On this day in 1973, top women’s tennis player Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match. King’s triumph on the court not only helped legitimized female professional athletes, but also marked a milestone in women’s equality.
Image: Beaver County Times / OldNews.com
Once ranked the top women’s tennis player in the country, King won a total of 39 Grand Slam titles over the course of her tennis career and founded the Women’s Tennis Association. A vocal advocate for women’s equality, King fought against the significant pay disparities between men and women athletes.
In 1973, Bobby Riggs, one of the best tennis players in the world and a self-proclaimed male chauvinist, saw an opportunity to gain publicity and make money by challenging the top women’s tennis players to an exhibition match. He claimed that women players were inferior and that none could beat him even at his age at 55. On September 20, 1973, 29-year-old King faced off against Riggs in an exhibition match dubbed the “Battle of the Sexes.” The highly publicized tournament garnered massive media attention. Over 50 million of viewers from all around the world watched on television as King defeated Riggs in a sweeping victory, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.
The story of the infamous tournament made it to the big screen in 2017. The film, Battle of the Sexes, starred Emma Stone as King and Steve Carell as Riggs.
Do you remember watching the match on TV?
Explore Billie Jean King’s family tree on Geni and share how you’re related to the tennis legend.
View Billie Jean King’s Geni Profile
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