Billie Jean King's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Billie Jean King.

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

1939: First woman since Alice Marble to win singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles titles

In 1967, Billie Jean King won the singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles titles at both Wimbledon and the U.S. Championships, becoming the first woman to achieve this feat since Alice Marble in 1939.

1960: First Tournament Win

In 1960, Billie Jean King won her first tournament at the Philadelphia and District Grass Court Championships. She reached the final of the National Girls' 18 and Under Championships and her national tennis ranking improved to number 4.

1961: Wimbledon Debut and Doubles Title

In 1961, at Wimbledon, Billie Jean King won the women's doubles title in her first attempt, partnering with Karen Hantze. They were the youngest team to win the Wimbledon Doubles Title. In singles, King lost to Yola Ramírez.

1962: Wimbledon Singles Upset and Doubles Victory

In 1962, at Wimbledon, Billie Jean King upset Margaret Court in a second round singles match. It was the first time in Wimbledon history that the women's top seed had lost her first match. She and Hantze also repeated their doubles victory at Wimbledon.

1963: Federation Cup Victory

In 1963, Billie Jean King was on the winning United States team in the Federation Cup.

1966: World No. 1 Ranking

From 1966 through 1975, Billie Jean King was the year-ending World No. 1 in six of the ten years.

1966: First Wimbledon Singles Title

In 1966, Billie Jean King finally won the first of her six singles titles at Wimbledon and the first of twelve Grand Slam singles titles overall, defeating Margaret Court in the semi-finals and Maria Bueno in the final. That year, she also defeated Dorothy "Dodo" Cheney at the Southern California Championships and Margaret Court in the final of the South African Tennis Championships. Also, she won the women's singles in the Ojai Tennis Tournament. She also defeated Virginia Wade and Ann Haydon-Jones at the Wightman Cup.

1966: Federation Cup Victory

In 1966, Billie Jean King was part of the victorious United States team in the Federation Cup.

1967: South African Tennis Championships victory and Wimbledon singles title

In 1967, Billie Jean King successfully defended her title at the South African Tennis Championships by defeating Maria Bueno in the final. She also played in the French Championships for the first time, reaching the quarterfinals. A week later, at the Federation Cup in West Germany, she won all four of her matches. King then won her second consecutive Wimbledon singles title, defeating Virginia Wade in the quarterfinals and Jones. At the Wightman Cup, King again defeated Wade and Jones. She won the U.S. Championships, her second Grand Slam singles title of the year, without losing a set.

1967: Federation Cup Victory

In 1967, Billie Jean King was part of the victorious United States team in the Federation Cup.

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.

1971: Most Tournaments Won in a Single Year

Although Billie Jean King won only one Grand Slam singles title in 1971, she won 17 tournaments and compiled a 112–13 win–loss record. The International Tennis Hall of Fame considered this to be the best year of her career in terms of tournaments won.

1971: Grand Slam Success

From 1971 through 1975, Billie Jean King won seven of the ten Grand Slam singles tournaments she played. She won the last seven Grand Slam singles finals she contested.

1971: US Open Win and First Female Tennis Player to Earn $100,000

In August 1971, Billie Jean King won the US Open without losing a set, defeating Chris Evert in the semi-finals and Rosemary Casals in the final. She also became the first female tennis player to earn $100,000 a year, which prompted a congratulatory phone call from President Richard M. Nixon.

1972: Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year Award

In 1972, Billie Jean King was the joint winner, with John Wooden, of the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year award.

1972: King Wins French Open

In 1972, Billie Jean King won the French Open, completing a career singles Grand Slam.

1972: Career Grand Slam

In 1972, Billie Jean King's French Open win made her the fifth woman in tennis history to achieve a "career Grand Slam" by winning the singles titles at all four Grand Slam events. She also achieved a career Grand Slam in mixed doubles, though the Australian Open eluded her in women's doubles.

September 20, 1973: Battle of the Sexes

On September 20, 1973, Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in the "Battle of the Sexes" at the Houston Astrodome. The match was watched by over 30,000 spectators and an estimated 50 million U.S. television viewers, and 90 million across 37 countries. King won 6–4, 6–3, 6–3. The event is considered significant in promoting recognition and respect for women's tennis.

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: King Defeats Bobby Riggs in Exhibition Match

In 1973, Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in an exhibition match, winning $100,000.

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.

1973: US Open Offers Equal Prize Money

In 1973, the US Open became the first major tournament to offer equal prize money for men and women, a result of Billie Jean King's campaign for equality.

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.

1975: World No. 1 Ranking

From 1966 through 1975, Billie Jean King was the year-ending World No. 1 in six of the ten years.

1975: Grand Slam Success

From 1971 through 1975, Billie Jean King won seven of the ten Grand Slam singles tournaments she played. She won the last seven Grand Slam singles finals she contested.

1975: Time Person of the Year

In 1975, Billie Jean King was one of the Time Persons of the Year.

1976: Federation Cup Victory

In 1976, Billie Jean King was on the winning United States team in the Federation Cup.

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: Federation Cup Victory

In 1979, Billie Jean King was on the winning United States team in the Federation Cup.

November 1982: Barnett's palimony suit dismissed

In November 1982, Marilyn Barnett's palimony lawsuit against Billie Jean and Larry King was thrown out of court.

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 wins Edgbaston Cup and final US Open appearance

In 1983, Billie Jean King became the oldest WTA player to win a singles tournament, winning the Edgbaston Cup. She reached the mixed doubles final at Wimbledon with Steve Denton, but lost to John Lloyd & Wendy Turnbull. At her final US Open appearance in 1983, she only competed in doubles, reaching the semi-finals in women's doubles. Her final singles match was a loss at the Australian Open.

1987: Induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame

In 1987, Billie Jean King was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

1990: Induction into the National Women's Hall of Fame

In 1990, Billie Jean King was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.

1996: King Guides US to Fed Cup Championship and Olympic Gold

In 1996, Billie Jean King guided the United States Fed Cup team to the championship and helped Lindsay Davenport, Gigi Fernández, and Mary Joe Fernández capture Olympic gold medals as coach of the women's Olympic tennis squad.

2006: USTA National Tennis Center Renaming

In 2006, the USTA National Tennis Center in New York City was renamed the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

2008: Sports Museum of America Opens

In 2008, the Sports Museum of America opened, housing the Billie Jean King International Women's Sports Center, a comprehensive women's sports hall of fame and exhibit.