NEW YORK (AP) — Filmmaker Ava Duvernay and U.S. Open tournament director Stacey Allaster accepted the Billie Jean King Champions of Equality Award on Thursday, in honor of their groundbreaking work in the film and sports industries.

The award is given to trailblazers in gender equality, and was started in 2023 in honor of the 50th anniversary of King securing equal pay for women at the U.S. Open.

The event also recognized members from across the USTA's 17 sections for their dedication to advancing inclusivity in the sport.

“It was beautiful to be thought of. Certainly Billie Jean King is an icon way beyond the sport,” Duvernay told The Associated Press before the awards ceremony. “Anytime I have an opportunity to be around her or to be associated with her, it’s an honor.”

Duvernay is a

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