Elton John wrote the song "Philadelphia Freedom" as a tribute to what tennis star?

Elton John wrote "Philadelphia Freedom" as a tribute to tennis star Billie Jean King. King was a close friend of John and the player-coach of the Philadelphia Freedoms, a professional World TeamTennis team formed in 1974.

John and lyricist Bernie Taupin created the song in connection with King's team. Although the title also evokes Philadelphia's musical identity and the broader idea of freedom, the song's immediate personal inspiration was King and her Philadelphia tennis franchise. The Freedoms used it as an anthem, helping connect the pop hit directly with professional tennis.

Billie Jean King was one of the most influential tennis players of the twentieth century. She won 12 major singles titles and became a leading advocate for equal prize money and LGBTQ+ rights. The song is sometimes described simply as a tribute to the Philadelphia team, but that is not a competing answer: King was the star and central figure who inspired the team connection.