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Billie Jean King

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In 1973, Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs, a 55-year-old former men's champion in the "Battle of the Sexes," a televised event that put more eyeballs on the sport of tennis and made her a household name. Of course, she was so much more than that.

On the court, King won 129 titles, including 11 majors. A six-time winner at Wimbledon, King, was also an accomplished doubles competitor, winning every possible Grand Slam except for the Australian Open doubles, though she was a finalist in that tournament twice.

King's biggest contribution to women's tennis was her push for equality and pay equity. She co-founded the Women's Sports Foundation and was instrumental in convincing Virginia Slims to sponsor a separate women's tour. Because of the work she did at the U.S. Open, the men's and women's championship prize was the same.

It is no misnomer to say that King was ahead of her time and champion of equality.

Additional Info

  • Sport: Tennis
  • Statistics:

    129 Singles Titles
    12 Singles Grand Slams
    695-155 Singles Record
    1 Australian Open Singles Title (1968)
    1 French Open Singles Title (1972)
    6 Wimbledon Singles Titles (1966, 1967, 1968, 1972, 1973 & 1975)
    4 U.S. Open Singles Titles (1967, 1971, 1972 & 1974)
    16 Doubles Grand Slams
    87-37 Doubles Record
    1 French Open Doubles Title (1972)
    10 Wimbledon Doubles Titles (1961, 1962, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 & 1979)
    5 U.S. Open Doubles Titles (1964, 1967, 1974, 1978 & 1980)
    11 Mixed Doubles Grand Slams
    1 Australian Open Mixed Doubles Title (1968)
    2 French Open Mixed Doubles Titles (1967 & 1970)
    4 Wimbledon Mixed Doubles Titles (1967, 1971, 1973 & 1974)
    4 U.S. Open Mixed Doubles Titles (1967, 1971, 1973 & 1976)
    7 Fed Cups (1963, 1966, 1967, 1976, 1977, 1978 & 1979)
    2 AP Female Athlete of the Year Awards (1967 & 1973)
    Member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame
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