Home

Tennis

Billie Jean King’s Fight, Witnessed by 90 Million, Deep-Rooted in American Sporting Culture, Feels Renowned Author

Published 02/13/2024, 2:24 PM EST

Follow Us

via Getty

When it comes to remembering historical moments in the tennis world, the Battle of Sexes is one moment that will never take an exit. As WTA legend Billie Jean King registered a remarkable victory over Bobby Riggs, she not only etched her name in history books but also inspired a deep social impact.

Renowned journalist Joel Drucker recently revisited the iconic match and highlighted the extraordinary impact that the Battle of the Sexes had on building a better future for aspiring women athletes.

Billie Jean King’s Battle of the Sexes creating scholarships for women athletes

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

The world witnessed a historic showdown in 1973 between tennis legends Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. As they became two equally crucial parts of the celebrated event, the impact of their match extended its boundaries far beyond the tennis court. Known as the “Battle of the Sexes,” this chapter of tennis history made its way to a wide audience of 90 million and ignited conversations that still echo across the globe.

Trending

Get instantly notified of the hottest Tennis stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

According to sports analyst Joel Drucker, the event was a crucial moment in the narrative of the last century. He mentioned, “That whole year 1973 was tremendous… I think that really galvanized a lot of people.” 1973 indeed became a moment of significant progress as it was marked by the implementation of equal prize money in tennis.

Along with that, Title IX also became law just a year before that and played a major role in giving a new form to the scenario of sports and education. Drucker highlighted the impact of it, stating, “That was a year after Title Nine passed in America, which eventually created more scholarships for female athletes.” This legislation opened new gates for women in sports as it provided opportunities for scholarships.

The pioneer of change herself addressed the impact her bold nature created and how important it is to keep the ball rolling.

Billie Jean King regards the Battle of the Sexes as a catalyst for social change

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

It isn’t just Joel Drucker who sees the historical match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs as a trigger for positive social impact. King herself acknowledged the amazing value of it, urging the tennis community to keep it running.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

“The Battle of the Sexes was played 50 years ago today. More than a tennis match, it was a catalyst for social change & one of the most important days of my life. We have come a long way since 1973, but we are not done yet. Let’s keep going for it,” wrote King in an X post. As the event continues to benefit every woman who aspires to enter the sport, it surely is a golden memory in the history books of the racket sport.

Watch This Story – Distressing Serena Williams Reality Leaves Gaping Void That’s Nearly Impossible to Fill for Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Akshay Kapoor

866Articles

One take at a time

Akshay Kapoor, a tennis writer at EssentiallySports, excels in crafting pieces that set new trends. His analytical skills riding on the back of certification in Digital Marketing help inject in-depth research as he covers the business undertakings of Tennis stars. Akshay’s articles touch the entire tennis spectrum, from iconic figures like Djokovic and emerging talents such as Holger Rune and Coco Gauff.
Show More>

Edited by:

Arunima Bhanot