History of Billie Jean King in Timeline
Billie Jean King, a former world No. 1 American tennis player, is considered among the greatest of all time. She secured 39 Grand Slam titles across singles (12), women's doubles (16), and mixed doubles (11). King also contributed to the United States' victories in seven Federation Cups and nine Wightman Cups. Beyond her athletic achievements, she is known for her advocacy of gender equality in sports and society.
1939: Alice Marble's Accomplishment
In 1939, Alice Marble was the last woman to win the singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles titles at both Wimbledon and the U.S. Championships before Billie Jean King matched the achievement in 1967.
November 22, 1943: Billie Jean King Born
On November 22, 1943, Billie Jean King, née Moffitt, was born. She became an American former world No. 1 tennis player and is considered one of the greatest of all time.
January 28, 1948: Marilyn Barnett Born
On January 28, 1948, Marilyn Barnett, who later had a relationship with Billie Jean King, was born as Marilyn Kathryn McRae.
1959: Early Career Matches
From 1959, Billie Jean King made unsuccessful attempts to win a Grand Slam singles title.
1959: Grand Slam Debut
In 1959, Billie Jean King made her Grand Slam debut at the U.S. Championships, marking the beginning of her journey in major tennis tournaments.
1959: First Grand Slam Singles Event
In 1959, Billie Jean King played in her first Grand Slam singles event.
1960: First Tournament Win
In 1960, Billie Jean King won her first tournament at the Philadelphia and District Grass Court Championships, marking her first major victory.
1961: Wimbledon Doubles Title
In 1961, Billie Jean King gained international recognition by winning the Wimbledon women's doubles title with Karen Hantze in her first attempt.
1961: Graduated from High School
In 1961, Billie Jean King graduated from Long Beach Polytechnic High School, marking a milestone in her early life and education.
1962: Upsets Margaret Court
In 1962 at Wimbledon, Billie Jean King upset Margaret Court, the World No. 1 and top seed, in a second-round match.
1963: Wimbledon Final
In 1963, Billie Jean King faced Margaret Court in the Wimbledon final, where Court prevailed in the match.
1963: Federation Cup Win
In 1963, Billie Jean King was on the winning United States team in the Federation Cup, contributing to the team's victory.
1964: Full-Time Commitment to Tennis
In 1964, Billie Jean King decided to make a full-time commitment to tennis after businessman Robert Mitchell offered to sponsor her training in Australia.
1964: Left College to Focus on Tennis
In 1964, Billie Jean King left Los Angeles State College (now California State University, Los Angeles) to fully dedicate herself to her tennis career.
1964: Engagement to Larry King
In the fall of 1964, Billie Jean King got engaged to Larry King.
September 17, 1965: Marriage to Larry King
On September 17, 1965, Billie Jean King married Larry King in Long Beach. They had become engaged while she was 20 and he was 19 and still attending school.
1965: Previous Grand Slam Win
1969 was the first year since 1965 that Billie Jean King did not win at least one Grand Slam singles title.
1965: Defeated Jones in Fed Cup
In 1965, Billie Jean King defeated Ann Haydon-Jones in the Fed Cup to help the United States win against the United Kingdom.
1965: Return to Australian Summer Tour
In 1965, Billie Jean King returned to the Australian summer tour in December for the first time.
1965: Early Career Matches
To 1965, Billie Jean King made unsuccessful attempts to win a Grand Slam singles title. Afterwards, she finally won the first of her six singles titles at Wimbledon.
1966: Year-Ending World No. 1 Ranking
In 1966, Billie Jean King began a period of dominance, achieving the year-ending World No. 1 ranking in six of the ten years through 1975.
1966: Grand Slam Rivalry
In 1966, Billie Jean King started a Grand Slam rivalry with Margaret Court. Through 1975, One or both of these women played 35 of the 40 Grand Slam singles tournaments held during this period, and together they won 24 of them.
1966: Federation Cup Win
In 1966, Billie Jean King was on the winning United States team in the Federation Cup, contributing to the team's victory.
1966: First Wimbledon Singles Title
In 1966, Billie Jean King won her first Wimbledon singles title and the first of her twelve Grand Slam singles titles overall, defeating Maria Bueno in the final.
1967: Criticism of USLTA
In 1967, Billie Jean King criticized the United States Lawn Tennis Association (USLTA) for its practice of "shamateurism," arguing it was corrupt and elitist.
1967: South African Tennis Championships Win and Wimbledon Title
In 1967, Billie Jean King successfully defended her title at the South African Tennis Championships. She also won her second consecutive Wimbledon singles title, defeating Virginia Wade in the quarterfinals and Jones. She won her first U.S. Championships title, winning the singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles titles at both Wimbledon and the U.S. Championships.
1967: Federation Cup Win
In 1967, Billie Jean King was on the winning United States team in the Federation Cup, contributing to the team's victory.
1968: Playground Instructor and Student
Before the start of the open era in 1968, Billie Jean King earned US$100 a week as a playground instructor and student at California State University, Los Angeles when not playing in major tennis tournaments.
1968: Attraction to Women
By 1968, Billie Jean King realized that she was attracted to women.
1968: Australian Championships Win and Knee Surgery
In early 1968, Billie Jean King won the Australian Championships for the first time. She won three consecutive tournaments to end her Australian tour. On September 24, 1968, she had surgery to repair cartilage in her left knee.
May 1969: Knee Recovery
In May 1969, Billie Jean King's knee fully recovered from surgery.
1969: Australian Open Final Loss and Elbow Injury
In 1969, Billie Jean King lost to Margaret Court in the Australian Open final and lost in the quarterfinals of the US Open. King stated it was a bad year due to a severe tennis elbow for seven months.
September 1970: Pacific Southwest Open and Women's Rights Advocacy
In September 1970, during the Pacific Southwest Open where the prize money for men was significantly higher than for women, Billie Jean King and other women chose not to play to advocate for equal pay. King and the other women organized the women-only Houston Virginia Slims invitational and this helped launch the series of women-only tournaments.
1970: Motivation for a New Year
Billie Jean King said during the Pacific Southwest Open, "I expect to have a real big year in 1970, though, because I really have the motivation now. I feel like a kid again."
1971: Most Tournaments Won
Although Billie Jean King won only one Grand Slam singles title in 1971, this was the best year of her career in terms of tournaments won (17).
1971: Grand Slam Dominance Begins
From 1971, Billie Jean King began a period of Grand Slam dominance, winning seven of the ten Grand Slam singles tournaments she played through 1975.
1971: Affair with Marilyn Barnett
In 1971, Billie Jean King began an affair with her secretary, Marilyn Barnett.
1971: Campaign for equal prize money
In 1971, Billie Jean King campaigned for equal prize money in the men's and women's games. Her husband, Larry King created the idea to form a nine player women's group. She began an affair with her secretary, Marilyn Barnett.
1971: Abortion Made Public
In 1971, Billie Jean King had an abortion that was made public in a Ms. magazine article after Larry had revealed it without consulting her.
1971: Reason Not Playing in the Australian Open
In 1971, Billie Jean King played in New Zealand, near Australia, but did not play in the Australian Open, because she did not want to miss any Virginia Slims winter tournaments.
1971: Wimbledon and Rothmans North of England Championships
In 1971, at Wimbledon, Billie Jean King lost unexpectedly to Evonne Goolagong in the semi-finals. Two weeks after Wimbledon, King won the Rothmans North of England Championships on grass in Hoylake.
1971: US Open Win and $100,000 a year
In August 1971, Billie Jean King won the US Open without losing a set. In 1971, King was the first female tennis player to earn $100,000 a year, earning a congratulatory phone call from President Richard M. Nixon.
1972: Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year
In 1972, Billie Jean King jointly won the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year award with John Wooden, acknowledging her impact and accomplishments in the world of sports.
1972: Career Grand Slam
In 1972, Billie Jean King won the French Open, completing a "career Grand Slam" by winning the singles titles at all four Grand Slam events. She became only the fifth woman in tennis history to achieve this.
1972: US Open Win and Prize Money Inequality
In 1972, Billie Jean King won the US Open but received US$15,000 less than the men's champion Ilie Năstase, highlighting the inequalities in prize money.
1972: Grand Slam Focus and Dominance
In 1972, Billie Jean King won three Grand Slam singles titles, choosing not to play the Australian Open. Her dominance was aided by rival Margaret Court's absence due to childbirth.
1972: Early Match Retirement and Admission
In early 1972, Billie Jean King admitted that cramps associated with an abortion caused her retirement from a match with Chris Evert.
September 20, 1973: King wins Battle of the Sexes
On September 20, 1973, Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in the "Battle of the Sexes" at the Houston Astrodome, in front of over 30,000 spectators and a large television audience. This match is considered a significant event in developing greater recognition and respect for women's tennis.
1973: First President of the Women's Tennis Association
In 1973, Billie Jean King became the first president of the women's players union – the Women's Tennis Association.
1973: King completes Triple Crown at Wimbledon and plays Battle of the Sexes
In 1973, Billie Jean King completed the Triple Crown at Wimbledon and also played the Battle of the Sexes match against Bobby Riggs, winning after playing matches directly before and after the event. King also won tournaments in Phoenix, Hawaii, and Tokyo at the end of 1973.
1973: King defeats Bobby Riggs in Battle of the Sexes
In 1973, Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in an exhibition match known as the Battle of the Sexes, winning $100,000.
1973: King's victory over Court ends winning streak
In 1973, Billie Jean King defeated Margaret Court in the Virginia Slims of Indianapolis tournament, ending Court's 12-tournament and 59-match winning streak after saving multiple match points. King later won her fifth Wimbledon singles title.
1973: Co-founding of World Team Tennis
In 1973, Billie Jean King's husband Larry co-founded World Team Tennis. WTT was based on her philosophy for gender equality.
1973: Battle of the Sexes Victory
In 1973, Billie Jean King, at the age of 29, famously won the "Battle of the Sexes" tennis match against 55-year-old Bobby Riggs. This event was a significant moment in the fight for gender equality in sports.
1973: US Open Offers Equal Prize Money
In 1973, due to Billie Jean King's efforts, the US Open became the first major tournament to offer equal prize money for men and women.
1974: Founding of womenSports Magazine and Women's Sports Foundation
In 1974, Billie Jean King, along with husband Larry King and Jim Jorgensen, founded womenSports magazine and started the Women's Sports Foundation.
1975: Time Person of the Year
In 1975, Billie Jean King was recognized as one of the Time Persons of the Year, highlighting her influence and significance in society.
1975: Grand Slam Rivalry
Through 1975, Billie Jean King continued a Grand Slam rivalry with Margaret Court. Since 1966, one or both of these women played 35 of the 40 Grand Slam singles tournaments held during this period, and together they won 24 of them.
1975: Year-Ending World No. 1 Ranking
Through 1975, Billie Jean King had achieved the year-ending World No. 1 ranking in six of the ten years since 1966, highlighting her dominance in women's tennis.
November 1976: King rehabilitates her knee after surgery
Following surgery in November 1976, Billie Jean King spent the first three months of the year rehabilitating her right knee.
1976: King considers comeback after Wimbledon final
In 1976, Billie Jean King considered her return to singles competition after watching the Wimbledon final. King had knee surgery for the third time on November 9, 1976.
1976: Federation Cup Win
In 1976, Billie Jean King was on the winning United States team in the Federation Cup, contributing to the team's victory.
March 1977: King requests wild card entry and plays in San Antonio
In March 1977, Billie Jean King requested a wild card entry to the Virginia Slims Championships and played in the Lionel Cup tournament in San Antonio, which faced criticism due to the presence of Renée Richards, a transgender athlete. King won the San Antonio tournament.
1977: King defeated by Evert at Wimbledon
In 1977 at Wimbledon, Billie Jean King was defeated by Chris Evert in the quarterfinals. This marked the first time King didn't reach a final at Wimbledon since her debut in 1961.
1977: Prediction about Knee Injury
In 1977, Billie Jean King recalled that in 1968, her doctors predicted that her left knee would only allow her to play competitive tennis for two more years.
December 1978: King undergoes foot surgery
In December 1978, Billie Jean King underwent major surgery to her left foot.
1979: King limited to doubles due to surgery
Due to major foot surgery in December 1978, Billie Jean King played only one event - doubles in the Federation Cup tie against Spain - during the first half of 1979.
1979: 1979 Wimbledon Quarterfinal
In 1979, Billie Jean King played Tracy Austin at Wimbledon. King lost to Austin in the quarterfinal.
1979: Federation Cup Win
In 1979, Billie Jean King was on the winning United States team in the Federation Cup, contributing to the team's victory.
1979: Top players pick Billie Jean King
In 1979, several top players were asked who they would pick to help them recover from a hypothetical deficit of 1–5 (15–40) in the third set of a match on Wimbledon's Centre Court. Martina Navratilova, Rosemary Casals, and Françoise Dürr all picked Billie Jean King.
1979: Barnett Asked to Leave House
In 1979, the Kings asked Marilyn Barnett to leave their house, leading to threats and a lawsuit.
May 1981: Palimony Lawsuit
In May 1981, Marilyn Barnett sued the Kings in a palimony lawsuit for half their income and the Malibu house.
December 1981: Court Order Stipulates Barnett Leave the House
In December 1981, a court order stipulated that Marilyn Barnett leave the house and her threats to publish private correspondence came close to extortion.
1981: King wins final Grand Slam title, Navratilova ends partnership
In 1981, Billie Jean King teamed with Navratilova to win King's 39th and final Grand Slam title at the US Open. Navratilova ended their partnership in the Spring of 1981.
November 1982: Palimony Suit Thrown Out of Court
In November 1982, Marilyn Barnett's palimony suit was thrown out of court.
1982: League commissioner
In 1982, Billie Jean King became league commissioner for World TeamTennis.
1982: King's Comeback and Wimbledon Run
In 1982, Billie Jean King began a comeback, winning the Edgbaston Cup, her first singles title in more than two years. At Wimbledon, the 38-year-old King reached the semi-finals, becoming the oldest female semi-finalist since 1920, after defeating Tracy Austin in the quarterfinals. She was eventually defeated by Chris Evert in the semi-finals. King finished 1982 ranked 14th in the world.
1982: Autobiography Claim
In her 1982 autobiography, Billie Jean King claimed that she intentionally lost a match in Long Beach because of an argument with her husband.
March 1983: House Destroyed
In March 1983, the house that had been contested in the palimony suit was destroyed during a series of freak storms.
1983: Last Grand Slam singles Event
In 1983, Billie Jean King played in her last Grand Slam singles event.
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 beating Kathy Jordan in the quarterfinals.
1983: Final Singles Match
In 1983, Billie Jean King won the Edgbaston Cup, becoming the oldest WTA player to win a singles tournament. Her final official singles match was a loss to Catherine Tanvier at the 1983 Australian Open.
1984: Wimbledon Mixed Doubles
In 1984, Billie Jean King and Vijay Amritraj were seeded sixth for the Wimbledon mixed doubles, but they withdrew before the tournament began.
1984: Major Owner
In 1984, Billie Jean King became a major owner in World TeamTennis.
1987: Divorce from Larry King
In 1987, Billie Jean King and Larry King divorced after Billie Jean fell in love with her doubles partner, Ilana Kloss. They remained close friends afterward.
1987: Inducted into International Tennis Hall of Fame
In 1987, Billie Jean King was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, recognizing her exceptional career and contributions to the sport.
March 1990: Retirement from competitive play
In March 1990, Billie Jean King retired from competitive play in doubles. In her last competitive doubles match, King and her partner lost a second round match.
1990: Inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame
In 1990, Billie Jean King was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame, honoring her as a pioneer and role model for women.
1996: Fed Cup Championship
In 1996, Billie Jean King guided the United States to the Fed Cup championship as team captain.
1999: Board of Directors of Philip Morris Incorporated
In 1999, Billie Jean King was elected to serve on the board of directors of Philip Morris Incorporated, garnering some criticism.
2002: Dismissal of Capriati from Fed Cup team
In 2002, Billie Jean King dismissed Capriati from the Fed Cup team for violating rules about personal coaches, sparking controversy.
2006: USTA National Tennis Center Renamed
In 2006, the USTA National Tennis Center in New York City was renamed the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, a tribute to her lasting legacy and contributions to tennis.
2008: Sports Museum of America
In 2008, Billie Jean King became a member of the Board of Honorary Trustees for the Sports Museum of America, which is the home of the Billie Jean King International Women's Sports Center.
2008: Publication of "Pressure is a Privilege"
In 2008, Billie Jean King published the book "Pressure is a Privilege: Lessons I've Learned from Life and the Battle of the Sexes".
2010: Fed Cup Award of Excellence
In 2010, Billie Jean King was honored with the Fed Cup Award of Excellence, celebrating her outstanding achievements and dedication to the Federation Cup competition.
2012: Involvement in Foundations and Council
As of 2012, Billie Jean King was involved in the Women's Sports Foundation, the Elton John AIDS Foundation, and served on the President's Council for Fitness, Sports and Nutrition.
December 2013: Appointment to Sochi Olympics Delegation
In December 2013, US President Barack Obama appointed Billie Jean King to represent the United States at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia as a signal on gay rights.
February 7, 2014: Death of Betty Moffitt
On February 7, 2014, the day of the 2014 Winter Olympics opening ceremony, Billie Jean King's mother, Betty Moffitt, died.
June 16, 2017: Northwestern University Commencement Address
On June 16, 2017, Billie Jean King delivered the Northwestern University commencement address in Evanston, Illinois.
2017: Sale of Majority Ownership Stake
In 2017, Billie Jean King sold her majority ownership stake of the World Team Tennis league.
September 2018: Minority Owner of Los Angeles Dodgers
In September 2018, Billie Jean King and Ilana Kloss became minority owners of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.
October 18, 2018: Marriage to Ilana Kloss
On October 18, 2018, Billie Jean King married Ilana Kloss in a secret ceremony officiated by former New York City Mayor David Dinkins.
2018: 75th Golden Globe Awards
In 2018, Billie Jean King attended the 75th Golden Globe Awards as a guest of Emma Stone.
2018: BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award
In 2018, Billie Jean King received the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrating her extraordinary career and impact on sports.
October 2020: Part of Angel City FC Ownership Group
In October 2020, Billie Jean King and Ilana Kloss became part of the ownership group of Angel City FC.
2020: Federation Cup Renamed Billie Jean King Cup
In 2020, the Federation Cup was renamed the Billie Jean King Cup in her honor, recognizing her immense contributions to the sport and her role as a global icon.
May 2022: Partnership with Professional Women's Hockey Players Association
In May 2022, the Mark Walter Group and BJK Enterprises entered a partnership with the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association (PWHPA).
2022: Awarded French Legion of Honour
In 2022, Billie Jean King was awarded the French Legion of Honour, one of France's highest honors, in recognition of her achievements and contributions.
June 29, 2023: Purchase of the Premier Hockey Federation
On June 29, 2023, the Mark Walter Group and BJK Enterprises purchased the intellectual property and other key elements of the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF).
2023: Contestant on The Masked Singer
In 2023, Billie Jean King competed in season ten of The Masked Singer as "Royal Hen".
January 1, 2024: Start of the new professional women's ice hockey league
On January 1, 2024, the new league began with the first game played between New York and Toronto in Toronto.
2024: Value of first racket
In 2024 terms, Billie Jean King saved $8 to buy her first racket, which would be equivalent to $92.40.
2024: Received Congressional Gold Medal
In 2024, Billie Jean King received a Congressional Gold Medal, one of the highest civilian awards in the United States, honoring her achievements and contributions to society.
