Shocking news as grandson of Bobby Riggs, tennis legend immortalized by 'Battle of the Sexes' vs Billie Jean King, gets arrested in child porn case
Daniel James Riggs, 31, the grandson of legendary tennis player Bobby Riggs, was arrested on Tuesday in Broward County on serious charges of enticement of a minor and production of child pornography.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced the arrest, stating that Riggs was apprehended by the U.S. Marshals Service at the Lauderdale Tennis Club. He made his initial court appearance in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday.
Riggs is accused of engaging in a sexually abusive relationship with a minor victim whom he coached starting in 2020 when she was only 15-year- old. The criminal complaint reports how Riggs initiated sexual conversations with the victim through social media.
The alleged abuse escalated over time, including instances of sexual abuse during international and domestic travel for tennis training and tournaments. The complaint further alleges that Riggs requested child sexual abuse material (CSAM) from the victim via social media.
"In addition to physical abuse, Riggs requested child sexual abuse material (CSAM) from the minor victim through a social media application. To mask his identity, Riggs created multiple anonymous profiles and at times advised the minor victim to delete their communications," the Justice Department's press release stated.
The complaint also mentions a possible second victim, a 16-year-old girl, who was identified through social media records.
Riggs remains in custody at the Broward Main Jail without bond and is scheduled for a pre-trial detention hearing on December 23.
This arrest has sent shockwaves through the tennis community, given the Riggs family's prominent place in the sport's history. His grandfather, Bobby Riggs, famously challenged and lost to Billie Jean King in the "Battle of the Sexes" match in 1973, a landmark event in women's sports.
Bobby Riggs is a 3-time Grand Slam champion known famously for participating in the "Battle of the Sexes" against Billie Jean King
Bobby Riggs is an American tennis star who was active from the 1930s to the 1960s. During the pre-Open era of tennis, Riggs bagged three Grand Slam titles and achieved the World No. 1 ranking. He won the US Championships and Wimbledon in 1939, both of which were outdoor grasscourt events at the time. He won the US Championships again in 1941.
In 1973, Riggs came out of retirement at 55, claiming the women’s game was inferior and challenged top female players. After defeating world No. 1 Margaret Court in the "Mother’s Day Massacre," he faced Billie Jean King in the iconic "Battle of the Sexes." Despite being favored, Riggs lost to King in straight sets (6–4, 6–3, 6–3).
After being diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1988, Riggs died aged 77 on October 25, 1995, at his home in California.