What Happened to Battle of the Sexes (1973 Tennis Match)?
The "Battle of the Sexes" refers most famously to the 1973 tennis match where Billie Jean King, a leading female player, defeated former men's champion Bobby Riggs. This highly publicized event transcended sports, becoming a pivotal moment in the fight for gender equality and women's rights, with its legacy continuing to be recognized and debated through 2026.
Quick Answer
The "Battle of the Sexes" was a landmark 1973 tennis match in which 29-year-old Billie Jean King defeated 55-year-old Bobby Riggs in three sets (6-4, 6-3, 6-3) before an estimated 90 million worldwide viewers. This victory was a significant cultural moment, symbolizing a triumph for women's rights and inspiring advancements in gender equality in sports and society. As of 2026, Billie Jean King continues to be a prominent advocate for equality, receiving numerous honors, and the match's impact is still discussed in the context of ongoing efforts for gender parity in sports.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline13 events
Bobby Riggs Wins Wimbledon Triple Crown
Bobby Riggs, at age 21, was ranked world No. 1 amateur and won the Wimbledon singles, doubles, and mixed doubles titles.
Formation of the Virginia Slims Circuit (Precursor to WTA)
Billie Jean King and eight other female players formed the Virginia Slims Circuit, seeking to address the significant pay gap in prize money between male and female players. This circuit later became the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), with King as its first president.
Title IX Passed in the United States
Title IX legislation was passed, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded education programs and activities, including athletics, providing a backdrop for the fight for gender equality in sports.
Bobby Riggs Defeats Margaret Court ('Mother's Day Massacre')
Bobby Riggs easily defeated top-ranked female player Margaret Court 6-2, 6-1 in an exhibition match, which he used to further his claims about male superiority in tennis.
Billie Jean King Defeats Bobby Riggs in 'Battle of the Sexes'
Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 at the Houston Astrodome in a highly publicized match watched by 90 million people worldwide, marking a significant moment for women's rights.
Bobby Riggs Dies at 77
Bobby Riggs passed away at the age of 77 after a battle with prostate cancer in Leucadia, California.
Film 'Battle of the Sexes' Released
A biographical sports comedy-drama film starring Emma Stone as Billie Jean King and Steve Carell as Bobby Riggs, depicting the events leading up to and including the 1973 match, was released to positive reviews.
50th Anniversary of the Match and Congressional Gold Medal Bill Introduced
The 50th anniversary of King's victory was celebrated, and three U.S. senators introduced a bill to award Billie Jean King the Congressional Gold Medal for her activism and contributions to equality.
Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games Set for Record Gender Balance
The Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are announced to be the most gender-balanced in history, with women making up 47% of athlete quotas and competing in a record number of events.
IWG World Conference on Women and Sport Held
The International Working Group on Women and Sport (IWG) held its World Conference in Birmingham, bringing together 900 participants to discuss reforms in sports governance, funding, and organizational culture to advance gender equality.
Billie Jean King to Receive Stan Musial Lifetime Achievement Award
Billie Jean King is announced as the recipient of the 2026 Stan Musial Lifetime Achievement Award for Sportsmanship, recognizing her excellence on and off the court and her fight for equality.
Deloitte Predicts Women's Elite Global Sports Market to Reach $3 Billion
Deloitte Global predicts the women's elite global sports market will reach $3 billion in 2026, a 340% increase since 2022, highlighting significant growth and investment opportunities.
Billie Jean King Honored with Gleitsman Citizen Activist Award
Billie Jean King is recognized with the 2026 Gleitsman Citizen Activist Award by Harvard Kennedy School's Center for Public Leadership for her extraordinary public leadership in advancing gender equality.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The "Battle of the Sexes" was an exhibition tennis match held on September 20, 1973, at the Houston Astrodome, pitting 29-year-old women's tennis champion Billie Jean King against 55-year-old former men's world No. 1 Bobby Riggs. The event was a cultural spectacle, watched by an estimated 90 million people worldwide and 30,472 in person, making it the most-watched tennis match in history. King defeated Riggs in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3, securing the $100,000 winner-take-all prize.
The match originated from Riggs's public boasts that he could beat any female player, claiming women's tennis was inferior and that "women belong in the bedroom and kitchen, in that order." He first challenged and easily defeated top-ranked Margaret Court in May 1973, an event dubbed the "Mother's Day Massacre." This victory intensified Riggs's chauvinistic rhetoric, prompting King, a vocal advocate for women's rights and equal pay in sports, to accept his challenge. King felt immense pressure to win, believing a loss would set back women's sports and self-esteem by 50 years.
King's victory was a pivotal moment for the women's movement, occurring during a period of significant push for women's rights, including the recent passage of Title IX in the U.S. It challenged societal norms, male chauvinism, and inspired future generations of female athletes. The match helped pave the way for advancements in women's sports, leading to increased recognition and a greater push for equal prize money, a cause King championed through her role in establishing the WTA Tour and advocating for equal pay at tournaments like the U.S. Open.
As of 2026, the legacy of the "Battle of the Sexes" continues to resonate. Billie Jean King remains a prominent figure in sports and advocacy. In 2023, on the 50th anniversary of her victory, a bill was introduced by U.S. senators to award King the Congressional Gold Medal, recognizing her contributions to women's rights and equality. In 2026, King is slated to receive the Stan Musial Lifetime Achievement Award for Sportsmanship and the Gleitsman Citizen Activist Award for her extraordinary public leadership in advancing gender equality. The Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award also continues to honor young individuals using sports for community improvement.
Globally, discussions around gender equality in sports persist. The Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games are set to be the most gender-balanced in history, with women representing 47% of athletes and competing in a record number of events. However, challenges remain, including persistent pay gaps, uneven media coverage (estimated at 15% for women's sports in 2026), and disproportionately male leadership roles in sports governance. The International Working Group on Women and Sport (IWG) held a world conference in July 2026 to discuss reforms in sports governance, funding, and organizational culture, emphasizing that while breakthroughs have occurred, structural changes are still needed to achieve full gender parity.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Battle of the Sexes (1973 Tennis Match) made different choices?