Billie Jean King Cup 2023: 50 years after Battle of the Sexes, Bouzkova, Rybakina and other tennis stars still inspired by BJK
In 1973, tennis legend Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs, a Grand Slam winner in men’s singles, during the famous match named Battle of the Sexes. Now that she has given her name to the women's international tennis cup, her trailblazing actions remain top of mind on the tour.
Tennis
"I thought it would set us back 50 years if I didn't win that match,” Billie Jean King said to ESPN. “It would ruin the women's tour and affect all women's self-esteem.”
The exact opposite happened.
Fifty years ago, Billie Jean King took part in the famous Battle of the Sexes, a match against Bobby Riggs, a male Grand Slam winner in the 1940s who was 25 years older than her. Riggs claimed that he would be able to beat the top female tennis player in the world, but he lost (6-4, 6-3, 6-3). It changed the face of women's sport.
BJK was a tennis player in the 1970s and her name is still on the mind of many athletes today.
Not only because she won that famous match, was the first woman to win 20 titles in Wimbledon or all the events in the All England Open (singles, doubles and mixed doubles). Victory was just one part of her job. She was fighting for women’s sport, and fighting for gender equality when this phrase didn’t even exist.
“We wouldn't be here right now if it wasn't for her,” said new U.S. player Peyton Stearns ahead of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals 2023 (7-12 November).
BJK gave her name to the women’s team competition, also known as the World Cup of Tennis and formerly the Fed Cup, in 2020. Even today, the best female tennis players remember what she did for the sport and are inspired by her actions.
SEVILLE, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 05: Billie Jean King attends the Players Welcome Party prior to the Billie Jean King Cup Finals at Estadio de La Cartuja on November 05, 2023 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images for ITF)
Marie Bouzkova on Battle of the Sexes: “It gave us a kind of different position”
Two days before the BJK Cup Finals, the 79-year-old gave a speech in front of all the competing athletes during a welcoming cocktail party.
Marie Bouzkova, the world number 34 from Czechia, attended the event and said BJK spoke about the match that was such a turning point in the world of tennis.
“Billie talked about [Battle of the Sexes] yesterday at our official dinner, and how significant that match was against Bobby. I think it gave us a kind of different position. Not just in sports but in life in general, so that we can be viewed more equally. That's the main point and I think that was the most important for all of us.”
In 1971, BJK also became the first female athlete to earn $100,000 in prize money in a single season. At that time, she was already fighting for equal prize money for both women and men and two years later the US Open became the first major tournament to offer parity.
“I remember when I first came on tour, we had to do our rookie hours, and that included a power hour with Billie Jean King,” recalls Rebecca Marino of Team Canada. “I was just so impressed and in awe of meeting her. What she's done is trailblazing, her along with the Original 9, to create a tour like this for women's sport, and to be a leading support for women professionally is really incredible.”
Elena Rybakina on Billie Jean King: “She pushes for the women's tennis”
In 1970, there was no governing body for women’s tennis. Billie Jean King, along with eight fellow players including Rosemary Casals and Nancy Richey, known as the Original 9, created a new professional tour called the Virginia Slims Circuit. Three years later, it became the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), which currently runs the professional tour for women.
“She pushes for women's tennis and we are trying to follow by showing good tennis,” said Elena Rybakina from Kazakhstan, Wimbledon champion in 2022 and currently ranked 4 in the world.
“She’s still breaking a lot of barriers, not just in tennis, now she's supporting women's sport as a whole,” added Rebecca Marino. “I think we can all aspire to be like her currently and in our future.”
King never stopped promoting and fighting for more equality in sports. She was in Australia for the 2023 Football Women’s World Cup when Spain claimed the victory, and regularly speaks about achieving equality in sports.
“[Men and women] need to be grouped together. It will be beneficial for everyone,” she recently said during an interview with El Pais.
“I have always believed it and I will always fight for it. I am very stubborn.”