"Much more than tennis, it was about equality & social change" - Billie Jean King recollects groundbreaking 'Battle of the Sexes' match with Bobby Riggs on its 49th anniversary
Tennis legend Billie Jean King played an iconic match back in 1973, which was a big moment in the sport's history and women's tennis in particular. The 'Battle of the Sexes' celebrated it's 49th anniversary on Tuesday and King remembered the groundbreaking moment on the occasion.
'Battle of the Sexes' is used to describe a match where a female player takes on a male player and was most popularly used for the match between Billie Jean King and the late Bobby Riggs, on September 20, 1973. The match, played at the Houston Astrodome, reportedly recorded 90 million viewers worldwide.
King won the match against her male counterpart in three sets. Her win is widely regarded as a milestone victory in the acceptance of women's tennis, at a time when many female players fought for respect in the tennis world.
King reminisced about the same and said that the match was about equality much more than it was about tennis. On that note, she is optimistic about the 2023 season.
"The Battle of the Sexes was about much more than tennis. It was about equality & social change," Billie Jean King wrote on Twitter. "49 years ago today, Bobby Riggs and I played in the Houston Astrodome in front of a global audience of 90M. The world was watching. 2023 will be a big year."
: Bill Schoen
The Battle of the Sexes was about much more than tennis.
It was about equality & social change.
49 years ago today, Bobby Riggs and I played in the Houston Astrodome in front of a global audience of 90M.
The world was watching.
2023 will be a big year.
📷: Bill Schoen https://t.co/mHrv7NvbdC
Tennis matches between male and female players were held before the King-Riggs battle too, but American superstar King became the first female player to win any of those matches.
Earlier that year, Riggs played Margaret Court in Ramona, California, winning 6-2, 6-1. In 1992, Martina Navratilova and Jimmy Connors competed in another 'Battle of the Sexes' match in Las Vegas, which Connors won 7-5, 6-2.
Billie Jean King has been considered a pioneer in the fight for equality in tennis over the years.
On this date September 20 in 1973, Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in the Battle of the Sexes tennis match at the Houston Astrodome. Photograph: Bettman/Corbis. #OTD https://t.co/itfBkTE3F0
"I was given so many opportunities because of you" - Ice hockey legend Jayna Hefford to Billie Jean King
Five-time Olympic medalist and ice hockey legend Jayna Hefford lauded Billie Jean King for her efforts to promote women's tennis and her fight for equality in sports. Replying to King's tweet on the Battle of the Sexes, Hefford thanked King and admitted that she had many opportunities in her sport due to King's efforts.
"This moment changed so much, for so many! Thank you Billie Jean King - as a female athlete, I was given so many opportunities because of you," Hefford wrote in a tweet.
This moment changed so much, for so many! Thank you @BillieJeanKing - as a female athlete, I was given so many opportunities because of you. #thelegacycontinues twitter.com/billiejeanking…
The match between King and Riggs was also made into a feature film in 2017 titled 'Battle of the Sexes' starring Emma Stone and Steve Carell in lead roles.
King most recently appeared during the 2022 US Open, where she delivered a special tribute speech to Serena Williams, who retired from tennis. King, who is the founder of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), often appears during most major WTA events, particularly those held in the United States.