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 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.
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.
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: 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.
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: 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: 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: 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: 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.
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: 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: 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.
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: 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: 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.
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: 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.
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.
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.
November 1982: Palimony Suit Thrown Out of Court
In November 1982, Marilyn Barnett's palimony suit was thrown out of court.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
June 16, 2017: Northwestern University Commencement Address
On June 16, 2017, Billie Jean King delivered the Northwestern University commencement address in Evanston, Illinois.
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.
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.
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.
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.
