On September 20, 1973, in a highly anticipated "Battle of the Sexes" tennis match, 29-year-old Billie Jean King defeated 55-year-old Bobby Riggs in straight sets at the Houston Astrodome. The match was watched by an estimated 50 million viewers in the United States and 90 million worldwide.
Riggs, a former World No. 1 player and a self-proclaimed male chauvinist, had challenged King to a match, claiming that even at his age, he could beat any female player. King, a prominent advocate for women's rights and gender equality, accepted the challenge to prove that women deserved respect and equal pay in sports.
The match was a media sensation, with a carnival-like atmosphere. King entered the court carried on a gold litter by four muscular men, while Riggs arrived in a rickshaw pulled by scantily-clad women. The match itself, however, was all business. King dominated from the start, winning 6-4, 6-3, 6-3, and cementing her status as a tennis legend and a pioneering figure in women's sports.
The victory was a significant moment for the women's movement and helped to change attitudes about women in sports. King's triumph also led to increased prize money and better treatment for female tennis players. The "Battle of the Sexes" remains one of the most famous and influential matches in tennis history, a defining moment that showcased the skill, determination, and social impact of one of the greatest players of all time.
