Moneybags Serena pays tribute to King

Reuters

THANK YOU: Serena Williams says she will be eternally grateful to Billy Jean King, a lifelong advocate against sexism who paved the way for women to compete and earn prizemoney.

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Serena Williams has paid tribute to the trailblazing Billie Jean King after becoming the all-time leading prizemoney earner in women's sport.

The $US2 million ($NZ3.99 million) Williams pocketed for landing her fourth Australian Open crown on Saturday night with a 6-0 6-3 victory over Dinara Safina took her on-court earnings to $US35.73m.

The 27-year-old has now eclipsed fellow American tennis pro Lindsay Davenport ($US22,144,735) and Swedish golfer Annika Sorenstam ($US22,573,192) to be top of the women's sports rich list.

"I thought it was just in tennis and then I realised it was really overall in women's sports. I thought that was really cool," Williams said.

The 10-times Grand Slam champion says she will be eternally grateful for the deeds of King, a lifelong advocate against sexism who paved the way for women to compete and earn prizemoney.

The founder of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), the Women's Sports Foundation and co-founder with former husband Lawrence King of World Team Tennis, the American is best known for her ground-breaking role in the 1973 Battle of the Sexes.

King's famous victory over 55-year-old former world No.1 men's player Bobby Riggs at Houston Astrodome in front of 30,492 spectators and a worldwide television audience estimated at 50 million people in 37 countries was pivotal in boosting recognition and respect for women's tennis.

"You look at people like Billie Jean King, then you look at things in the United States called Title IX, which gave women an opportunity to play sports. You really appreciate that," Williams said.

"You really appreciate the people, the pioneers, the work they've done to get me in a position to have an opportunity to be called even the highest-earning female tennis player.

"I just feel so honoured that I had so many wonderful pioneers doing things to open doors.

"Not only (for) me, but you think five years from now or 10 years from now, say, there will probably be people earning more money than I am because the prize money on the WTA Tour has already gone completely out of the roof from this year and last year.

"So it's going to get even better."

-AAP