Billie Jean King is a former world No. 1 professional tennis player. She dominated women’s tennis with 39 Grand Slam -12 singles, 12 doubles and 11 mixed doubles titles. She was born on born November 22, 1943.
King was a member of the victorious United States team in seven Federation Cups and nine Wightman Cups. For three years, she was the U.S. captain in the Federation Cup. King is an advocate of gender equality and has long been a pioneer for equality and social justice. In 1973, at age 29, she won the “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match against the 55-year-old Bobby Riggs.
The Fed Cup Award of Excellence was bestowed on her in 2010. King was also the founder of the Women’s Tennis Association and the Women’s Sports Foundation. In 2020, the Federation Cup was renamed the Billie Jean King Cup in her honour. In 2022, she was awarded the French Legion of Honour.
Billie Jean King Young
Billie Jean was born Billie Jean Moffit to Bill Moffit, a fireman, and Betty, a homemaker. Her younger brother, Randy, became a baseball pitcher for the San Francisco Giants.
She went to the Long Beach Polytechnic High School and then to the California State University, Los Angeles. The free Public Courts in Long Beach helped her practice and hone her tennis skills.
Billie Jean King’s Age
78 Years
Billie Jean King Titles
Billie Jean King holds 39 Grand Slam titles: 12 singles titles, 16 women’s doubles titles, and 11 mixed doubles titles. She earned 32 of her 39 Grand Slam titles from 1966-1975, the period of time representing the height of her professional career.
Billie Jean King Record
- Most singles matches played in a season (1971): 125.
- Most singles matches won in a season (1971): 112.
- Most doubles titles won in a season (1971): 21.
- Most singles and doubles titles won in a season (1971): 38.
- Most singles and doubles matches won in a season (1971): 192.
- Most doubles matches won in a season (1971): 80.
- Oldest singles title winner on the WTA Tour (Birmingham 1983): 39 years, 7 months.
Billie Jean King College
She attended Los Angeles State College now California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State LA).
Billie Jean King Movie
Battle of the Sexes is a 2017 biographical sports film directed by Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton and written by Simon Beaufoy. The plot is loosely based on the 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs.
Billie Jean King Home
King resides in New York City and Chicago.