How Billie Jean King won the Battle of the Sexes and changed tennis history

On September 20, 1973, one of the most famous tennis matches of all time took place at the Houston Astrodome. It was dubbed the Battle of the Sexes, and it pitted 29-year-old Billie Jean King, the reigning Wimbledon champion and a pioneer of women’s tennis, against 55-year-old Bobby Riggs, a former world number one and a self-proclaimed male chauvinist. The match was more than just a sporting event; it was a cultural phenomenon that attracted over 30,000 spectators and 90 million TV viewers worldwide. It was also a milestone in the women’s movement and the fight for gender equality.

The Battle of the Sexes was not the first exhibition match between a man and a woman in tennis history. In fact, Riggs had already challenged and defeated another top female player, Margaret Court, in May 1973, in what was known as the Mother’s Day Massacre. Riggs, who had retired from professional tennis in 1951, was a master of publicity and gambling. He claimed that he could beat any woman in tennis, even at his advanced age, and that women belonged in the kitchen and the bedroom. He taunted King to face him in a $100,000 winner-take-all match, which she initially declined.

However, after seeing Riggs humiliate Court, King changed her mind and accepted his challenge. She saw an opportunity to prove herself and to promote women’s tennis, which was still struggling for recognition and respect in the male-dominated sport. She also wanted to make a statement for women’s rights and empowerment, which were at the forefront of the social and political agenda in the 1970s.

King prepared for the match with determination and professionalism. She trained hard, studied Riggs’ game, and hired a sports psychologist to help her cope with the pressure. She also founded the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) in June 1973, uniting female players under one organization and securing equal prize money for men and women at the US Open.

Riggs, on the other hand, did not take the match seriously. He relied on his experience and his mind games to unsettle King. He made outrageous comments to the media, such as “she’s a woman and they don’t have the emotional stability” and “I’ll set her back 50 years”. He also staged various stunts to mock King, such as presenting her with a giant sugar daddy lollipop or wearing a yellow jacket with “Sugar Daddy” written on it.

The match itself was a spectacle of epic proportions. King entered the court like Cleopatra on a golden litter carried by four topless men dressed as ancient slaves. Riggs arrived in a rickshaw pulled by six young women wearing “Sugar Daddy” T-shirts. The players exchanged gifts before the match: King gave Riggs a squealing piglet, while Riggs gave King a giant teddy bear.

The match was played over the best of five sets, with standard rules for men’s singles. King dominated from the start, using her speed, agility, and accuracy to counter Riggs’ drop shots and lobs. She won the first set 6-4, breaking Riggs’ serve twice. She continued her momentum in the second set, winning 6-3 with three more breaks. In the third set, Riggs tried to rally, but King was too strong and confident. She sealed her victory with a 6-3 score, breaking Riggs’ serve for the seventh time.

King celebrated her triumph by jumping over the net and embracing Riggs, who graciously 

congratulated her. She then lifted the silver trophy and waved to the cheering crowd. She had not only won $100,000, but also respect and admiration from millions of people. She had proven that women could compete with men on equal terms, and that they deserved equal opportunities and rewards in sports and society.

The Battle of the Sexes was more than just a tennis match; it was a historic event that changed tennis history and influenced generations of female athletes. It also inspired several books, documentaries, and films, including [Battle of the Sexes] (2017), starring Emma Stone as King and Steve Carell as Riggs.