that we're not as good at things. That's the way world culture works. I don't think it ever crosses their mind."

King was the founder of the Women's Tennis Association.