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Why do we love Billie Jean?
She has gone down history as the woman who beat Bobby Riggs in the 1973 "Battle of the Sexes" tennis match, but Billie Jean King's contribution to athletics and to women's equality will be her greater legacy. From the time she first picked up a tennis racket, Billie Jean was determined to be number one in the world, and she was—on seven different occasions. Always outspoken and a fierce competitor, she recognized that women were not getting a fair shake in professional tennis or the world at large. She championed the passage of Title IX, fought for higher prize money paid to women champions, and was instrumental in the creation of the Women's Tennis Association, the Women's Sports Foundation, and the Virginia Slims Women's Tennis Tour. She continues to represent tennis as a commentator and most recently as coach of the 2000 USA Women's Olympic Tennis team. As the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Women's Sports Foundation, Billie Jean dedicates her time to increasing access to and the participation of girls and women in sports and fitness activities.
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Biography:
Born - November 22, 1943
Long Beach, Calif.
Achievements:
- 39 total career Grand Slam titles: 12 career singles titles (ten Wimbledon, four U.S. Opens, one French Open, and one Australian Open single titles), 16 doubles titles (one French Open, ten Wimbledon and five U.S. Opens), and 11 mixed doubles titles (one Australian Open, two French Opens, four Wimbledons and four U.S. Opens).
- Holds a record 20 Wimbledon titles: 6 singles, 10 doubles and 4 mixed doubles.
- Founder, Women's Tennis Association.
- Founder, Women's Sports Foundation.
- The first woman athlete to win more than $100,000 in prize money in one year.
- Ranked Number 1 seven times between 1966 and 1974.
- In 1972 became the first woman to be named Sports Illustrated "Sportsperson of the Year."
- Helped establish the Virginia Slims professional tennis tour for women in 1970.
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In her own words -- On responsibility:
"And, the most important word that's helped me in my life when things have gone right or when things have gone wrong: That is responsibility. Accept responsibility. And I'll give you an idea. Like in tennis, every ball that comes to me is a decision. Every ball that comes to me is a decision. Do I slice it? Do I hit cross-court? Do I hit top spin? Do I hit side spin? Do I lob? What do I do?
"But I have to accept responsibility for that. And that's what sports teaches us, to put it on the line so to speak. And to live it. And if you remember one thing, it's [that it is] everyone's responsibility to lead, to honor, and to fight for everyone's basic rights for equality."
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