London’s pre-Wimbledon calendar will feature a different kind of tennis bill in 2027, with Billie Jean King and John McEnroe set for a live conversation at The O2 on June 27.
The matinee, titled Billie Jean King & John McEnroe — Champions in Sport. Champions in Life., will bring two of the game’s most decorated figures together on the eve of the Wimbledon fortnight. It is scheduled as the sole spoken-word presentation in The O2’s 20th-anniversary programme.
Quick facts
- Date: June 27, 2027
- Venue: The O2, London
- Format: Afternoon spoken-word show
- Combined Grand Slam haul: 56 titles
- Presale: September 22, 2026, from 10 a.m.
- General sale: September 25, 2026, from 10 a.m.
The show falls in a significant season for Wimbledon. The 2027 Championships will be staged 150 years after the tournament’s first edition, while it will also be 50 years since McEnroe first appeared at the All England Club.
King’s own Wimbledon history will be central to the occasion. In 1973, she completed the singles, doubles and mixed-doubles sweep at the Championships, a feat achieved 54 years before the London appearance.
The pair are expected to revisit defining moments from their careers, including McEnroe’s Wimbledon final runs and King’s 1973 Battle of the Sexes victory against Bobby Riggs.
“Whenever John and I meet, the discussion is animated and compelling,” King said. “I’m excited to be included in The O2’s anniversary season. Tennis gave us both an extraordinary platform, and sharing the stories behind our careers with the audience will be enjoyable.”
King collected 39 major titles across the three disciplines, including a record 20 Wimbledon crowns. She finished six seasons as year-end world No. 1 and established the WTA, the Women’s Sports Foundation and the Billie Jean King Foundation.
McEnroe won 17 Grand Slam trophies and owns the Open Era men’s record for combined singles and doubles titles, with 155. Since retiring, he has also built a broadcasting career as a commentator and analyst across 12 television networks worldwide.
McEnroe said the date will mark his first London stage show alongside King, calling her a close friend, a sporting icon and the most influential figure in women’s sport. He said the pair intend to “inform and entertain” the audience during the afternoon event.
Tickets will first be offered through O2 Priority, LTA and AELTC presales from 10 a.m. on September 22, 2026. Public sales open at 10 a.m. on September 25 through Fane.
