Overview

Billie Jean King is an American former tennis player and a pioneering advocate for gender equality in sports. She won 39 Grand Slam titles, including 12 in singles, and was instrumental in the fight for equal prize money for women in tennis. King’s most famous moment came in the “Battle of the Sexes” match in 1973, where she defeated Bobby Riggs, a former men’s champion. Her victory was a symbolic moment in the women’s liberation movement. King has continued to be an outspoken advocate for social justice and LGBTQ+ rights.

• Grand Slam Titles: 39 (12 Singles, 16 Doubles, 11 Mixed Doubles)
• Former World No. 1 in Women’s Tennis
• Winner of the “Battle of the Sexes” Match: 1973
• Presidential Medal of Freedom: 2009
• Inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame: 1987
• Founder of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA)