Billie Jean King

Billie Jean King

Billie Jean King (born November 22, 1943) is an American former World No. 1 professional tennis player. King won 39 Grand Slam titles: 12 in singles, 16 in women's doubles, and 11 in mixed doubles. She was a member of the victorious United States team in seven Federation Cups and nine Wightman Cups. For three years, she was the U.S. captain in the Federation Cup. King is an advocate for gender equality and has long been a pioneer for equality and social justice.

Early Life

Billie Jean King was born in Long Beach, California, to Bill Moffitt, a firefighter, and Betty, a homemaker. She started playing tennis at the age of 11 in the public courts of Long Beach. In 1961, she won her first major title, the singles event at the Southern California Championships.

Career

King's career spanned the amateur and open eras. She achieved her first major success in 1966 by winning the singles title at Wimbledon, which she would go on to win a total of six times. Her most famous match, however, was the "Battle of the Sexes" in 1973, where she defeated former men's world number one Bobby Riggs, significantly impacting public perception of women's tennis.

King was instrumental in the formation of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) in 1973, the professional circuit for women's tennis, advocating for equal prize money for men and women. Her efforts culminated in the U.S. Open becoming the first major tournament to offer equal prize money to both genders in 1973.

Personal Life

King's personal life made headlines in 1981 when her former secretary filed a palimony lawsuit against her, making King the first prominent professional female athlete to come out as a lesbian. This had a significant impact on her endorsements and public image at the time. However, King has since been an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and has been involved in numerous initiatives supporting LGBTQ+ athletes.

Legacy

Billie Jean King's contributions to tennis and her work for gender equality and social justice have made her an iconic figure in sports and beyond. The USTA National Tennis Center in New York was renamed the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in 2006. She has received numerous accolades, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009 for her advocacy work.

King's life and career have been the subject of several books and films, including the 2017 feature film Battle of the Sexes, which highlights her legendary match against Bobby Riggs.

See Also

• Women's Tennis Association
• Grand Slam (tennis)
• Battle of the Sexes (tennis)