Billie Jean King is a well-known tennis player and former world number 1. She won 39 major tennis titles, including 16 singles titles as well as 16 women's doubles titles. In addition, she played for the United States national team in seven Federation Cups and nine Wightman Cups.
Billie Jean King's professional career
Billie Jean King is one of the most successful female athletes of all time. On November 22, 1942, she was born in Long Beach. Billie Jean, an athlete naturally, started playing softball when she was a kid and then switched to tennis at age 11. King was encouraged by her father to take lessons from Clyde Walker, a tennis legend who would also give free lessons when King was younger. King was known for being aggressive in the sport, and her play forced opponents into making mistakes.
Her fight for equal tennis wages
Billie Jean King was the first female professional tennis player. She was an avid advocate for gender equality, and used her tennis career as a platform to do so. Bobby Riggs, a male chauvinist, was her opponent in a "Battle of the Sexes” match. Riggs was a self-proclaimed male Chauvinist who wanted to prove that women's Tennis is inferior to men's. King beat Riggs, in straight sets. A match in which 90,000,000 people tuned in. King took home $100,000 in prize money.
She advocates for gay rights and lesbian rights
Billie Jean King is a legend in American sports history. Her victory over Bobby Riggs in 1973 was the first Openly Gay woman to win Grand Slam. She revolutionized the game. The 50 million-person audience watched her 1973 victory over Bobby Riggs, which was a significant turning point in the history of female athletes. King was not comfortable with her sexuality, even after she turned 51.
Her boldest statement yet
Billie Jean King's first bold utterance is an important one for a variety of reasons. First, it is a bold statement about her gender that often isn’t addressed to women. And secondly, it isn't just about sex, but about the importance of female empowerment. Many female celebrities are famous for their looks, marriages, and activism for women. Some of these women include Cybill shepherd, Pat Nixon and Betty Friedan.
Her life mission
Billie Jean King's life mission was to help women and girls in sports reach their full potential. She achieved this by founding the Women's Tennis Association, piloting Virginia Slims tours, and advocating for Title IX funding. Title IX funding ensures equal funding for both men's & women's sport. She was also one of the first athletes to openly identify as gay.
Her legacy
Billie Jean King has a legacy that goes far beyond her tennis talents. American tennis player Billie Jean King was the only woman to make Time magazine’s list as the 100 most influential Americans of 20th century. She was also the founders of World TeamTennis, an international professional mixed-gender team tennis league.