On Sunday, June 27, 2027 – the day before the Championships begin at Wimbledon – two of tennis’s greatest champions will swap centre court for centre stage, serving up a unique matinee event quite unlike any other: Billie Jean King & John McEnroe – Champions in Sport. Champions in Life.
Billie Jean King, the sports icon and equality champion who captured a record 20 Wimbledon championships, and John McEnroe the man with the most combined singles and doubles titles on the ATP Tour, and the voice of tennis, didn’t just win at the top of tennis – they changed the sport. This matinee ‘in conversation’ event will see King and McEnroe — two of the most significant athletes of the 20th century — share unfiltered stories from the biggest moments of their lives, from McEnroe’s unforgettable Wimbledon finals to King’s iconic “Battle of the Sexes” win over Bobby Riggs.
At a time when success is so often measured by winning alone, King and McEnroe offer a different perspective – exploring what it means to overcome adversity, handle pressure, learn from failure, break barriers, and keep moving forward when the odds are stacked against you.
Both are among the most honest and visible figures the sport has ever produced – players whose personalities and convictions carried them far beyond the tennis court. King, who founded the Women’s Tennis Association, became a fearless campaigner for equality on and off the court, while McEnroe built a reputation as the game’s most compelling and controversial on-court showman and legendary broadcaster. Between them, they redefined what it meant to be an athlete in the public eye, turning personality into as much a part of their legacy as their trophies.
With no fewer than 56 Grand Slam titles between them, this is a rare opportunity to hear two Hall of Fame legends reflect on the lessons of a lifetime spent competing at the very top.
2027 marks a landmark year for tennis: 150 years since the first Wimbledon Championships, 50 years since McEnroe’s own Wimbledon debut, and 54 years since King was the last athlete to win the Triple Crown at Wimbledon (winning the singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles in 1973). Staged the day before the Championships throw open the gates at SW19, the show is the perfect curtain-raiser to the historic fortnight.
The show also forms part of The O2’s 20th anniversary season – a summer-long programme marking two decades since the venue first opened its doors. Billie Jean King and John McEnroe will be the only spoken-word event in the celebrations.
King said: “Anytime John and I get together, it is a lively and engaging conversation and I am looking forward to being part of The O2’s twentieth anniversary season.
“Tennis has given both John and me a wonderful platform for our lives and it will be fun to share stories that take the audience behind the curtain into the real world of our careers.”
McEnroe said: “I am really looking forward to coming to London for a first time ever show with Billie Jean King. She is not only the most influential person in the history of women’s sports, but also my good friend and a living legend.
“Working together, we will give our very best to enlighten and entertain you at The O2 London. We hope that you will join us for a great afternoon of live entertainment.”
Tickets through O2 Priority, LTA & AELTC are on pre-sale from 10am on Tuesday, September. They are on general sale from 10am on Friday, September 25 via fane.co.uk/king-mcenroe
