Tennis Naomi Osaka is the top-earner in women's tennis, according to Forbes

[Lupin]

It took until 2007 for all the Grand Slams to pay equal prize money and, in the decade and a half since, remuneration has climbed steeply.

Tennis players dominate the world's highest earning female athletes - four of the top five and seven of the top 10 in 2022, according to Forbes, with Naomi Osaka leading the way.

King is set to turn 80 later this year but has lost none of the fire that drove her to change her sport, and she remains one of tennis' most outspoken figures.

When Aryna Sabalenka lifted the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup at the Australian Open in January and collected prize money of more than £1.5m, her first words were for the woman who had handed her the silverware.

"It's such an inspiration to receive the trophy from you," Sabalenka told King. "Thank you so much for everything you've done for our sport."

King had watched Sabalenka defeat Elena Rybakina from the front row of Rod Laver Arena along with six of the women who helped her make tennis the most lucrative women's sport in the world, joined in Melbourne by Casals, Melville, Bartkowicz, Pigeon, Dalton and Ziegenfuss.

WTA agrees news £125m investment deal​

The WTA has announced a new investment deal with CVC Capital Partners worth £125m.

The private equity firm previously owned Formula 1 and has also invested in rugby, cricket and French and Spanish football.

This new deal, which has been in the pipeline for some time, is described as a "strategic partnership" and will see CVC secure a 20 per cent stake in the newly created commercial entity of the WTA.

The partnership aims to generate improved commercial growth in the women's game and raise its profile after a difficult period that has seen the gap to the men's sport widen.

A statement read: "Commencing in 2023, CVC will be WTA's commercial partner, investing capital and acting as a catalyst to drive growth of the sport.

"Key focus areas include providing fans with more access to the sport, investing behind the Tour brands, building the player profiles, and investing in digital platforms and commercial capabilities.

"The WTA will continue to own the majority interest in the partnership and retain full regulatory and sporting responsibility for the women's game."

The statement also claimed support from the players for the deal, adding that "critical changes" to