Billie Jean King is a well-known tennis player and former world number 1. She won 39 major titles, including 12 singles titles, 16 women's doubles titles, and 11 mixed doubles titles. Additionally, she represented the United States in nine Wightman Cups and seven Federation Cups.
Billie Jean King is a career
Billie Jean King is one the greatest female athletes of all times. On November 22, 1942, she was born in Long Beach. Billie Jean was a natural athlete. She played softball in her youth before switching to tennis when she was eleven years old. King started lessons with Clyde Walker as a junior tennis coach. King was known to be aggressive in the sport and she forced her opponents to make mistakes.
She fights for equal tennis pay
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. She took on the notorious male chauvinist Bobby Riggs in a "Battle of the Sexes" match. Riggs is a self-described male Chuvinist and wanted to prove women's play was better than men's. King defeated Riggs by two sets. The match attracted 90 million viewers. King won $100,000 in prize money during the match.
Her advocacy for gay- and lesbian equality
Billie Jean King represents American sports history. As the first openly gay woman to win the Grand Slam, she changed the face of the game. Her famous 1973 win over Bobby Riggs was watched by 50 million people, and it marked a turning point for female athletes. King was uncomfortable with her sexuality even though she was 51.
Her first bold statement
Billie Jean King’s bold first utterance is important for a variety reasons. It's a statement about her gender which is rarely addressed to women. It's not just about sex but also about female empowerment. Although most women are known for their looks and their marriages, some of the most prominent female celebrities have been known for their advocacy for women. These women include Cybill Shepherd and Pat Nixon, as well as Betty Friedan.
Her life mission
Billie Jean King lived a life devoted to helping girls and women in sports achieve their full potential. She made this happen by founding the Women's Tennis Association. She also piloted the Virginia Slims tour and campaigned for Title IX funding. Title IX funding allows for equal funding of men's as well as women's sporting activities. She is also a pioneer in equality in sports, having been one of the first to come out as gay.
Her legacy
Billie Jean King's legacy goes beyond her tennis abilities. American tennis star Billiejean King won 39 Grand Slams. She was also the first female athlete to make Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential Americans in the 20th century. She was also the founder of World TeamTennis and Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative.