American · Long Beach, California · Born 22 November 1943The Battle of the Sexes — the most important tennis match in history, for reasons beyond sport.
Billie Jean Moffitt King was born in Long Beach, California in 1943. She won 39 Grand Slam titles across singles, doubles and mixed doubles. She is the most important figure in the history of women's professional sports. The Battle of the Sexes — her 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 defeat of Bobby Riggs in front of 90 million television viewers in 1973 — is the most socially significant individual match in tennis history. She was instrumental in establishing the WTA Tour and in pressuring the US Open to offer equal prize money in 1973. She founded the Women's Sports Foundation. She was publicly outed as a lesbian in 1981 — she eventually embraced the identity publicly in 1998.
She defeated Bobby Riggs 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 in the 'Battle of the Sexes' tennis match on September 20, 1973, at the Houston Astrodome.
How They Played
King was an aggressive serve-and-volley player who dominated at the net with exceptional volleys and quick reflexes. She possessed a powerful serve and forehand, combined with tactical intelligence that allowed her to adapt her game to different opponents and surfaces.
Lasting Impact
King revolutionized women's tennis by fighting for equal prize money and founding the WTA, fundamentally changing the professional landscape for female athletes. Her activism extended far beyond tennis, making her one of the most influential figures in sports history for gender equality.
Career Honours
- Wimbledon 6x
- US Open 4x
- French Open 2x
- Australian Open
- Battle of the Sexes (1973)
American Athletes