Challenges Faced by Billie Jean King: Obstacles and Turning Points

Life is full of challenges, and Billie Jean King faced many. Discover key struggles and how they were overcome.

Billie Jean King, a former world No. 1 American tennis player, is considered one of the greatest of all time. She accumulated 39 Grand Slam titles across singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles. King also contributed to the United States' victories in seven Federation Cups and nine Wightman Cups. Beyond her athletic achievements, King is known for her advocacy for gender equality in sports and society.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1959: Previous attempts to win a Grand Slam singles title

From 1959 through 1965, Billie Jean King had thirteen unsuccessful attempts to win a Grand Slam singles title.

1963: Wimbledon Final Loss

In 1963, Billie Jean King faced Margaret Court in the Wimbledon final, where Court prevailed.

1965: Previous attempts to win a Grand Slam singles title

From 1959 through 1965, Billie Jean King had thirteen unsuccessful attempts to win a Grand Slam singles title.

1965: Continued Australian Tour and Wimbledon Semi-Finals

In 1965, Billie Jean King continued her tour of Australia, losing in the final of the South Australian Championships and the first round of the Western Australia Championships. At Wimbledon, she lost in the semi-finals to Maria Bueno. She finished the year at the U.S. Championships, losing to Court in the final. For the first time in 81 years, the annual convention of the United States Lawn Tennis Association overruled its ranking committee's recommendation to award her the sole U.S. No. 1 position and voted to rank Nancy Richey Gunter and King as co-U.S. No. 1.

1965: First Year without a Grand Slam Title Since 1965

In 1969, Billie Jean King did not win at least one Grand Slam singles title, marking the first year since 1965 that she had not achieved this feat.

1967: King Criticizes USLTA "Shamateurism"

In 1967, Billie Jean King criticized the United States Lawn Tennis Association (USLTA) for its "shamateurism", where top players were paid under the table, which she argued was corrupt and elitist.

1968: Australian Championships win and knee surgery

In early 1968, Billie Jean King won three consecutive tournaments, including the Australian Championships. She later had surgery on September 24, 1968, to repair cartilage in her left knee, causing her to miss the rest of the year's tournaments.

May 1969: Knee recovery completion

According to Billie Jean King, in May 1969, it took her eight months for her knee to completely recover from the surgery that she had in 1968.

1969: Australian Open Final Loss and Elbow Injury

In 1969, Billie Jean King participated in the Australian summer tour but did not win a tournament, losing in the final of the Australian Open to Margaret Court. She revealed that she was bothered by a severe tennis elbow for seven months.

September 1970: Pacific Southwest Open and Houston Virginia Slims invitational

In September 1970, at the Pacific Southwest Open, the prize money for men was $12,500, while for women it was $1,500. Billie Jean King and other women did not play in the tournament because of the budget differences, and they were willing to take the risk of expulsion from the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association. King and the other women organized the women-only Houston Virginia Slims invitational.

1971: German Open win and Wimbledon semi-final loss

In early May 1971, Billie Jean King lost to Christine Truman Janes at Hurlingham, but recovered to win the German Open in Hamburg. She also lost to Margaret Court at the Queen's Club tournament in London. At Wimbledon, King lost in the semi-finals to Evonne Goolagong.

1972: King Wins US Open with Unequal Prize Money

In 1972, Billie Jean King won the US Open but received US$15,000 less than the men's champion, Ilie Năstase, highlighting gender inequality in prize money.

1973: King's Wimbledon Triple Crown and Battle of the Sexes

In 1973, Billie Jean King completed the Triple Crown at Wimbledon, becoming the first player in the Open Era to do so. She also won against Bobby Riggs in the Battle of the Sexes. She lost the final match against Court in the Virginia Slims of Nashville tournament. She retired from her fourth-round match at the US Open due to illness. After defeating Riggs, she lost in the semifinals to Casals in the Virginia Slims of Houston tournament. King ended the year with tournament wins in Phoenix, Hawaii, and Tokyo.

1973: Margaret Court world No. 1

In 1973, Margaret Court was the clear world No. 1, winning three Grand Slam singles titles, only missing Wimbledon. Billie Jean King started the year inconsistently due to a wrist injury and mixed tournament results, including a victory against Court at the Virginia Slims of Indianapolis, ending Court's winning streak.

1973: "Battle of the Sexes" victory

In 1973, at age 29, Billie Jean King famously won the "Battle of the Sexes" tennis match against 55-year-old Bobby Riggs. That same year, King was also the founder of the Women's Tennis Association and the Women's Sports Foundation. She also persuaded Virginia Slims to sponsor women's tennis and later served on the board of Philip Morris.

1974: King's Tournament Wins and US Open Title

In 1974, Billie Jean King won five of the first seven tournaments she played, including the Virginia Slims of San Francisco and the U.S. Indoor Championships. She won her fourth singles title at the US Open, defeating Evonne Goolagong in the final. She reached the semi-finals of Virginia Slims Championships.

November 1976: King Rehabilitates After Surgery

Billie Jean King spent the first three months of the year rehabilitating her right knee after surgery in November 1976.

November 1976: Knee surgery

On November 9, 1976, Billie Jean King had her third knee surgery, this time on her right knee, and did not play the remainder of the year.

1976: King's Doubles Play and Knee Surgery

In 1976, Billie Jean King focused on doubles and mixed doubles, winning the mixed doubles title at the US Open with Phil Dent. She underwent knee surgery for the third time in November and did not play for the rest of the year.

March 1977: King's Controversial Tournament Choice

In March 1977, Billie Jean King requested a wild card entry to the Virginia Slims Championships but then played the Lionel Cup tournament in San Antonio, Texas, which was criticized by the WTA due to the inclusion of Renée Richards, a transgender athlete. Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, and Betty Stöve criticized King's decision.

1977: King's Wimbledon Quarterfinal Loss

In 1977, Billie Jean King lost to Chris Evert in the Wimbledon quarterfinals, marking the first time she didn't reach a final at Wimbledon since her debut in 1961. King reaffirmed her commitment to return to top form despite the defeat.

1977: Doctor's prediction about knee's competitive tennis lifespan revealed

In 1977, Billie Jean King revealed that doctors had predicted in 1968 that her left knee would allow her to play competitive tennis for only two more years.

December 1978: Foot Surgery

During December 1978, Billie Jean King had major surgery on her left foot.

1978: King Wins US Open Doubles and Federation Cup

In 1978, Billie Jean King teamed with Navratilova to win the women's doubles title at the US Open. She was also undefeated in Federation Cup doubles matches and hinted at retirement due to surgery, but underwent foot surgery in December to return to the tour.

1979: Limited Play Due to Surgery

During the first half of 1979, Billie Jean King played only one event – doubles in the Federation Cup tie against Spain – due to surgery on her left foot in December 1978.

1979: 1979 Wimbledon Quarterfinal

In 1979 Billie Jean King lost to Tracy Austin at Wimbledon quarterfinal.

1979: Barnett asked to leave house

In 1979, the Kings asked Marilyn Barnett to leave their Malibu house, but she refused, threatening to leak private documents.

1980: King's French Open Quarterfinal Loss

In 1980, Billie Jean King played the French Open for the first time since 1972 and lost in the quarterfinals to Dianne Fromholtz Balestrat.

May 1981: Palimony lawsuit filed

In May 1981, Marilyn Barnett sued Billie Jean and Larry King for half of their income and their Malibu house after Barnett attempted suicide. This suit followed Barnett's refusal to leave the Kings' house and threats to release private correspondence.

December 1981: Court order issued

In December 1981, a court order stipulated that Marilyn Barnett leave the Kings' house. The court also noted that Barnett's threats to publish private correspondence in exchange for money bordered on extortion.

1981: King Wins US Open Doubles, Navratilova Changes Partner

In 1981, Billie Jean King teamed with Navratilova to win her 39th and final Grand Slam title at the US Open. Afterwards, Navratilova decided she wanted a new doubles partner and started playing with Shriver, causing a rift between King and Navratilova.

1982: King's Comeback and Wimbledon Run

In 1982, Billie Jean King began a comeback, winning the Edgbaston Cup in Birmingham. At 38, she reached the Wimbledon semi-finals, defeating Tracy Austin in the quarterfinals, marking her first victory over Austin after five defeats. She lost to Chris Evert in the semi-finals, finishing the year ranked 14th in the world after initially retiring.

1983: King's Final Wimbledon Appearance

In 1983, Billie Jean King reached the semi-finals in her final appearance at Wimbledon, losing to Andrea Jaeger after defeating Kathy Jordan, Wendy Turnbull, and Rosemary Casals.

1999: King Elected to Philip Morris Board

In 1999, Billie Jean King was elected to serve on the board of directors of Philip Morris Incorporated, drawing criticism from anti-tobacco groups.

2002: King Dismisses Capriati from Fed Cup Team

In 2002, Billie Jean King dismissed Jennifer Capriati from the Fed Cup team for violating rules against practicing with personal coaches, sparking controversy.