The story of Billie Jean King, the best tennis player in the world who became an icon in the fight for women’s rights

Billie Jean Moffit he saved coin upon coin until he had collected the 8 dollars that cost him his first tennis racket. It was not her entry into the world of sports: she had already excelled in basketball and softball at the age of ten playing with girls older than her.

But at eleven he decided on tennis and with his brand new racket he went to take his first tennis lesson in one of the public courts that were then operating in the city of Long Beach, a court that over the years was renamed Billie Jean Moffitt King Tennis Center. It was not be for lowerly: Billie Jean won 39 Grand Slam titles; 12 in singles, 16 in women’s doubles and 11 in mixed doubles.

Also read: The Federation Cup changes its name to the Billie Jean King Cup in honor of the activist and pioneer of women’s tennis

His triumphs were not limited to the game itself. He has been a powerful activist also off the pitch for women’s rights. In 1973 she beat Bobby Riggs, the world’s number 1 male champion during the 1940s. It was during a campaign called “Battle of the Sexes” created to make women visible in sports; After Riggs stated in press rounds that she could beat him with her eyes closed because the woman was only good for the kitchen and the bed, Billie Jean King easily beat her in front of millions of viewers.

That same year the tennis player threatened to boycott the United States Open if the women did not receive the same prize money that went to men; the salary difference between men and women was scandalous. She herself took care of getting the sponsors and her claim was attended. The ’73 Open was the first major tournament to offer equal pay regardless of gender.

Billie Jean’s fight for women’s rights

Married to sports promoter Larry King, Billie Jean later led the creation of the Women’s Tennis Association and also the World Team Tennis League; she was the first woman elected as a commissioner in professional sports. She had her share of upsets, naturally. They criticized her style for “too aggressive”; she was excluded from a winners photo because she was wearing shorts instead of the classic feminine dress.

It turned out to be very difficult for her. his name appeared in the magazine Ms among prominent women who declared that they had had an abortion, following the example of the Manifesto of the 343 led by Simone de Beauvoir, published shortly before in The new observer, in France. It was her husband who had signed for her, without telling him about her.

Billie Jean King grew up in a distinctly sporty environment: her mother was a swimmer, her father, a firefighter, played basketball and track and field, and her younger brother, Randy Moffitt, was a major league baseball star. Even the minister of her church had been an athlete: Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic champion javelin jumper. One day Richards asked Billie Jean what she planned to do with her life and she answered without hesitation: “I’m going to be the best tennis player in the world”. And it was.