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Billie Jean King, American tennis player whose influence and playing style elevated the status of women’s professional tennis. In her career she won 39 major titles, competing in both singles and doubles. She was also known for defeating Bobby Riggs in a ‘Battle of the Sexes’ match in 1973.
In 1973, Billie Jean King faced Bobby Riggs in the iconic “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match. She emerged as the victor, solidifying her position as a pioneer for gender equality in sports. Read also: 50 Facts About Women Leaders Who Run The World. Founding the Women’s Tennis Association.
Did Bobby Riggs win the Battle of the Sexes match? No, Bobby Riggs lost the Battle of the Sexes match to Billie Jean King, which had a significant impact on promoting women’s tennis and gender equality in sports.
September 20, 1973: The day Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in the famous “Battle of the Sexes” Tennis Majors. In May 1981, driven by the circumstances, King became the first prominent professional female athlete to publicly come out, after her former secretary filed a palimony case against her, claiming they had an affair for several years.
Just before she flipped the famous switch, Billie Jean sat down to discuss her historic "Battle of the Sexes" match against Bobby Riggs and the $5,000 check that started the Women's Sports Foundation. See the full interview below!
At 80, the woman who beat Bobby Riggs in tennis' famous "Battle of the Sexes" is not done fighting. King is always looking for ways to push women's sports forward, and she saw a big opportunity...
The plot is based on the legendary 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. The film features a stellar cast including Emma Stone as King and Steve Carell as Riggs, with supporting roles played by Andrea Riseborough, Elisabeth Shue, Austin Stowell, Bill Pullman, Natalie Morales, Eric Christian Olsen, and Sarah Silverman.
