Date of Birth: November 22, 1943
Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius
Biography
Billie Jean King is an American former World No. 1 professional tennis player. Born on November 22, 1943, in Long Beach, California, King is regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Over her illustrious career, she won 39 Grand Slam titles, including 12 singles, 16 women’s doubles, and 11 mixed doubles titles. She is also well-known for her advocacy for gender equality and social justice. King’s most famous match, the “Battle of the Sexes,” took place in 1973 against Bobby Riggs, a former World No. 1 men’s player. King won the match, which was a significant event in the fight for gender equality in sports. In addition to her on-court success, Billie Jean King founded the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and Women’s Sports Foundation. She has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009.
5 Interesting Facts about Billie Jean King
1. Billie Jean King won 39 Grand Slam titles during her career.
2. She founded the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) in 1973.
3. King was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009.
4. She was the first prominent female athlete to publicly come out as gay.
5. The USTA National Tennis Center in New York City was renamed the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in 2006.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Billie Jean King
1. “Champions keep playing until they get it right.”
2. “Pressure is a privilege.”
3. “I think self-awareness is probably the most important thing towards being a champion.”
4. “Everyone has people in their lives that are necessary in order to keep them going.”
5. “I wanted to use sports for social change.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the peak of her career, Billie Jean King achieved a net worth estimated to be around $20 million.
Children
Billie Jean King does not have any children.
Relevant Links
1. [Billie Jean King Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billie_Jean_King
2. [Official Billie Jean King Website](https://www.billiejeanking.com/
3. [Biography on WTA](https://www.wtatennis.com/news/1445657/billie-jean-king-a-career-of-firsts