Kaitlyn Christian was a body double for Emma Stone in “Battle of the Sexes” film
DALLAS, TX – It’s not every day that you stumble upon an incredibly fun fact like this one.
Kaitlyn Christian has been making headlines this season after establishing herself as a force to be reckoned with on the PPA Tour.
Before she started competing on Championship Sunday, though, Christian served as Emma Stone’s body double in the 2017 hit sports movie “Battle of the Sexes” that also features Steve Carell.
The film tells explores the 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. The historic contest marked a pivotal moment in women’s sports and the overall women’s rights movement.
“It was such an amazing experience. I got to spend some time on the court with Billie Jean King, who’s one of my idols, so it was just a phenomenal experience,” said Christian. “It's something I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.”
Christian received some priceless intel from the 39-time Grand Slam winner.
“During filming, she taught me her playing style so I could sort of emulate that during the movie,” she explained.
While Stone was portraying King, she couldn’t quite play like her.
That’s when Christian was brought into the mix to showcase her skills on the big screen.
She ultimately landed the role after filmmakers sent King a video of her playing tennis. And Billie immediately saw some similarities in their respective gameplay styles.
“I’m a big serve and volleyer. I’m a slice, chip, and charge kind of player, so when Billie saw that she said, ‘She plays just like me.’ I bring a very old style to the tennis court,” shared Christian.
Admittedly, Christian had never competed with a wooden racket before.
“I started hitting with a wood racket for three months to get used to it. The sweet spot is a lot smaller and the face of the head is smaller, too, so it makes you really focus on the sweet spot and my actual tennis game got a better,” she noted. “But once I got out there with that racket, it helped me play her game, too. She also took a look at my actual game and gave me some pointers on my slice.”
Now the real question is: Did any of those pointers translate to the pickleball court?
“My game in tennis translates very well to pickleball because I love to be a big presence at the net. I love to hit and come in, chip and charge, so I’m still throwing that kind of play into pickleball,” shared Christian. “All these things from tennis are just going to make my pickleball game that much better... I’m so very fortunate for Billie and everything she’s done for women in sports. I’m so grateful for that opportunity.”
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