Battles Of The Sexes 50th Anniversary: Billie Jean King makes history

Tennis fans have tuned into the U.S. Open this summer to watch the best players in the world today compete, but have also been reminded of a seminal moment in sports history. 50 years ago, female tennis star Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in a landmark match whose impact is still being celebrated.

The most important piece of legislation passed in the United States with regards to women’s opportunities was Title IX. It was signed into law in June 1972, and it stated that no one would be discriminated against on the basis of gender. This framework was supposed to help women have the same chances to excel in sports and in other fields as men.

Before she launched into the spotlight culturally, King put a special resume of tennis together in the 1960’s and 1970’s. She won Wimbledon at age 17, and won 39 combined titles in Grand Slam events in singles, doubles and mixed doubles capacities. She was the number one ranked female player in the world for five years running.

Riggs was a dominant player in the 1930’s and 1940’s. He was a decorated winner, having won all three Wimbledon championship events in 1939. Riggs won United States championships in 1946, 1947 and 1949, using strategic guile to overcome his more physically talented opponents. He retired from playing professional tennis in 1969.

Riggs statements off the court drew the ire of many. He commented about women and their proper place in society. He defeated Margaret Court in a tennis match earlier in 1973, which helped fuel some of his stances in his mind. The 55 year-old Riggs welcomed the idea of playing the 29 year-old King, as defeating two female players in their prime would only serve to further prove his point.

King gladly accepted the challenge, and the two players faced off in front of a sold out crowd at the Astrodome in Houston. The anticipation leading up to the match was immense, but the action on the court was a bit anticlimactic. King dispatched of Riggs in straight sets, prompting the latter to admit that he underestimated his opponent.

King’s victory set off a chain reaction of positive developments in the world of women’s tennis. The U.S. Open decided that year that it would offer the exact same amount in prize money to male and female competitors. By 2007, all four majors came around to offering equal pay for male and female players.

Since her triumph, King has been front and center in her efforts to provide female athletes with chances to chase their dreams. She founded the Women’s Sports Foundation in 1974 to give girls of color the opportunity to get involved with tennis. King has also been outspoken in her support of LGBTQ+ rights, as the 1973 match brought her love life into the spotlight as well.

King’s impact in society cannot be denied, and her groundwork has been the impetus for progress in the decades that followed. The ATP and WTA tours decided in 2023 that male and female players competing at the 1000 and 5000 levels will be awarded the same prize money by 2033, which covers many more events than the four Grand Slams each year.