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			{{short description|American tennis player (born 1943)}}
	{{Infobox Tennis player
			{{pp-move}}
	| playername = Billie Jean King
			{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}}
	| image = ]
			{{Infobox person
	| nickname = <!-- optional -->
	| country = {{USA}}		| name = Billie Jean King
	| residence = U.S.		| image = BJK_headshot_2011_5x7_300dpi.jpg
			| caption = King in 2011
	| datebirth = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1943|11|22}}
			| birth_name = Billie Jean Moffitt
	| placebirth = ]
			| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1943|11|22}}
	| height = 5 ft 4½ in (164 ])
			| birth_place = ], U.S.
	| weight =
	| turnedpro = 1968
	| retired = 1983
	| plays = Right
	| careerprizemoney = ]1,966,487<ref name = "sonyericssonwtatour"></ref>
	| singlesrecord = 695–155 (as shown on ])<ref name = "sonyericssonwtatour"/>
	| singlestitles = 129 (84 during ])
	| highestsinglesranking = 1 (1966, 1967, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1974)
	| AustralianOpenresult = '''W''' (1968)
	| FrenchOpenresult = '''W''' (1972)
	| Wimbledonresult = '''W''' (1966, 1967, 1968, 1972, 1973, 1975)
	| USOpenresult = '''W''' (1967, 1971, 1972, 1974)
	| doublesrecord = 87–37 (as shown on WTA website)<ref name = "sonyericssonwtatour"/>
	| doublestitles =
	| highestdoublesranking =
	| updated = ], ]
	}}
			| height = {{height|ft=5|in=5}}
	'''Billie Jean King''' (''née'' '''Moffitt''') (born ], ], in ]) is a retired ] player from the ]. She won 12 ] singles titles, 16 Grand Slam women's doubles titles, and 11 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. King has been an outspoken advocate against ] in sports and society. The tennis match for which the public best remembers her is the "]" in 1973, in which she defeated ], a former ] men's champion who had been one of the leading male players in the 1930s and 1940s.<ref name = "ESPN-BillieJean"></ref>
			| module = {{Infobox tennis biography | embed=yes
			| country_represented = {{USA}}
			| college = ]
			| turnedpro = 1968
			| retired = 1990
			| plays = Right-handed (one-handed backhand)
			| careerprizemoney = $1,966,487<ref name="sonyericssonwtatour">{{cite web |url=http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/page/Player/Stats/0,,12781~4011,00.html |title=Women's Tennis Association biography of Billie Jean King |publisher=Sonyericssonwtatour.com |access-date=July 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090705094136/http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/page/Player/Stats/0%2C%2C12781~4011%2C00.html |archive-date=July 5, 2009 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}</ref>
			| tennishofyear = 1987
			| tennishofid = billie-jean-king
			| website = {{URL|https://www.billiejeanking.com/|billiejeanking.com}}
			| singlesrecord = 695–155 (81.76%)
			| singlestitles = 129 <small>(67 during ])</small>
			| highestsinglesranking = ] (1966<small>, ]</small>)
			| AustralianOpenresult = '''W''' (])
			| FrenchOpenresult = '''W''' (])
			| Wimbledonresult = '''W''' (], ], ], ], ], ])
			| USOpenresult = '''W''' (], ], ], ])
			| doublesrecord = 87–37 <small>(as shown on WTA website)</small><ref name = "sonyericssonwtatour" />
	King is the founder of the ], the ], and ], which she founded with her former husband, Lawrence King.
			| doublestitles =
			| highestdoublesranking = No. 1 (1967)
			| AustralianOpenDoublesresult = F (], ])
			| FrenchOpenDoublesresult = '''W''' (])
			| WimbledonDoublesresult = '''W''' (], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ])
			| USOpenDoublesresult = '''W''' (], ], ], ], ])
			| OthertournamentsDoubles = yes
			| WTAChampionshipsDoublesresult = '''W''' (], ], ], ])
			| Mixed = yes
			| mixedtitles = 11
			| mixedrecord =
			| AustralianOpenMixedresult = '''W''' (])
			| FrenchOpenMixedresult = '''W''' (], ])
			| WimbledonMixedresult = '''W''' (], ], ], ])
			| USOpenMixedresult = '''W''' (], ], ], ])
			| Team = yes
	==Personal life==
			| FedCupresult = '''W''' (1963, 1966, 1967, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979) <small>(as player)</small><br>'''W''' (1976, 1996, 1999, 2000) <small>(as captain)</small>
	Billie Jean King was born Billie Jean Moffitt. She was born into a conservative ] family, the daughter of a firefighter father<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/about/history/billiejean_king.html |title=Official Wimbledon profile of Billie Jean King |accessdate=2007-02-15}}</ref> and housewife mother. Her younger brother ] grew up to become a professional ] player, pitching for 12 years in the major leagues for the ], ], and ].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/moffira01.shtml |title= Randy Moffitt Statistics |accessdate=2007-02-15}}</ref>
			| CoachYears =
	King attended ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kingsschools.org/pr_si-article.asp |title= Press Release - King's Schools |accessdate=2007-02-15}}</ref> She then attended ] (CSULA) because her parents could not afford ] or ]. Even at CSULA, King had to work two jobs to pay her way.<ref></ref>
			| CoachPlayers = ] <br /> ]
			| CoachSinglesTitles =
			| CoachDoublesTitles =
			| CoachTournamentRecord =
			}}
			| spouse = {{plainlist|
			* {{marriage|]<br>|1965|1987|end=divorced}}
			* {{marriage|]
			<br>|2018}}}}
			}}
			'''Billie Jean King''' (née '''Moffitt'''; born November 22, 1943), also known as '''BJK''', is an American former ] ] player. King won 39 ] titles: 12 in singles, 16 in women's doubles, and 11 in ]. King was a member of the victorious ] team in seven ] and nine ]s. For three years, she was the U.S. captain in the Federation Cup.
	She married Lawrence King in ] on ], ].<ref>"Billie Jean King of Her Family", ''Long Beach Press-Telegram'', ], ], page C-4</ref> In 1971, she had an ], which was revealed to the public in a ''Ms. Magazine'' article in 1972 by Lawrence without consulting Billie Jean in advance.<ref name = "NYTimes-20060426"></ref> King said in her 1982 autobiography that she decided to have an abortion because she believed her marriage was not, at that time, solid enough to bring a child into her family.<ref>{{cite book |author=Deford, Frank; King, Billie Jean |title=Billie Jean |publisher=Viking |location=New York, N.Y |year=1982 |pages=19|isbn=0-670-47843-1 |oclc= |doi= |accessdate=}}</ref> Billie Jean and Lawrence divorced in 1987.
			King is an advocate of gender equality and has long been a pioneer for equality and social justice.<ref>{{cite web |last=King |first=Billie Jean |title=Billie Jean King – Speaker |publisher=TED |url=https://www.ted.com/speakers/billie_jean_king}}</ref> In 1973, at the age of 29, she famously won the "]" tennis match against the 55-year-old ].<ref>{{cite web |last=Deixlia |date= |title=Billie Jean King in 1973 Wimbledon match against Bobby Riggs |url=https://elasticreviews.com/why-do-tennis-players-wear-skirts/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914023332/https://elasticreviews.com/why-do-tennis-players-wear-skirts/ |archive-date=September 14, 2021 |access-date=September 14, 2021 |website=ElasticReviews.com }}</ref> King was also the founder of the ] and the ]. She was instrumental in persuading cigarette brand ] to sponsor women's tennis in the 1970s and went on to serve on the board of their parent company ] in the 2000s.
	By 1968, King realized that she was interested in women,<ref name = "NYTimes-20060426"/> and in 1971, King began an intimate relationship with her secretary, Marilyn Barnett. King acknowledged the relationship when it became public in a May 1981 palimony lawsuit filed by Barnett, becoming the first prominent professional female athlete to come out as ].<ref name = "TimesOnline-20071209"></ref> King said that she had wanted to retire from competitive tennis in 1981 but could not afford to because of the lawsuit. "Within 24 hours , I lost all my endorsements; I lost everything. I lost $2 million at least, because I had longtime contracts. I had to play just to pay for the lawyers. In three months I went through $500,000. I was in shock. I didn't make $2 million in my lifetime, so it's all relative to what you make."<ref></ref> King said in 1998 that ] was not supportive when King was ], resulting in their relationship having a "very bad five years."<ref></ref> Speaking about the lawsuit in 2007, 26 years after it was filed, King said, "It was very hard on me because I was outed and I think you have to do it in your own time. Fifty per cent of gay people know who they are by the age of 13, I was in the other 50%. I would never have married Larry if I’d known. I would never have done that to him. I was totally in love with Larry when I was 21."<ref name = "TimesOnline-20071209"/> Concerning the personal cost of concealing her sexuality for so many years, King said,
			Regarded by many as one of the greatest tennis players of all time,<ref>{{cite web |author1=Jason Le Miere |date=August 28, 2015 |title=Top 10 Women's Tennis Players Of All-Time: Where Does Serena Williams Rank On List Of Greatest Ever? |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/top-10-womens-tennis-players-all-time-where-does-serena-williams-rank-list-greatest-2073830 |access-date=January 30, 2017 |website=International Business Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=January 28, 2017 |title=Serena Williams: Is she your greatest female player of the Open era? |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/38769292 |access-date=January 30, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Who Is the Greatest Female Player Ever?2">{{Cite web |title=Who Is the Greatest Female Player Ever? |url=http://www.insidetennis.com/0405_bestfemale.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081228115125/http://www.insidetennis.com/0405_bestfemale.html |archive-date=December 28, 2008}}</ref><ref name="ITHF biography2">{{cite web |title=International Tennis Hall of Fame biography of Billie Jean Moffitt King |url=http://www.tennisfame.com/famer.aspx?pgID=867&hof_id=171 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061119112817/http://www.tennisfame.com/famer.aspx?pgID=867&hof_id=171 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=November 19, 2006 |access-date=February 15, 2007}}</ref> King was inducted into the ] in 1987. The Fed Cup Award of Excellence was bestowed on her in 2010. In 1972, she was the joint winner, with ], of the '']'' ] award and was one of the '']'' Persons of the Year in 1975. She has also received the ] and the ''Sunday Times'' Sportswoman of the Year lifetime achievement award. She was inducted into the ] in 1990, and in 2006, the ] in New York City was renamed the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. In 2018, she won the ]. In 2020, the Federation Cup was renamed the Billie Jean King Cup in her honor. In 2022, she was awarded the French ], and in 2024, she received a ]. On October 7, 2024, King was named the ] of the 2025 ] and ].
	{{quote|I wanted to tell the truth but my parents were homophobic and I was in the closet. As well as that, I had people tell me that if I talked about what I was going through, it would be the end of the women's tour. I couldn't get a closet deep enough. I've got a homophobic family, a tour that will die if I come out, the world is homophobic and, yeah, I was homophobic. If you speak with gays, bisexuals, lesbians and transgenders, you will find a lot of homophobia because of the way we all grew up. One of my big goals was always to be honest with my parents and I couldn't be for a long time. I tried to bring up the subject but felt I couldn't. My mother would say, "We’re not talking about things like that", and I was pretty easily stopped because I was reluctant anyway. I ended up with an eating disorder that came from trying to numb myself from my feelings. I needed to surrender far sooner than I did. At the age of 51, I was finally able to talk about it properly with my parents and no longer did I have to measure my words with them. That was a turning point for me as it meant I didn't have regrets any more.<ref name = "TimesOnline-20071209"/>}}
			==Early life==
	She is a friend of ], and was a friend of the late ].
			Billie Jean Moffitt was born in ], into a conservative ] family, the daughter of Betty (née Jerman), a housewife, and Bill Moffitt, a firefighter.<ref name="Official Wimbledon profile of BJK">{{cite web | url=https://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/about/history/billiejean_king.html | title=Official Wimbledon profile of Billie Jean King | access-date=February 15, 2007 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070225034336/http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/about/history/billiejean_king.html | archive-date=February 25, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia | url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/article-1G2-2591304957/king-billie-jean-1943.html | title=King, Billie Jean (1943—) – Women in World History: A Biographical Encyclopedia | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia.com | access-date=June 29, 2014}}</ref> Her family was athletic; her mother excelled at swimming, and her father played basketball, baseball and ran track.<ref name="Higdon, Hal, Plays Tennis Like a Man">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/25/magazine/plays-tennis-like-a-man-speaks-out-like-billie-jean-king.html|title=Plays Tennis Like a Man, Speaks Out Like – Billie Jean King |last=Higdon |first=Hal |date=August 23, 2013|work=The New York Times|access-date=September 16, 2017|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Her younger brother, ], became a Major League Baseball pitcher, pitching for 12 years in the major leagues for the ], ], and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/m/moffira01.shtml|title=Randy Moffitt Statistics|access-date=February 15, 2007}}</ref> She also excelled at baseball and softball as a child, playing shortstop at 10 years old on a team with girls 4–5 years older than she.<ref name="Higdon, Hal, Plays Tennis Like a Man" /> The team went on to win the Long Beach softball championship.<ref name="Higdon, Hal, Plays Tennis Like a Man" />
			She switched from softball to tennis at the age of 11,<ref name=":1">{{cite news|url=https://www.womenofthehall.org/inductee/billie-jean-king/|title=King, Billie Jean – National Women's Hall of Fame|work=National Women's Hall of Fame|access-date=September 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001122619/https://www.womenofthehall.org/inductee/billie-jean-king/|archive-date=October 1, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> because her parents suggested she should find a more 'ladylike' sport.<ref name="Higdon, Hal, Plays Tennis Like a Man" /> She saved her own money, $8 ($92.40 in 2024<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.in2013dollars.com/us/inflation/1956?amount=1|title=$1 in 1956 → 2024 &#124; Inflation Calculator|website=www.in2013dollars.com}}</ref> terms), to buy her first racket.<ref name="Higdon, Hal, Plays Tennis Like a Man" /> She went with a school friend to take her first tennis lesson on the many free public courts in Long Beach, taking advantage of the free lessons offered by professional Clyde Walker, who worked for the City of Long Beach.<ref name="Higdon, Hal, Plays Tennis Like a Man" /> One of the city's tennis facilities has subsequently been named the Billie Jean Moffitt King Tennis Center.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.longbeach.gov/park/park-and-facilities/directory/billie-jean-king-tennis-center/ |title=Billie Jean King Moffitt Tennis Center |access-date=August 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829212231/http://www.longbeach.gov/park/park-and-facilities/directory/billie-jean-king-tennis-center/ |archive-date=August 29, 2017 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}</ref> As a kid playing in her first tennis tournaments, she was often hindered by her aggressive playing style.<ref name="Higdon, Hal, Plays Tennis Like a Man" /> Bob Martin, sportswriter for the Long Beach, '']'' wrote about her success in a weekly tennis column.{{Citation needed|date=August 2017}} One of King's first conflicts with the tennis establishments and status-quo came in her youth, when she was forbidden from being in a group picture at a tournament because she was wearing tennis shorts (sewn by her mother) instead of the usual white tennis dress.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ware |first=Susan |title=Game, Set, Match: Billie Jean King and the Revolution in Women's Sports |publisher=The University of North Carolina Press |location=Chapel Hill, North Carolina |year=2012|pages=20}}</ref>
	In 1999, King was elected to serve on the Board of Directors of ], garnering some criticism from anti-tobacco groups.<ref></ref> She no longer serves in that capacity.
			King's family in Long Beach attended the ], where the minister was former athlete and two-time Olympic pole-vaulting champion ]. One day, when King was 13 or 14, Richards asked her, "What are you going to do with your life?" She said: "Reverend, I'm going to be the best tennis player in the world."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1975/05/19/mrs-billie-jean-king|title=MRS. BILLIE JEAN KING!|work=Sports Illustrated Vault}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/06/30/sports/a-fan-at-the-game-john-leonard.html|title=A FAN AT THE GAME/John Leonard (Published 1982)|newspaper=The New York Times|date=June 30, 1982}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Cope |first=Myron |title=They Cheer When the Parson Is Pitching |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1968/05/27/they-cheer-when-the-parson-is-pitching |website=Sports Illustrated Vault |access-date=31 August 2020 }}</ref>
	King appeared as a judge on '']'', one of her favorite television shows, on ], ].
			King attended ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kingsschools.org/pr_si-article.asp|title=Press Release – King's Schools|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061224233102/http://kingsschools.org/pr_si-article.asp|archive-date=December 24, 2006|access-date=February 15, 2007}}</ref> After graduating in 1961, she attended Los Angeles State College, now ] (Cal State LA).<ref name=":1" /> She did not graduate, leaving school in 1964 to focus on tennis.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.questia.com/read/121600472/game-set-match-billie-jean-king-and-the-revolution|title=Game, Set, Match: Billie Jean King and the Revolution in Women's Sports|last=Ware|first=Susuan|date=2011|website=|access-date=|page=25|archive-date=October 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001074933/https://www.questia.com/read/121600472/game-set-match-billie-jean-king-and-the-revolution|url-status=dead}}</ref> While attending Cal State, she met ] in a library in 1963.<ref name="Higdon, Hal, Plays Tennis Like a Man" /> The pair became engaged while still in school when Billie Jean was 20 and Larry 19 years old and married on September 17, 1965, in Long Beach.<ref name=":4">{{cite news|url=http://www.phillymag.com/articles/billie-jean-king-racquet-revolutionary/4/|title=Billie Jean King: Racquet Revolutionary|page=4|last=Hingston|first=Sandy|date=June 17, 2011|work=Philadelphia Magazine|access-date=September 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930101842/http://www.phillymag.com/articles/billie-jean-king-racquet-revolutionary/4/|archive-date=September 30, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
	King currently resides in New York and Chicago<ref></ref> with partner ].<ref></ref>
	==Tennis career==		==Career==
			] at ], Dublin, where she won her first international title]]
	===Playing style and personality===
			King's French Open win in 1972 made her only the fifth woman in tennis history to win the singles titles at all four Grand Slam events, a "career Grand Slam".{{efn|Five additional women have completed a career Grand Slam since King.}} She also won a career Grand Slam in mixed doubles. In women's doubles, only the Australian Open eluded her.
			King won a record 20 career titles at Wimbledon – six in singles, 10 in women's doubles, and four in mixed doubles.{{efn|] also has 20 career titles at Wimbledon.}}
	King learned to play tennis on the public courts of Long Beach, California.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.tennisfame.com/famer.aspx?pgID=867&hof_id=171 |title= International Tennis Hall of Fame biography of Billie Jean Moffitt King |accessdate=2007-02-15}}</ref> She was an aggressive, hard-hitting net-rusher,<ref name = "ESPN-BillieJean"/> with excellent speed. ], however, said about King, "Her weakness is her impatience."<ref></ref>
			King played 51 Grand Slam singles events from 1959 through 1983, reaching at least the semi-finals in 27 and at least the quarterfinals in 40 of her attempts. King was the runner-up in six Grand Slam singles events. An indicator of her mental toughness in Grand Slam singles tournaments was her 11–2 career record in deuce third sets, i.e., third sets that were tied 5–5 before being resolved.{{Citation needed|date=November 2017}}
	Concerning her motivations in life and tennis, King said, "Any time you're satisfied with mediocrity, any time you take away incentive from human beings, you've blown it. I'm a perfectionist much more than I'm a super competitor, and there's a big difference there.... I've been painted as a person who only competes. ... But most of all, I get off on hitting a shot correctly. ... Any woman who wants to achieve anything has to be aggressive and tough, but the press never sees us as multidimensional. They don't see the emotions, the downs...."<ref>"Billie Jean King a perfectionist," New Mexican, ], ], ], page C-7</ref> In a 1984 interview just after she had turned 40, King said, "Sometimes when I'm watching someone like Martina , I remember how nice it was to be No. 1. Believe me, it's the best time in your life. Don't let anyone ever tell you different. But then I think about the emotional and physical effort it takes to be No. 1, and I realize it's not there anymore. I know that, and it's OK. It's part of the process. My only regret is that I had to do too much ''off'' the court. Deep down, I wonder how good I really could have been if I concentrated just on tennis."<ref>"The Challenge of Her Life - Billie Jean at 40", '']'' magazine, ''Syracuse Herald Journal'', ], ], page 7</ref>
			King won 129 singles titles,<ref>{{cite book|author-link1=Murry R. Nelson|last1=Nelson|first1=Murry R.|title=American Sports: A History of Icons, Idols, and Ideas : A History of Icons, Idols, and Ideas|date=May 23, 2013|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-313-39753-0|page=665|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tfTXAQAAQBAJ&q=129+singles+titles&pg=PA665}}</ref> 78 of which were WTA titles, and her career prize money totaled US$1,966,487.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.wtatennis.com/players/player/110100/title/billie-jean-king | title=Billie Jean King: Overview | publisher=Women's Tennis Association | access-date=August 26, 2017}}</ref>
	], who frequently played King but never felt close to her, said about King's personality, "One of the reasons I've never gotten close to Billie Jean is that I've never felt strong enough to survive against that overwhelming personality of hers. People talk about me being the smart one. Let me tell you, Billie Jean's the smartest one, the cleverest one you'll ever see. She was the one who was able to channel everything into winning, into being the most consummate tennis player."<ref></ref> , another frequent opponent of King, said, "For a time, I think I was as close to Billie Jean as anyone ever was. But as soon as I got to the point where I could read her too well, she tried to dissociate the relationship. She doesn't want to risk appearing weak in front of anybody. She told me once that if you want to be the best, you must never let anyone, anyone, know what you really feel. You see, she told me, they can't hurt you if they don't know."<ref></ref> King once said, "Victory is fleeting. Losing is forever."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allthingswilliam.com/victory.html |title=all things William |accessdate=2007-02-15}}</ref>
			In Federation Cup finals, she was on the winning United States team seven times, in 1963, 1966, 1967, and 1976 through 1979. Her career win–loss record was 52–4.{{efn|26–3 in singles and 26–1 in doubles}} She won the last 30 matches she played,{{efn|excluding two unfinished matches}} including 15 straight wins in both singles and doubles.<ref> {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723173839/http://www.fedcup.com/en/players/player/profile.aspx?playerid=20000786 |date=July 23, 2015}}</ref> In Wightman Cup competition, her career win–loss record was 22–4,{{efn|14–2 in singles and 8–2 in women's doubles}} winning her last nine matches (six in singles and three in doubles). The United States won the cup in ten of the 11 years in which she participated. In singles, King was 6–1 against ], 4–0 against ], and 1–1 against ].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hollander |first1=Zander |last2=Collins |first2=Bud |author-link1=Zander Hollander |title=Bud Collins' Modern Encyclopedia of Tennis |url=https://archive.org/details/budcollinsmodern00coll |publisher=Visible Ink Press |location=Detroit|year=1994 |pages= |isbn=0-8103-9443-X}}</ref>
	Concerning the qualities of a champion tennis player, King said,
			===The early years: 1959–1963===
	{{quote|The difference between me at my peak and me in the last few years of my career is that when I was the champion I had the ultimate in confidence. When I decided, under pressure ... that I had to go with my very weakest shot - forehand down the line - I was positive that I could pull it off ... when it mattered the most. Even more than that; going into a match, I knew it was my weakest shot, and I knew in a tight spot my opponent was going to dare me to hit it, and I knew I could hit it those two or three or four times in a match when I absolutely had to. ... The cliche is to say that ... champions play the big points better. Yes, but that's only the half of it. The champions play their weaknesses better....<ref>{{cite book |author=Deford, Frank; King, Billie Jean |title=Billie Jean |publisher=Viking |location=New York, N.Y |year=1982 |pages=96–7 |isbn=0-670-47843-1 |oclc= |doi= |accessdate=}}</ref>}}
			As Billie Jean King began competing in 1959, she began working with new coaches including Frank Brennan<ref name="Higdon, Hal, Plays Tennis Like a Man" /> and ], who had won 18 Grand Slam titles as a player herself.<ref>Teele, Jack, "The Sports Beat", ''Long Beach Press-Telegram'', November 12, 1959, page D-3</ref> She made her Grand Slam debut at the 1959 ] when she was 15.<ref name=":3">{{cite web|url=https://www.tennisfame.com/hall-of-famers/inductees/billie-jean-king/|title=Billie Jean King|website=International Tennis Hall of Fame|access-date=September 15, 2017}}</ref> She lost in the first round.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/other/three-aces-for-tennis/article_acd07a75-cff4-519e-93f7-f36979bf7b99.html|title=Three aces for Tennis|last=Nelson|first=Kathleen|date=July 3, 2011|work=stltoday.com|access-date=September 24, 2017}}</ref> She began playing at local, regional, and international tennis championships.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hYydgQsTz-AC&pg=PA164|title=101 Changemakers: Rebels and Radicals Who Changed U.S. History|last1=Bollinger|first1=Michele|last2=Tran|first2=Dao|date=November 6, 2012|publisher=Haymarket Books|isbn=978-1-60846-156-1}}</ref>{{Rp|164}} Sports Illustrated already claimed her as "one of the most promising youngsters on the West Coast."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1959/02/16/604435/new-hopes-are-abounding-on-the-courts|title=New Hopes are Abounding on the Courts|last=Talbert|first=William F.|date=February 16, 1959|work=SI.com|access-date=October 8, 2017}}</ref> She won her first tournament the next year in Philadelphia at the 1960 Philadelphia and District Grass Court Championships.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.phillymag.com/articles/billie-jean-king-racquet-revolutionary/4/|title=Billie Jean King: Racquet Revolutionary|page=4|last=Hingston|first=Sandy|date=June 17, 2011|work=Philadelphia Magazine|access-date=September 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930101842/http://www.phillymag.com/articles/billie-jean-king-racquet-revolutionary/4/|archive-date=September 30, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> At her second attempt at the U.S. Championships, King made it to the third round, losing to ] of South Africa.{{Citation needed|date=September 2017}} Also in 1960, she reached the final of the National Girls' 18 and Under Championships, losing to ].<ref name="Higdon, Hal, Plays Tennis Like a Man" /> Her national tennis ranking improved from number 19 in 1959 to number 4 in 1960.<ref name="Ware, Susan, Game, Set, Match">{{cite web|url=https://www.questia.com/read/121600470/game-set-match-billie-jean-king-and-the-revolution|title=Game, Set, Match: Billie Jean King and the Revolution in Women's Sports|last=Ware|first=Susan|date=2011|website=|access-date=|archive-date=October 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016015353/https://www.questia.com/read/121600470/game-set-match-billie-jean-king-and-the-revolution|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{Rp|23}} Despite the success, Marble terminated her professional relationship with King, for reasons stemming from King's ambition.<ref name="Ware, Susan, Game, Set, Match" />{{Rp|23}}
			King first gained international recognition in 1961 when the Long Beach Tennis Patrons, the Century Club, and ] raised $2,000 to send her to ].<ref name="ITHF biography">{{cite web|url=http://www.tennisfame.com/famer.aspx?pgID=867&hof_id=171|title=International Tennis Hall of Fame biography of Billie Jean Moffitt King|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061119112817/http://www.tennisfame.com/famer.aspx?pgID=867&hof_id=171 <!-- Bot retrieved archive -->|archive-date=November 19, 2006|access-date=February 15, 2007}}</ref> There, she won the women's doubles title in her first attempt while partnering ].<ref name="Official Wimbledon profile of BJK" /> King was 17 and Hantze was 18, making them the youngest team to win the Wimbledon Doubles Title.<ref name="Higdon, Hal, Plays Tennis Like a Man" /> King had less luck that year in the ], losing to fifth-seeded ] in a two-day match on Centre Court.<ref>{{cite book|title=My Life With the Pros|url=https://archive.org/details/mylifewithpros00coll_0|url-access=registration|author=Collins, Bud|publisher=E. P. Dutton|year=1989|isbn=0-525-24659-2|location=New York|page=}}</ref> Despite these performances. she could not get a sports scholarship when later that year she attended Los Angeles State (now California State).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/tennis-legend-billie-jean-king-transformed-the-game-11628872390|title=Tennis Legend Billie Jean King Transformed the Game|last=Bobrow|first=Emily|newspaper=WSJ |date=August 13, 2021|access-date=December 20, 2023|archive-date=August 23, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210823092936/https://www.wsj.com/articles/tennis-legend-billie-jean-king-transformed-the-game-11628872390}}</ref> For the 1962 singles tournament at ], King upset ], the World No. 1 and top seed, in a second round match by attacking Court's forehand<ref name="Billie Moffitt's Strategy">Billie Moffitt's Strategy – Attack!", ''Kansas City Times'', June 27, 1962, page 15</ref><ref name="Starr, Cynthia, We have come a long way">{{cite book |author1=Starr, Cynthia |author2=King, Billie Jean |title=We Have Come a Long Way: The Story of Women's Tennis |publisher=McGraw-Hill |location=New York |year=1988 |page= |isbn=0-07-034625-9 |url=https://archive.org/details/wehavecomelongwa00king/page/106 }}</ref> This was the first time in Wimbledon history that the women's top seed had lost her first match.<ref name="Wimbledon Upset, Post-Herald">"Wimbledon Upset", Beckley (West Virginia) Post-Herald, June 27, 1962, page 2</ref> That same year, King and Hantze repeated their doubles victory at Wimbledon.<ref name="Ware, Susan, Game, Set, Match" />{{Rp|24}} In 1963, King again faced Margaret Court at Wimbledon.<ref name="Ware, Susan, Game, Set, Match" />{{Rp|24}} This time they met in the final, and Court prevailed.<ref name="Ware, Susan, Game, Set, Match" />{{Rp|24}}
	In a ], ], '']'' article about King, ] noted that she had become something of a sex symbol and said, "Billie Jean cackles when the matter of her being a sex symbol is raised. 'Hysterical! Hysterical! Me, with these little short legs!' But she is practical enough to realize that a guy who buys a ticket to look at the girls has bought a ticket as sure as the guy who buys a ticket to look at the girls' forehands. ... Billie Jean herself not only thinks that sex is a dandy thing to have lurking around sports, but she also employs sex as sort of the ultimate gauge of equality between women's and men's athletics. This may be described as the Get-It Quotient.... 'There's a lot of ugly fellas among the male athletes, but just because they're athletes they get it all the time, don't they? Now, never mind prize money and publicity and all that. When we reach the point where all the women athletes are getting it, too, regardless of their looks, just like the fellas, then we've really arrived.'"<ref></ref>
			===1964===
	===The early years: 1959 through 1965===
			In 1964, King won four relatively minor titles{{Citation needed|date=October 2017}} but lost to Margaret Court in the ] semi-finals.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1964/07/13/608312/the-outcasts-are-counted-in|title=The Outcasts are Counted In|last=Lovesey|first=John|date=July 13, 1964|work=SI.com|access-date=October 15, 2017}}</ref> She defeated Ann Haydon-Jones at both the Wightman Cup and ] but lost to Court in the final of the Federation Cup. At the U.S. Championships, fifth-seeded ] upset third-seeded King in the quarterfinals. Late in the year, King decided to make a full-time commitment to tennis. While a history major at Los Angeles State College, King made the decision to play full-time when businessman Robert Mitchell offered to pay her way to Australia so that she could train under the great Australian coach ].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Starr |first1=Cynthia |last2=King |first2=Billie Jean |title=We Have Come a Long Way: The Story of Women's Tennis |url=https://archive.org/details/wehavecomelongwa00king |publisher=McGraw-Hill |location=New York |year=1988 |pages= |isbn=0-07-034625-9}}</ref> While in Australia, King played three tournaments that year and lost in the quarterfinals of the Queensland Grass Court Championships, the final of the ] (to Court), and the third round of the Victorian Championships.
	====1959====
			===1965===
	In 1959, the 15-year-old King had her ] debut at the ], losing to in the first round 4–6, 7–5, 6–4 after having had a match point. In July and August, King played four of the tournaments that comprised the "Eastern Grass Court Circuit." At the Middle States Grass Court Championships in ], King lost to ] in the quarterfinals. At the ] Lawn Tennis Championships, King lost to ] in the quarterfinals. At the Philadelphia and District Women's Grass Court Championships, King defaulted her quarterfinal match with ] while trailing 6–1, 1–2. At the Eastern Grass Court Championships, King lost to ] in the third round 6–4, 6–4. In her final adult tournament of the year, King lost (7–5 in the third set) to ] in the third round of the ].
			In early 1965, King continued her three-month tour of Australia. She lost in the final of the South Australian Championships and the first round of the Western Australia Championships. At the ] in Melbourne, she defeated Ann Haydon-Jones to help the United States defeat the United Kingdom in the second round. However, Margaret Court again defeated her in the final. At the ] two weeks later, she lost to Court in the semi-finals in two sets. At ], she again lost in the semi-finals, this time in three sets to Maria Bueno.<ref name="Higdon, Hal, Plays Tennis Like a Man" /> Her last tournament of the year was the U.S. Championships, where she defeated Jones in the quarterfinals and Bueno in the semi-finals. In the final, King led 5–3 in both sets, was two points from winning the first set, and had two set points in the second set<ref>Santana, Miss Smith Grab U.S. Tennis Championships", ''Pacific Stars & Stripes'', September 14, 1965, page 20</ref> before losing to Court in straight sets. She said that losing while being so close to winning was devastating, but the match proved to her that she was "good enough to be the best in the world. I'm going to win Wimbledon next year."<ref name="Starr-BillieJean">{{cite book |author1=Starr, Cynthia |author2=King, Billie Jean |title=We Have Come a Long Way: The Story of Women's Tennis |publisher=McGraw-Hill |location=New York |year=1988 |page= |isbn=0-07-034625-9 |url=https://archive.org/details/wehavecomelongwa00king/page/114 }}</ref> She won six tournaments during the year. For the first time in 81 years, the annual convention of the ] overruled its ranking committee's recommendation to award her the sole U.S. No. 1 position and voted 59,810 to 40,966 to rank Nancy Richey Gunter and King as co-U.S. No. 1.<ref>"Billie Jean Must Share No. 1 Rating", ''Independent Press-Telegram'' (Long Beach, California), February 6, 1966, page C-1</ref>
			===Prime competitive years: 1966–1975===
	], winner of 18 Grand Slam titles from 1936 through 1940, began coaching King on weekends during 1959, saying, "Clyde Walker has given Billie all the tools she needs to be a winner. Now all she needs is confidence and time."<ref>Teele, Jack, "The Sports Beat", ''Long Beach Press-Telegram'', ], ], page D-3</ref> King, however, believes that ] almost permanently destroyed her confidence as a player when Connolly Brinker mistakenly thought that the type of ] which motivated herself to become the World No. 1 also would work on King. While the 15-year-old King was practicing on the Junior ] team, Connolly Brinker took her to dinner and said, "Look, I just want to let you know: you'll never make it. So don't bother." About ten years later, King learned the truth. While watching the team practice, Connolly Brinker had asked an assistant coach of the team who the top prospect was. When the coach responded with ], Connolly Brinker laughed, pointed at King, and said, "Oh no, the only one with any real chance at all is that one."<ref>{{cite book |author=Deford, Frank; King, Billie Jean |title=Billie Jean |publisher=Viking |location=New York, N.Y |year=1982 |pages=96|isbn=0-670-47843-1 |oclc= |doi= |accessdate=}}</ref>
	====1960====		====Overview====
			Six of King's Grand Slam singles titles were at Wimbledon, four were at the U.S. Championships/Open, one was at the French Open, and one was at the Australian Championships. King reached the final of a Grand Slam singles tournament in 16 out of 25 attempts and had a 12–4 win–loss record in those finals. In the nine tournaments that she failed to reach the final, she was a losing semi-finalist twice and a losing quarter finalist five times. From 1971 through 1975, she won seven of the ten Grand Slam singles tournaments she played. She won the last seven Grand Slam singles finals she contested, six of them in straight sets and four of them against ]. All but one of her Grand Slam singles titles were on ].
	In 1960, King won her first adult tournament title at the ] and District Women's Grass Court Championships, defeating ] in the quarterfinals. At the ], King was defeated in the third round by seventh-seeded ] of ] 7–5, 6–4. King lost four significant matches to veteran players. In May, she lost in the quarterfinals of the Southern California Championships 6–4, 2–6, 6–4 to 43 year old ], who was the first American to win the singles title at the ] in 1938. Two months later, King lost in the second round of the U.S. Women's Clay Court Championships 1–6, 6–0, 6–3 to 35 year old but second-seeded ], who went on to win the title for the fourth and final time. The next week, King was defeated in the semifinals of the Pennsylvania Lawn Tennis Championships 6–4, 2–6, 6–2 by 42 year old ], a six-time Grand Slam singles champion. In her last tournament of the year, King, the top seed, lost in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Hard Court Championships to Cheney 6–3, 4–6, 6–3.
			King's Grand Slam record from 1966 through 1975 was comparable to that of Margaret Court, her primary rival during these years. One or both of these women played 35 of the 40 Grand Slam singles tournaments held during this period, and together they won 24 of them. During this period, Court won 31 of her career 64 Grand Slam titles, including 12 of her 24 Grand Slam singles titles, 11 of her 19 Grand Slam women's doubles titles, and eight of her 21 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. Court reached the final of a Grand Slam singles tournament in 14 out of 25 attempts and had a 12–2 win–loss record in those finals. Court won seven of the 12 Grand Slam finals she played against King during these years, including 2–1 in singles finals, 4–1 in women's doubles finals, and 1–3 in mixed doubles finals.
	====1961====
			King was the year-ending World No. 1 in six of the ten years from 1966 through 1975. She was the year-ending World No. 2 in three of those years and the World No. 3 in the other year.
	King first gained international recognition in 1961 when, at age 17, she won the women's doubles title at ] in her first attempt while partnering ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/about/history/billiejean_king.html |title=Official Wimbledon profile of Billie Jean King |accessdate=2007-02-15}}</ref> Although unseeded, King and Susman defeated the top seeded team of ] and ] in the quarterfinals and the third seeded team of ] and ] in the final. In second round singles play at ], fifth-seeded ] defeated King in a two-day match on ]<ref>{{cite book |author=Collins, Bud |title=My Life With the Pros |publisher=E.P. Dutton |location=New York |year=1989 |pages=261 |isbn=0-525-24659-2 |oclc= |doi=}}</ref> 11–9, 1–6, 6–2 after King had received a first round bye. Earlier in the year, King lost to Susman in the final of the Southern California Championships but successfully defended her title in ] and won the ] Lawn Tennis Championships for the first time. ], the fourth seed, defeated the unseeded King in the second round of the ] 6–3, 3–6, 6–2. At the ], King lost in the third round to ] (then 45 years old) 6–1, 3–6, 6–3 for the third consecutive time. Playing in the ] for the first time, King defeated ] but lost to Janes.
	====1962====
	In 1962, King lost to ] (now 45 years old) for the fourth time in four career matches, this time in the semifinals of the ] Valley Tennis Tournament. The following week, ] defeated King in the final of the Southern California Championships for the second consecutive year. In only her second career singles match at ], King upset ], the World No. 1 and top seed, in a second round match by attacking Court's forehand<ref>Billie Moffitt's Strategy - Attack!", ''Kansas City Times'', ], ], page 15</ref> after Court had led in the third set 3–0, 5–2, and served at 5–3 (30–15).<ref>{{cite book |author=Starr, Cynthia; King, Billie Jean |title=We Have Come a Long Way: The Story of Women's Tennis |publisher=McGraw-Hill |location=New York |year=1988 |pages=106 |isbn=0-07-034625-9 |oclc= |doi=}}</ref> This was the first time in Wimbledon history that the women's top seed had lost her first match.<ref>"Wimbledon Upset", Beckley (West Virginia) Post-Herald, ], ], page 2</ref> King eventually reached the quarterfinals, losing to fifth-seeded ] 6–3, 6–1. One month later, Court defeated King in the semifinals of both the ] Lawn Tennis Championships (6–4, 6–3) and the Eastern Grass Court Championships (6–3, 6–4). At the ], King and Susman lost their only match of the tie to the team of Jones and ]. At the ], King got injured and retired from her first round match with ] while leading 8–6, 0–5. King ended her year by losing to ] in the quarterfinals of the ].
	====1963====
	] at Fitzwilliam LTC, Dublin in the 1960s where she won her first international title]]
	In 1963, King won the Southern California Championships for the first time, defeating ] in the final. At ], the unseeded King defeated seventh-seeded ] in the quarterfinals 6–2, 7–5 and third-seeded ] in the semifinals 6–4, 6–4 before losing the final to top-seeded ]. The following week, King won her first international title at the ] Championships. In ] competition, King defeated ] 6–4, 19–17 and Jones. King was seeded third at the ] but lost her fourth round match with unseeded ]. At the year ending ], King defeated Jones and Bueno before losing to Hard in the final.
	====1964====
	In 1964, King won four relatively minor titles but lost to ] in the ] semifinals 6–3, 6–4. King defeated ] at both the ] and ] but lost to Court in the final of the Federation Cup 6–2, 6–3. At the ], fifth-seeded ] upset third-seeded King in the quarterfinals 6–4, 6–4. Late in the year, King decided to make a full-time commitment to tennis. She said,
	{{quote|I was in my third year as a history major at ].... I still had my dream of being Number 1 in tennis, but I had yet to win a major singles title. I finally realized that I would never know whether I could make it unless I made a commitment to play full-time. I was able to make that commitment when Robert Mitchell, the same businessman who had helped Margaret Smith , offered to pay my way to ] so that I could train under the great Australian coach Mervyn Rose. I told my friends I was going to Australia to become the best player in the world. It was a frightening admission, but it helped to drive me. Merv Rose was exactly what I needed. He made radical alterations in my game, changing my swooping, wristy forehand and backhand into the crisp efficient strokes of a champion.<ref>{{cite book |author=Starr, Cynthia; King, Billie Jean |title=We Have Come a Long Way: The Story of Women's Tennis |publisher=McGraw-Hill |location=New York |year=1988 |pages=113–4 |isbn=0-07-034625-9 |oclc= |doi=}}</ref>}}
	While in Australia, King played three tournaments to end the year, losing in the quarterfinals of the ] Grass Court Championships, the final of the ] (to Court), and the third round of the ] Championships.
	====1965====
	In early 1965, King continued her 3-month tour of Australia. She lost in the final of the ]n Championships and the first round of the ] Championships. At the ] in ], King defeated ] to help the ] defeat the ] in the second round. However, ] again defeated King in the final. At the ] two weeks later, King lost to Court in the semifinals 6–1, 8–6. At ], King lost in the semifinals for the third consecutive year, this time to ] 6–4, 5–7, 6–3. King's last tournament of the year was the ], where she defeated Jones in the quarterfinals (16–14, 6–2) and Bueno in the semifinals. In the final, King led 5–3 in both sets, was two points from winning the first set, and had two set points in the second set<ref>Santana, Miss Smith Grab U.S. Tennis Championships", ''Pacific Stars & Stripes'', ], ], page 20</ref> before losing to Court 8–6, 7–5. King said that losing while being so close to winning was devastating, but the match proved to her that she was "good enough to be the best in the world. I'm going to win Wimbledon next year."<ref name = "Starr-BillieJean">{{cite book |author=Starr, Cynthia; King, Billie Jean |title=We Have Come a Long Way: The Story of Women's Tennis |publisher=McGraw-Hill |location=New York |year=1988 |pages=114 |isbn=0-07-034625-9 |oclc= |doi=}}</ref> King won six tournaments during the year. For the first time in 81 years, the annual convention of the ] overruled its ranking committee's recommendation to award King the sole U.S. No. 1 position and voted 59,810 to 40,966 to rank ] and King as co-U.S. No. 1.<ref>"Billie Jean Must Share No. 1 Rating", ''Independent Press-Telegram'' (]), ], ], page C-1</ref>
	===Prime competitive years: 1966 through 1975===
	====Overview of these years====
	From 1966 through 1975, King won 32 of her career 39 ] titles, including all 12 of her Grand Slam singles titles, 9 of her 16 Grand Slam women's doubles titles, and 10 of her 11 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles.
	Six of King's Grand Slam singles titles were at ], four were at the ], one was at the ], and one was at the ]. King reached the final of a Grand Slam singles tournament in 16 out of 25 attempts and had a 12–4 win-loss record in those finals. In the nine tournaments that she failed to reach the final, she was a losing semifinalist twice and a losing quarterfinalist five times. From 1971 through 1975, King won seven of the ten Grand Slam singles tournaments she played. She won the last seven Grand Slam singles finals she contested, six of them in straight sets and four of them against ]. All but one of King's Grand Slam singles titles were on ].
	King's Grand Slam record from 1966 through 1975 was comparable to that of ], her primary rival during these years. One or both of these women played 35 of the 40 Grand Slam singles tournaments held during this period, and together they won 24 of them. During this period, Court won 31 of her career 64 Grand Slam titles, including 12 of her 24 Grand Slam singles titles, 11 of her 19 Grand Slam women's doubles titles, and 8 of her 21 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. Court reached the final of a Grand Slam singles tournament in 14 out of 25 attempts and had a 12–2 win-loss record in those finals. Court won 7 of the 12 Grand Slam finals she played against King during these years, including 2–1 in singles finals, 4–1 in women's doubles finals, and 1–3 in mixed doubles finals.
	King was the year-ending World No. 1 in six of the ten years from 1966 through 1975. She was the year-ending World No. 2 in three of those years and the World No. 3 in the other year.
	King won 97 of her career 129 singles titles during this period and was the runner-up in 36 other tournaments.		King won 97 of her career 129 singles titles during this period and was the runner-up in 36 other tournaments.
	====1966====		====1966====
			]
	In 1966, King defeated ] (then 49 years old) for the first time in five career matches, winning their semifinal at the Southern California Championships 6–0, 6–3. King also ended her nine match losing streak to ] by defeating her in the final of the ]n Tennis Championships. At the ] just before ], King defeated ] and ]. After thirteen unsuccessful attempts to win a Grand Slam singles title from 1959 through 1965, King at the age of 22 finally won the first of her six singles titles at ] and the first of twelve Grand Slam singles titles overall, defeating Court in the semifinals 6–3, 6–3 and ] in the final. King credited her semifinal victory to her forehand down the line, a new shot in her repertoire.<ref name = "Starr-BillieJean"/> She also said that the strategy for playing Court is, "Simple. Just chip the ball back at her feet."<ref></ref> At the ], an ill King was upset by ] in the second round.<ref></ref>		In 1966, King defeated Dorothy "Dodo" Cheney (then 49 years old) for the first time in five career matches, winning their semi-final at the Southern California Championships 6–0, 6–3. King also ended her nine-match losing streak to Margaret Court by defeating her in the final of the South African Tennis Championships. She also won the women's singles in the ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theojai.net/tournament-info/|title=Tournament Facts}}</ref> At the Wightman Cup just before ], King defeated Virginia Wade and Ann Haydon-Jones. After thirteen unsuccessful attempts to win a Grand Slam singles title from 1959 through 1965, King at the age of 22 finally won the first of her six singles titles at Wimbledon and the first of twelve Grand Slam singles titles overall, defeating Court in the semi-finals 6–3, 6–3 and ] in the final. King credited her semi-final victory to her forehand down the line, a new shot in her repertoire.<ref name = "Starr-BillieJean" /> She also said that the strategy for playing Court is, "Simple. Just chip the ball back at her feet."<ref>{{cite news |author=Lovesey, John |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1966/07/11/manolo-is-king-and-a-king-is-queen/ |title=Manolo is king, and a King is queen |publisher=] |date=July 11, 1966 |access-date=July 4, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209092229/http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1078753/index.htm |archive-date=December 9, 2008 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> At the U.S. Championships, an ill King was upset by ] in the second round.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.elementfx.com/1966-tennis.html |title=News Archive; 1966: Tennis |publisher=News.elementfx.com |access-date=July 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220250/http://news.elementfx.com/1966-tennis.html |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
	====1967====		====1967====
			King successfully defended her title at the South African Tennis Championships in 1967, defeating Maria Bueno in the final. She played the French Championships for the first time in her career,<ref>King claims that the United States Lawn Tennis Association prohibited her from playing the French Championships earlier in her career because the association needed her to play grass court tournaments in the United States to draw crowds. {{cite book |author1=Starr, Cynthia |author2=King, Billie Jean |title=We Have Come a Long Way: The Story of Women's Tennis |publisher=McGraw-Hill |location=New York |year=1988 |page= |isbn=0-07-034625-9 |url=https://archive.org/details/wehavecomelongwa00king/page/114 }}</ref> falling in the quarterfinals to ] of South Africa. At the Federation Cup one week later in West Germany on ], King won all four of her matches, including victories over DuPlooy, Ann Haydon-Jones, and ]. King then successfully switched surfaces and won her second consecutive ] singles title, defeating Virginia Wade in the quarterfinals 7–5, 6–2 and Jones. At the Wightman Cup, King again defeated Wade and Jones. King won her second Grand Slam singles title of the year when she won the U.S. Championships for the first time and without losing a set, defeating Wade, Van Zyl, ], and Jones in consecutive matches. Jones pulled her left hamstring muscle early in the final and saved four match points in the second set before King prevailed.<ref>"Aussie, Billie Jean Capture U.S. Titles", ''Oakland Tribune'', September 11, 1967, page 40-E</ref> King won the singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles titles at both Wimbledon and the U.S. Championships, the first woman to do that since ] in 1939.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.elementfx.com/1967-tennis.html |title=News Archive; 1967: Tennis |publisher=News.elementfx.com |access-date=July 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303233137/http://news.elementfx.com/1967-tennis.html |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> King then returned to the Australian summer tour in December for the first time since 1965, playing seven events there and ] in six of those events (winning four of their matches). King lost in the quarterfinals of the ] in Sydney to Tegart after King injured her left knee in the second game of the third set of that match.<ref>Injury May Force King Out Of Tennis Tourney", ''Florence Morning News'', November 25, 1967, page 6</ref> However, King won the Victorian Championships in Melbourne the following week, defeating Dalton, Reid, and ] in the last three rounds. At a team event in ], King won all three of her singles and doubles matches to help the U.S. defeat Australia 5–1. To finish the year, King lost to Tegart in the final of the South Australian Championships in Adelaide.
	King successfully defended her title at the ]n Tennis Championships in 1967, defeating ] in the final. She played the ] for the first time in her career,<ref>King claims that the ] prohibited her from playing the ] earlier in her career because the association needed her to play grass court tournaments in the United States to draw crowds. {{cite book |author=Starr, Cynthia; King, Billie Jean |title=We Have Come a Long Way: The Story of Women's Tennis |publisher=McGraw-Hill |location=New York |year=1988 |pages=114 |isbn=0-07-034625-9 |oclc= |doi=}}</ref> falling in the quarterfinals to ] of South Africa. At the ] one week later in ] on ], King won all four of her matches, including victories over DuPlooy, ], and ]. King then successfully switched surfaces and won her second consecutive ] singles title, defeating ] in the quarterfinals 7–5, 6–2 and Jones. At the ], King again defeated Wade and Jones. King won her second ] singles title of the year when she won the ] for the first time and without losing a set, defeating Wade, DuPlooy, ], and Jones in consecutive matches. Jones pulled her left hamstring muscle early in the final and saved four match points in the second set before King prevailed.<ref>"Aussie, Billie Jean Capture U.S. Titles", ''Oakland Tribune'', ], ], page 40-E</ref> King won the singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles titles at both Wimbledon and the U.S. Championships, the first woman to do that since ] in 1939.<ref></ref> King then returned to the ]n summer tour in December for the first time since 1965, playing seven events there and ] in six of those events (winning four of their matches). King lost in the quarterfinals of the ] in ] to Dalton after King injured her left knee in the second game of the third set of that match.<ref>Injury May Force King Out Of Tennis Tourney", ''Florence Morning News'', ], ], page 6</ref> However, King won the ] Championships in ] the following week, defeating Dalton, Reid, and ] in the last three rounds. At a team event in ], King won all three of her singles and doubles matches to help the U.S. defeat Australia 5–1. To finish the year, King lost to Dalton in the final of the ]n Championships in Adelaide.
	====1968====		====1968====
			In early 1968, King won three consecutive tournaments to end her Australian tour. In ], King won the Western Australia Championships, defeating Margaret Court in the final. In ], King won the ]n Championships by defeating ] in the final. King then won the Australian Championships for the first time, defeating Dalton in the semi-finals and Court in the final. King continued to win tournaments upon her return to the United States, winning three indoor tournaments before Nancy Richey Gunter defeated King in the semi-finals of the ] Challenge Trophy amateur tournament in New York City before 10,233 spectators.<ref>{{cite news|last=Anderson |first=Dave |url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0F15F8345D147493C2AA1788D85F4C8685F9 |title=Miss Richey Upsets Mrs. King, 4–6, 7–5, 6–0, to Gain Garden Tennis Final |newspaper=The New York Times |date=March 30, 1968 |access-date=July 4, 2011}}</ref> The match started with Gunter taking a 4–2 lead in the first set, before King won 9 of the next 10 games. King served for the match at 5–1 and had a match point at 5–3 in the second set; however, she lost the final 12 games and the match 4–6, 7–5, 6–0.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.elementfx.com/1968-tennis.html |title=News Archive; 1968: Tennis |publisher=News.elementfx.com |access-date=July 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304115624/http://news.elementfx.com/1968-tennis.html |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> King then won three consecutive tournaments in Europe before losing to Ann Haydon-Jones in the final of a professional tournament at Madison Square Garden. Playing the French Open for only the second time in her career and attempting to win four consecutive Grand Slam singles titles (a "non-calendar year Grand Slam"), King defeated Maria Bueno in a quarterfinal before losing to Gunter in a semi-final 2–6, 6–3, 6–4. King rebounded to win her third consecutive ] singles title, defeating Jones in the semi-finals and Dalton in the final. At the ], King defeated Bueno in a semi-final before being upset in the final by Virginia Wade. On September 24, she had surgery to repair cartilage in her left knee<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1968/09/24/archives/mrs-king-undergoes-successful-surgery.html |title=Mrs. King Undergoes Successful Surgery |newspaper=The New York Times |date=June 3, 2011 |access-date=July 4, 2011}}</ref> and did not play in tournaments the remainder of the year. King said that it took eight months (May 1969) for her knee to recover completely from the surgery.<ref>{{cite news|title=Surgery for Billie Jean|work=Independent Press-Telegram|location=Long Beach, California |date=July 11, 1970 |page=C-1}}</ref> In 1977, King said that her doctors predicted in 1968 that her left knee would allow her to play competitive tennis for only two more years.<ref>{{cite news|title=King Will Resume Singles Competition|work=The Pocono Record| location=Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania |date=January 20, 1977 |page=14}}</ref>
	In early 1968, King won three consecutive tournaments to end her ]n tour. In ], King won the ] Championships, defeating ] in the final. In ], King won the ]n Championships by defeating ] in the final. King then won the ] for the first time, defeating Dalton in the semifinals and Court in the final. King continued to win tournaments upon her return to the United States, winning three indoor tournaments before ] defeated King in the semifinals of the ] Challenge Trophy amateur tournament in ] before 10,233 spectators.<ref></ref> The match started with Gunter taking a 4–2 lead in the first set, before King won 9 of the next 10 games. King served for the match at 5–1 and had a match point at 5–3 in the second set; however, she lost the final 12 games and the match 4–6, 7–5, 6–0.<ref></ref> King then won three consecutive tournaments in Europe before losing to ] in the final of a professional tournament at Madison Square Garden. Playing the ] for only the second time in her career and attempting to win four consecutive ] singles titles (a "non-calendar year Grand Slam"), King defeated ] in a quarterfinal before losing to Gunter in a semifinal 2–6, 6–3, 6–4. King rebounded to win her third consecutive ] singles title, defeating Jones in the semifinals and Dalton in the final. At the ], King defeated Bueno in a semifinal before being upset in the final by ]. On September 24, she had surgery to repair cartilage in her left knee<ref></ref> and did not play in tournaments the remainder of the year. King said that it took eight months (May 1969) for her knee to recover completely from the surgery.<ref>{{cite news|title=Surgery for Billie Jean|work=Independent Press-Telegram|location=Long Beach, California |date=], ] |page=C-1}}</ref> In 1977, King said that her doctors predicted in 1968 that her left knee would allow her to play competitive tennis for only two more years.<ref>{{cite news|title=King Will Resume Singles Competition|work=The Pocono Record| location=Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania |date=], ] |page=14}}</ref>
	====1969====		====1969====
			King participated in the 1969 Australian summer tour for the second consecutive year. Unlike the previous year, King did not win a tournament. She lost in the quarterfinals of the Tasmanian Championships and the semi-finals of the New South Wales Championships. At the Australian Open, King defeated 17-year-old Evonne Goolagong in the second round 6–3, 6–1 and Ann Haydon-Jones in a three-set semi-final before losing to Margaret Court in a straight-sets final. The following week, King lost in the semi-finals of the New Zealand Championships. Upon her return to the United States, King won the Pacific Coast Pro and the Los Angeles Pro. King then won two tournaments in South Africa, including the South African Open. During the European summer clay court season, King lost in the quarterfinals of both the ] and the French Open. On grass at the Wills Open in ], United Kingdom, King defeated Virginia Wade in the semi-finals (6–8, 11–9, 6–2) before losing to Court. At ], King lost only 13 points while defeating ] in the semi-finals 6–1, 6–0;<ref>"Mrs. King Crushes Foe", ''Abilene (Texas) Reporter-News'', July 3, 1969, page 12-A</ref> however, Jones upset King in the final and prevented King from winning her fourth consecutive singles title there. The week after, King again defeated Wade to win the Irish Open for the second time in her career. In the final Grand Slam tournament of the year, King lost in the quarterfinals of the ] to Nancy Richey Gunter 6–4, 8–6. This was the first year since 1965 that King did not win at least one Grand Slam singles title. King finished the year with titles at the Pacific Southwest Open in Los Angeles, the ] Indoors, and the ] Pro. She said during the Pacific Southwest Open, "It has been a bad year for me. My left knee has been OK, but I have been bothered by a severe tennis elbow for seven months. I expect to have a real big year in 1970, though, because I really have the motivation now. I feel like a kid again."<ref>Billie Jeannjfvcxi, Pancho Gain Pacific Southwest Finals", ''Independent Press-Telegram'', Long Beach, California, September 28, 1969, page S-6</ref>
	King participated in the 1969 ]n summer tour for the second consecutive year. Unlike the previous year, King did not win a tournament. She lost in the quarterfinals of the ]n Championships and the semifinals of the ]. At the ], King defeated 17 year old ] in the second round 6–3, 6–1 and ] in a three-set semifinal before losing to ] in a straight-sets final. The following week, King lost in the semifinals of the ] Championships. Upon her return to the United States, King won the Pacific Coast Pro and the ] Pro. King then won two tournaments in ], including the South African Open. During the European summer ] season, King lost in the quarterfinals of both the ] and the ]. On ] at the Wills Open in ], ], King defeated ] in the semifinals (6–8, 11–9, 6–2) before losing to Court. At ], King lost only 13 points while defeating ] in the semifinals 6–1, 6–0;<ref>"Mrs. King Crushes Foe", ''Abilene (Texas) Reporter-News'', ], ], page 12-A</ref> however, Jones upset King in the final and prevented King from winning her fourth consecutive singles title there. The week after, King again defeated Wade to win the ] Open for the second time in her career. In the final ] tournament of the year, King lost in the quarterfinals of the ] to ] 6–4, 8–6. This was the first year since 1965 that King did not win at least one Grand Slam singles title. King finished the year with titles at the in ], the ] Indoors, and the ] Pro. She said during the Pacific Southwest Open, "It has been a bad year for me. My left knee has been OK, but I have been bothered by a severe tennis elbow for seven months. I expect to have a real big year in 1970, though, because I really have the motivation now. I feel like a kid again."<ref>Billie Jean, Pancho Gain Pacific Southwest Finals", ''Independent Press-Telegram'', ], ], ], page S-6</ref>
	====1970====		====1970====
			]
	In 1970, ] won all four ] singles tournaments and was clearly the World No. 1. King lost to Court three times in the first four months of the year, in ], ], and ] (at the ]n Open). Court, however, was not totally dominant during this period as King defeated her in ] and ]. Where Court dominated was at the Grand Slam tournaments. King did not play the ]. King had leg cramps and lost to ] of ] in the quarterfinals of the ] 2–6, 8–6, 6–1.<ref></ref> At ], Court needed seven match points<ref></ref> to defeat King in the final 14–12, 11–9 in one of the greatest women's finals in the history of the tournament.<ref></ref> On ],<ref>"Billie Jean Has Knee Surgery", ''Wisconsin State Journal'', ], ], section 2, page 3</ref> King had right knee surgery, which forced her to miss the ]. King returned to the tour in September, where she had a first round loss at the ] Invitational in ] and a semifinal loss at the Pacific Coast Championships in ]. To close out the year, King in November won the Virginia Slims Invitational in ] and the Embassy Indoor Tennis Championships in ]. During the European clay court season, King warmed-up for the French Open by playing in ] (losing in the semifinals), winning the ] (saving three match points against ] in the semifinals),<ref>"Billie Jean King, Julia Heldman score victories", ''Winona (Minnesota) Daily News'', ], ], page 7b</ref> playing in ] (losing to Wade in the quarterfinals), and playing in ] (losing to Masthoff in the semifinals). The Italian Open victory was the first important clay court title of King's career. Along the way, she defeated Masthoff in a three-set quarterfinal and Wade in a three-set semifinal, saving two match points at 4–5 in the second set. The twelfth game of that set (with King leading 6–5) had 21 deuces and lasted 22 minutes,<ref>{{cite book |author=Tingay, Lance |title=The Guinness Book of Tennis Facts & Feats |publisher=Guinness Superlatives |location=Enfield, Middlesex |year=1983 |pages=26 |isbn=085112268x |oclc= |doi=}}</ref> with Wade saving seven set points and holding sixteen game points before King won. In ] competition two weeks before Wimbledon but played at the ], King defeated both Wade and ] in straight sets.		In 1970, Margaret Court won all four Grand Slam singles tournaments and was clearly the World No. 1. King lost to Court three times in the first four months of the year, in Philadelphia, Dallas, and ] (at the South African Open). Court, however, was not totally dominant during this period as King defeated her in Sydney and ], South Africa. Where Court dominated was at the Grand Slam tournaments. King did not play the Australian Open. King had leg cramps and lost to Helga Niessen Masthoff of West Germany in the quarterfinals of the French Open 2–6, 8–6, 6–1.<ref>{{cite news |author=Katz, Michael |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/06/04/archives/mrs-king-hobbled-by-leg-cramps-loses-to-miss-niessen-in-french.html |title=Mrs. King, Hobbled by Leg Cramps, Loses to Miss Niessen in French Tennis |newspaper=The New York Times|date=June 4, 1970 |access-date=July 4, 2011}}</ref> At ], Court needed seven match points<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wimbledon2000/fans_guide/769768.stm |title=Classic women's singles finals |publisher=BBC News |date=June 11, 2000 |access-date=July 4, 2011}}</ref> to defeat King in the final 14–12, 11–9 in one of the greatest women's finals in the history of the tournament.<ref> {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515135547/http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/about/history/margaret_court.html |date=May 15, 2009 }}</ref> On July 22,<ref>"Billie Jean Has Knee Surgery", ''Wisconsin State Journal'', July 23, 1970, section 2, page 3</ref> King had right knee surgery, which forced her to miss the ]. King returned to the tour in September, where she had a first round loss at the ] Invitational in Houston and a semi-final loss at the ] in ]. To close out the year, King in November won the ] in ] and the Embassy Indoor Tennis Championships in London. During the European clay court season, King warmed-up for the French Open by playing in ] (losing in the semi-finals), winning the ] (saving three match points against Virginia Wade in the semi-finals),<ref>"Billie Jean King, Julia Heldman score victories", ''Winona (Minnesota) Daily News'', April 26, 1970, page 7b</ref> playing in ] (losing to Wade in the quarterfinals), and playing in ] (losing to Masthoff in the semi-finals). The Italian Open victory was the first important clay court title of King's career. Along the way, she defeated Masthoff in a three-set quarterfinal and Wade in a three-set semi-final, saving two match points at 4–5 in the second set. The twelfth game of that set (with King leading 6–5) had 21 deuces and lasted 22 minutes,<ref>{{cite book |author=Tingay, Lance |title=The Guinness Book of Tennis Facts & Feats |publisher=Guinness Superlatives |location=Enfield, Middlesex |year=1983 |page=26 |isbn=0-85112-268-X }}</ref> with Wade saving seven set points and holding sixteen game points before King won. In Wightman Cup competition two weeks before Wimbledon but played at the ], King defeated both Wade and Ann Haydon-Jones in straight sets.
			Many things bothered King concerning her advocacy for women's rights in sports. Among these concerns, she sought better pay for female tennis players, given the substantial differences in budgets between male and female players. In September 1970, there was the Pacific Southwest Open which was a tennis tournament. The prize money for men and women varied significantly, with the top prize for men being $12,500 and for women, a mere $1,500. Women's expenses were not covered unless they made the quarterfinals. This had bothered King and was the final straw for her. King and other 8 women did not play because of the budgets which they were willing to take the risk of expulsion from the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association. King and the other women organized the women-only Houston Virginia Slims invitational and this helped launch the series of women-only tournaments.<ref name="jstor.org">Pappano, Laura. “Women Win On and Off Court.” The Women’s Review of Books, vol. 28, no. 3, 2011, pp. 7–9. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/41331726. Accessed 1 Oct. 2023.</ref>
	====1971====		====1971====
			Although King won only one Grand Slam singles title in 1971, this was the best year of her career in terms of tournaments won (17). According to the ], she played in 31 singles tournaments and compiled a 112–13 win–loss record.<ref name="ITHF biography" />
			She started the year by winning eight of the first thirteen tournaments she played, defeating Rosemary Casals in seven finals. King's five losses during this period were to Françoise Dürr (twice), Casals (once), Ann Haydon-Jones (once), and Chris Evert (in ]). At the time, King said that retiring from the match with Evert after splitting the first two sets was necessary because of leg cramps. But in early 1972, King admitted that cramps associated with an abortion caused the retirement.<ref>"Tennis Pro Favors Abortion", ''Tucson (Arizona) Daily-Citizen'', February 23, 1972, page 16.</ref>
	Although King won only one ] singles title in 1971, this was the best year of her career in terms of tournaments won (17). According to the ], she played in 31 singles tournaments and compiled a 112–13 win-loss record.<ref>] website]</ref>
			At the tournament in early May at ], United Kingdom, King lost a second round match to an old rival, Christine Truman Janes (now 30 years old), 6–4, 6–2; but King recovered the next week to win the ] in Hamburg on ]. Four weeks later at the ] tournament in London, King played Margaret Court for the first time in 1971, losing their final. At ], King defeated Janes in the fourth round (6–2, 7–5) and Durr in the quarterfinals before losing unexpectedly to Evonne Goolagong in the semi-finals 6–4, 6–4. Two weeks after Wimbledon, King won the ] on grass in ], United Kingdom, beating Virginia Wade, Court, and Casals in the last three rounds. She then played two clay court tournaments in Europe, winning neither, before resuming play in the United States.
	She started the year by winning eight of the first thirteen tournaments she played, defeating ] in seven finals. King's five losses during this period were to ] (twice), Casals (once), ] (once), and ] (in ]). The St. Petersburg tournament was King's first since having an abortion that caused her to miss the ] tour event in ]. At the time, King said that retiring from the match with Evert after splitting the first two sets was necessary because of leg cramps. But in early 1972, King admitted that cramps associated with the abortion caused the retirement.<ref>"Tennis Pro Favors Abortion", ''Tucson (Arizona) Daily-Citizen'', ], ], page 16.</ref>
			In August, King won the indoor ] tournament and the U.S. Women's Clay Court Championships in ]. King then switched back to grass and won the ] without losing a set, defeating Evert in the semi-finals (6–3, 6–2) and Casals in the final. King then won the tournaments in ], ], and London (Wembley Pro). King and Casals both defaulted at 6–6 in the final of the Pepsi Pacific Southwest Open in Los Angeles in September when their request to remove a lineswoman was denied, eventually resulting in the ] fining both players US$2,500.<ref>"Female tennis stars 'even{{' "}}, ''The Idaho Free Press'', January 5, 1972, page 12</ref> To end the year, King played two tournaments in New Zealand but did not win either. She lost in ] to Durr and in ] to Kerry Melville Reid.
	At the tournament in ], ] in early May, King lost a second round match to an old rival, ] (now 30 years old), 6–4, 6–2. But King recovered the next week to win the ] in ] on ]. Four weeks later at the ] tournament in ], King played ] for the first time in 1971, losing their final. At ], King defeated Janes in the fourth round (6–2, 7–5) and Durr in the quarterfinals before losing unexpectedly to ] in the semifinals 6–4, 6–4. Two weeks after ], King won the ] tournament in ], United Kingdom, beating ], Court, and Casals in the last three rounds. She then played two clay court tournaments in Europe, winning neither, before resuming play in the United States.
			In 1971, King was the first female tennis player to earn $100,000 a year. Being one of her greatest accomplishments, this earned her congratulatory phone call from President Richard M. Nixon.<ref name="jstor.org"/>
	In August, King won the indoor ] tournament and the U.S. Women's Clay Court Championships in ]. King then switched back to grass and won the ] without losing a set, defeating Evert in the semifinals (6–3, 6–2) and Casals in the final. King then won the tournaments in ], ], and London (Wembley Pro). King and Casals both defaulted at 6–6 in the final of the ] in ] in September when their request to remove a lineswoman was denied, eventually resulting in the ] fining both players ]2,500.<ref>"Female tennis stars 'even'", ''The Idaho Free Press'', ], ], page 12</ref> To end the year, King played two tournaments in ] but did not win either. She lost in ] to Durr and in ] to ].
	====1972====		====1972====
			King won three Grand Slam singles titles in 1972, electing not to play the Australian Open despite being nearby when she played in New Zealand in late 1971. King said, "I was twenty-eight years old, and I was at the height of my powers. I'm quite sure I could have won the Grand Slam ... 1972, but the Australian was such a minor-league tournament at that time.... More important, I did not want to miss any Virginia Slims winter tournaments. I was playing enough as it was."<ref>{{cite book |author1=Deford, Frank |author2=King, Billie Jean |title=Billie Jean |publisher=Viking |location=New York City |year=1982 |page= |isbn=0-670-47843-1 |url=https://archive.org/details/billiejean00king/page/20 }}</ref> Her dominance was aided by rival ]'s absence from the tour due to childbirth during most of the 1972 season.
			At the beginning of the year, King failed to win eight of the first ten tournaments she played. She won the title in San Francisco in mid-January. But then King lost in Long Beach to Françoise Dürr (although King claimed in her 1982 autobiography that she intentionally lost the match because of an argument with her husband<ref>{{cite book |author1=Deford, Frank |author2=King, Billie Jean |title=Billie Jean |publisher=Viking |location=New York, N.Y. |year=1982 |page= |isbn=0-670-47843-1 |url=https://archive.org/details/billiejean00king/page/93 }}</ref>) and in ] on ] to Chris Evert 6–1, 6–0. The inconsistent results continued through mid-April, in ] (losing in the quarterfinals); Washington, D.C. (losing in the second round); and Dallas (losing to Nancy Richey Gunter after defeating Evert in the quarterfinals 6–7(4–5), 6–3, 7–5 and Evonne Goolagong in the semi-finals 1–6, 6–4, 6–1).<ref>For a description of the Dallas tournament in 1972, see {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209092234/http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1085895/2/index.htm |date=December 9, 2008 }}</ref> King won the title in Richmond; however, one week later, King lost in the semi-finals of the tournament in San Juan. This was followed in successive weeks by a loss in the ] final to ] and in a St. Petersburg semi-final to Evert (6–2, 6–3).
	King won three ] singles titles in 1972, electing not to play the ] despite being nearby when she played in ] in late-1971. King said, "I was twenty-eight years old, and I was at the height of my powers. I'm quite sure I could have won the Grand Slam ... 1972, but the Australian was such a minor-league tournament at that time.... More important, I did not want to miss any Virginia Slims winter tournaments. I was playing enough as it was."<ref>{{cite book |author=Deford, Frank; King, Billie Jean |title=Billie Jean |publisher=Viking |location=New York, N.Y |year=1982 |pages=20 |isbn=0-670-47843-1 |oclc= |doi= |accessdate=}}</ref>
			King did not lose again until mid-August, winning six consecutive tournaments. She won the tournaments in ] and Indianapolis. King then won the French Open without losing a set and completed a career Grand Slam. She defeated Virginia Wade in the quarterfinals, Helga Niessen Masthoff in the semi-finals, and Goolagong in the final.<ref>After winning the French Open in 1972, King stayed away from the tournament for seven consecutive years and, in fact, played the tournament only twice more during her career, in 1980 and 1982.</ref> On grass, King then won the Wimbledon warm-up tournaments in ] and Bristol and won ] itself for the fourth time. She lost only one set during the tournament, to Wade in the quarterfinals. That was followed by straight set wins over Rosemary Casals and Goolagong. When the tour returned to the United States, King did not win any of the three tournaments she played before the ], including a straight sets loss to Margaret Court in ]. At the US Open, however, King won the tournament without losing a set, including a quarterfinal win over Wade, a semi-final defeat of Court, and a final win over Kerry Melville Reid. King finished the year by winning the tournaments in Charlotte and Phoenix (defeating Court in the final of both), a runner-up finish in ] (losing to Court), and a semifinal finish at the year-end championships in ] (losing to Evert).
	At the beginning of the year, King failed to win eight of the first ten tournaments she played. She won the title in ] in mid-January. But then King lost in ] to ] (although King claimed in her 1982 autobiography that she intentionally lost the match because of an argument with her husband<ref>{{cite book |author=Deford, Frank; King, Billie Jean |title=Billie Jean |publisher=Viking |location=New York, N.Y |year=1982 |pages=93 |isbn=0-670-47843-1 |oclc= |doi= |accessdate=}}</ref>) and in ] on ] to ] 6–1, 6–0. The inconsistent results continued through mid-April, in ] (losing in the quarterfinals); ] (losing in the second round); and ] (losing to ] after defeating Evert in the quarterfinals 6–7(4–5), 6–3, 7–5 and ] in the semifinals 1–6, 6–4, 6–1).<ref>For a description of the Dallas tournanment in 1972, see ]'' article "Shoot-Out at the T Bar M"]</ref> King won the title in ]; however, one week later, King lost in the semifinals of the tournament in ]. This was followed in successive weeks by a loss in the ] final to ] and in a ] semifinal to Evert (6–2, 6–3).
	King did not lose again until mid-August, winning six consecutive tournaments. She won the tournaments in ] and ]. King then won the ] without losing a set and completed a career Grand Slam. She defeated ] in the quarterfinals, ] in the semifinals, and Goolagong Cawley in the final.<ref>After winning the ] in 1972, King stayed away from the tournament for seven consecutive years and, in fact, played the tournament only twice more during her career, in 1980 and 1982.</ref> On ], King then won the ] warm-up tournaments in ] and ] and won ] itself for the fourth time. She lost only one set during the tournament, to Wade in the quarterfinals. That was followed by straight set wins over ] and Goolagong Cawley. When the tour returned to the United States, King did not win any of the three tournaments she played before the ], including a straight sets loss to ] in ]. At the ], however, King won the tournament without losing a set, including a quarterfinal win over Wade, a semifinal defeat of Court, and a final win over ]. King finished the year by winning the tournaments in ] and ] (defeating Court in the final of both), a runner-up finish in ] (losing to Court), and a semifinal finish in ] (losing to Evert).
	====1973====		====1973====
			]]]
			1973 was Margaret Court's turn to win three Grand Slam singles titles, failing to win only Wimbledon, and was the clear world No. 1 for the year; this was her first full season since winning the Grand Slam in 1970, as she had missed significant portions of 1971 and 1972 due to childbirth. As during the previous year, King started 1973 inconsistently. She missed the first three Virginia Slims tournaments in January because of a wrist injury.<ref>"King bows in, on courts", ''Daily Review'', ], February 8, 1973, page 30</ref> She then lost in the third round at the Virginia Slims of Miami tournament but won the Virginia Slims of Indianapolis tournament, defeating Court in the semi-finals 6–7, 7–6, 6–3 and Rosemary Casals in the final. The semi-final victory ended Court's 12-tournament and 59-match winning streaks,<ref>{{" '}}Sweetie' upset for Billie Jean", ''Oakland Tribune'', February 26, 1973, page E27</ref> with King saving at least three match points when down 5–4 (40–0) in the second set. Indianapolis was followed by five tournaments that King failed to win (Detroit, ], Chicago, ], and the inaugural ] in ]). King lost to Court in two of those tournaments. After deciding not to defend her French Open singles title, King won four consecutive tournaments, including her fifth ] singles title when she defeated Kerry Melville Reid in the quarterfinals, Evonne Goolagong in the semi-finals on her eighth match point,<ref>"Evert Shatters Court, Sets Up American Finals", ''Abilene (Texas) Reporter-News'', July 5, 1973, page 2-C</ref> and Chris Evert in the final. King lost only nine points in the 6–0 bageling of Evert in the first set of their final.<ref>{{cite news |author=Jares, Joe |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1973/07/16/a-bloomin-winner/ |title=A Bloomin' Winner |publisher=] |date=July 16, 1973 |access-date=July 4, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090625151702/http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1087561/index.htm |archive-date=June 25, 2009 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
	1973 was ] turn to win three ] singles titles, failing to win only ], and was the clear World No. 1 for the year. As during the previous year, King started 1973 inconsistently. She missed the first three Virginia Slims tournaments in January because of a wrist injury.<ref>"King bows in, on courts", ''Daily Review'', ], ], ], page 30</ref> She then lost in the third round at the Virginia Slims of ] tournament but won the Virginia Slims of ] tournament, defeating Court in the semifinals 6–7, 7–6, 6–3 and ] in the final. The semifinal victory ended Court's 12-tournament and 59-match winning streaks,<ref>"'Sweetie' upset for Billie Jean", ''Oakland Tribune'', ], ], page E27</ref> with King saving at least three match points when down 5–4 (40–0) in the second set. Indianapolis was followed by five tournaments that King failed to win (], ], ], ], and the inaugural ] in ]). King lost to Court in two of those tournaments. After deciding not to defend her ] singles title, King won four consecutive tournaments, including her fifth ] singles title when she defeated ] in the quarterfinals, ] in the semifinals on her eighth match point,<ref>"Evert Shatters Court, Sets Up American Finals", ''Abilene (Texas) Reporter-News'', ], ], page 2-C</ref> and ] in the final. King lost only nine points in the 6–0 bageling of Evert in the first set of their final.<ref></ref> In none of the preceding tournaments, however, did King play Court. Their rivalry resumed in the final of the Virginia Slims of ] tournament, where Court won for the third time in four matches against King in 1973. (This was the last ever singles match between those players, with Court winning 21 and King 13 of their 34 matches.) Three weeks later at the ], King retired from her fourth round match with ] while ill<ref>{{cite book |author=Starr, Cynthia; King, Billie Jean |title=We Have Come a Long Way: The Story of Women's Tennis |publisher=McGraw-Hill |location=New York |year=1988 |pages=144 |isbn=0-07-034625-9 |oclc= |doi=}}</ref> and suffering from the oppressive heat and humidity. When Heldman complained to the match umpire that King was taking too long between games, King reportedly said to Heldman, "If you want the match that badly, you can have it!"<ref>{{cite book |author=Hollander, Zander; Collins, Bud |title=Bud Collins' Modern Encyclopedia of Tennis |publisher=Visible Ink Press |location=Detroit, MI |year=1994 |pages=196 |isbn=081039443X |oclc= |doi=}}</ref> ] match against ] was held in the middle of the Virginia Slims of ] tournament. King won her first and second round matches three days before playing Riggs, defeated Riggs, won her quarterfinal match the day after the Riggs match, and then lost the following day to Casals in the semifinals 7–6, 6–1. According to King, "I had nothing left to give."<ref>{{cite book |author=Starr, Cynthia; King, Billie Jean |title=We Have Come a Long Way: The Story of Women's Tennis |publisher=McGraw-Hill |location=New York |year=1988 |pages=145 |isbn=0-07-034625-9 |oclc= |doi=}}</ref> To end the year, King won tournaments in ], ], and ] and was the runner-up in ].		King also completed the ] at Wimbledon (winning the singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles titles in the same year), thus becoming the first, and only, player to do so at Wimbledon in the Open Era. In none of the preceding tournaments, however, did King play Court. Their rivalry resumed in the final of the Virginia Slims of ] tournament, where Court won for the third time in four matches against King in 1973. (This was the last ever singles match between those players, with Court winning 21 and King 13 of their 34 matches.) Three weeks later at the ], King retired from her fourth-round match with Julie Heldman while ill<ref>{{cite book |author1=Starr, Cynthia |author2=King, Billie Jean |title=We Have Come a Long Way: The Story of Women's Tennis |publisher=McGraw-Hill |location=New York |year=1988 |page= |isbn=0-07-034625-9 |url=https://archive.org/details/wehavecomelongwa00king/page/144 }}</ref> and suffering from the oppressive heat and humidity. When Heldman complained to the match umpire that King was taking too long between games, King reportedly told Heldman, "If you want the match that badly, you can have it!"<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hollander |first1=Zander |last2=Collins |first2=Bud |author-link1=Zander Hollander |title=Bud Collins' Modern Encyclopedia of Tennis |publisher=Visible Ink Press |location=Detroit, Michigan |year=1994 |page= |isbn=0-8103-9443-X |url=https://archive.org/details/budcollinsmodern00coll/page/196 }}</ref> The Battle of the Sexes match against Bobby Riggs was held in the middle of the Virginia Slims of Houston tournament. King won her first and second round matches three days before playing Riggs, defeated Riggs, won her quarterfinal match the day after the Riggs match, and then lost the following day to Casals in the semifinals 7–6, 6–1. According to King, "I had nothing left to give."<ref>{{cite book |author1=Starr, Cynthia |author2=King, Billie Jean |title=We Have Come a Long Way: The Story of Women's Tennis |publisher=McGraw-Hill |location=New York |year=1988 |page= |isbn=0-07-034625-9 |url=https://archive.org/details/wehavecomelongwa00king/page/145 }}
			</ref> To end the year, King won tournaments in Phoenix, Hawaii, and Tokyo and was the runner-up in ].
	=====The Battle of the Sexes=====		=====Battle of the Sexes=====
			{{Main|Battle of the Sexes (tennis)}}
			]
			In 1973, King defeated ] in an exhibition match, winning $100,000 ($707,000 in 2024 terms<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.in2013dollars.com/us/inflation/1973?amount=1|title=$1 in 1973 → 2024 &#124; Inflation Calculator|website=www.in2013dollars.com}}</ref>).
			Riggs had been a top men's player in the 1930s and 1940s in both the amateur and professional ranks. He won the Wimbledon men's singles title in 1939, and was considered the World No. 1 male tennis player for 1941, 1946, and 1947. He then became a self-described tennis "hustler" who played in promotional challenge matches. Claiming that the women's game was so inferior to the men's game that even a 55-year-old like himself could beat the current top female players, he challenged and defeated ] 6–2, 6–1. King, who previously had rejected challenges from Riggs, then accepted a lucrative financial offer to play him for $100,000 in a winner-takes-all match.
	{{Main|The Battle of the Sexes (Tennis)}}
			Dubbed "the Battle of the Sexes", the Riggs–King match took place at the ] in Texas on September 20, 1973. The match garnered huge publicity. In front of 30,492 spectators and a television audience estimated at 50 million people (U.S.), and 90&nbsp;million in 37 countries, 29-year-old King beat the 55-year-old Riggs 6–4, 6–3, 6–3. The match is considered a significant event in developing greater recognition and respect for women's tennis. as King said to author and photographer ] in her book ''Particular Passions: Talks with Women who Have Shaped Our Times'', "I thought it would set us back 50 years if I didn't win that match. It would ruin the women's tour and affect all women's self-esteem,"<ref name="ESPN-BillieJean">{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/sportscentury/features/00016060.html|title=Billie Jean Won for All Women|last=Schwartz|first=Larry|access-date=February 15, 2007}}</ref> and that "to beat a 55-year-old guy was no thrill for me. The thrill was exposing a lot of new people to tennis."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gilbert |first=Lynn |title=Particular Passions: Billie Jean King |url=http://particularpassions.com/Excerpts.htm |series=Women of Wisdom Series |edition=1st |date=December 10, 2012 |publisher=] |location=New York |isbn=978-0517545942}}</ref>
	Despite King's achievements at the world's biggest tennis tournaments, the U.S. public best remembers King for her win over ] in 1973.
	Riggs had been a top men's player in the 1930s and 1940s in both the amateur and professional ranks. He won the ] men's singles title in 1939, and was considered the World No. 1 male tennis player for 1941, 1946, and 1947. He then became a self-described tennis "hustler" who played in promotional challenge matches. In 1973, he took on the role of male ]. Claiming that the women's game was so inferior to the men's game that even a 55-year-old like himself could beat the current top female players, he challenged and defeated ] 6–2, 6–1. King, who previously had rejected challenges from Riggs, then accepted a lucrative financial offer to play him.
	Dubbed the ], the Riggs-King match was played at the ] in ] on ], ]. The match garnered huge publicity. In front of 30,492 spectators and a worldwide television audience estimated at 50 million people in 37 countries, King beat Riggs 6–4, 6–3, 6–3. The match is considered a very significant event in developing greater recognition and respect for women's ]. King said, "I thought it would set us back 50 years if I didn't win that match. It would ruin the women's tour and affect all women's self-esteem."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00016060.html |title=Billie Jean won for all women |accessdate=2007-02-15}}</ref>
	In recent years, a persistent ] has arisen, particularly on the ], that the rules of tennis were modified for the match so that Riggs had only one serve for King's two and that King was allowed to hit into the doubles court area. This is untrue because the match was played under the normal rules of tennis.
	====1974====		====1974====
			King won five of the first seven tournaments she contested in 1974. She won the Virginia Slims of San Francisco, defeating Nancy Richey Gunter in the semi-finals and Chris Evert in the final. The following week in ], King again defeated Gunter in the semi-finals but lost to Evert in the final. King then won tournaments in ] and Detroit before losing a semi-final match to Virginia Wade in Chicago. King won both tournaments she played in March, defeating Gunter in the ] final and Evert at the ] final. ] then upset King in her next two tournaments, at Philadelphia in the final and at ] in a quarterfinal 7–5, 6–2. Afterward, King did not play a tour match until the ], where she won her fourth singles title and third in the last four years. She defeated Rosemary Casals in a straight sets quarterfinal, avenged in the semi-finals her previous year's loss to Julie Heldman, and narrowly defeated Evonne Goolagong in the final. King did not reach a tournament final during the remainder of the year, losing to Heldman in an ] semi-final, Wade in a Phoenix semi-final, and Goolagong in a semi-final of the tour-ending ] in Los Angeles.
	King won five of the first seven tournaments she contested in 1974. She won the Virginia Slims of ], defeating ] in the semifinals and ] in the final. The following week in ], King again defeated Gunter in the semifinals but lost to Evert in the final. King then won tournaments in ] and ] before losing a semifinal match to ] in ]. King won both tournaments she played in March, defeating Gunter in the ] final and Evert at the ] final. ] then upset King in her next two tournaments, at ] in the final and at ] in a quarterfinal 7–5, 6–2. Afterword, King did not play a tour match until the ], where she won her fourth singles title and third in the last four years. She defeated ] in a straight sets quarterfinal, avenged in the semifinals her previous year's loss to ], and narrowly defeated ] in the final. King did not reach a tournament final during the remainder of the year, losing to Heldman in an ] semifinal, Wade in a Phoenix semifinal, and Goolagong Cawley in a semifinal of the tour-ending ] in ].
	====1975====		====1975====
			In 1975, King played singles only half the year, as she retired (temporarily, as it turned out) from tournament singles competition immediately after winning her sixth ] singles title.
			She began the year in San Francisco, defeating Françoise Dürr and Virginia Wade before losing to Chris Evert in the final. The following week, King won the ] tournament, defeating Evert in the final 6–3, 6–2. Evert said immediately after the final, which was her thirteenth career match with King, "I think that's the best that Billie Jean has ever played. I hit some great shots but they just kept coming back at me."<ref>"Billie Jean Dumps Evert at Sarasota", ''Daily Times-News'', ], January 20, 1975, page 5B</ref> Looking back at that match, King said, "I probably played so well because I had to, for the money. Out of frustration comes creativity. Right?"<ref name="Mrs. Billie Jean King!" /> Two months later, Wade defeated King in the semi-finals of the Philadelphia tournament. At the ], tournament in April, King defeated Evonne Goolagong 6–1, 6–3 before losing to Evert in the final. As King was serving for the match at 6–5 in the third set, a disputed line call went in Evert's favor. King said after the match that she was cheated out of the match and that she had never been angrier about a match.<ref>"Cool Chris Edges Angry Billie Jean", ''Star-News'', ], April 21, 1975, page B-2</ref>
	In 1975, King played singles only half the year, as she retired (temporarily, as it turned out) from tournament singles competition immediately after winning her sixth ] singles title.
			King played only one of the Wimbledon warm-up tournaments, defeating Olga Morozova in the ] semi-finals before losing to Wade in the final. Seeded third at Wimbledon, King defeated seventh seeded Morozova in the quarterfinals (6–3, 6–3) and then top seeded Evert in the semi-finals (2–6, 6–2, 6–3) after being down 3–0 (40–15) in the final set.<ref name="Deford, Frank; King, Billie Jean 1982 95">{{cite book |author1=Deford, Frank |author2=King, Billie Jean |title=Billie Jean |publisher=Viking |location=New York, N.Y. |year=1982 |page= |isbn=0-670-47843-1 |url=https://archive.org/details/billiejean00king/page/95 }}</ref> Evert blamed her semifinal defeat on a loss of concentration when she saw ], her former fiancé, escorting ] into Centre Court. King, however, believes that the match turned around because King planned for and totally prepared for Wimbledon that year and told herself when she was on the verge of defeat, "Hey, Billie Jean, this is ridiculous. You paid the price. For once, you looked ahead. You're supposed to win. Get your bahoola in gear."<ref name="Deford, Frank; King, Billie Jean 1982 95" /> King then defeated fourth seeded Goolagong Cawley in the second most lopsided women's final ever at Wimbledon (6–0, 6–1). King called her performance a "near perfect match" and said to the news media, "I'm never coming back."<ref>{{cite book |author=Lannin, Joanne |title=Billie Jean King: Tennis Trailblazer |publisher=Lerner Publications Co |location=Minneapolis |year=1999 |page= |isbn=0-8225-4959-X |url=https://archive.org/details/billiejeankingte00lann/page/99 }}</ref>
	She began the year in ], defeating ] and ] before losing to ] in the final. The following week, King won the ] tournament, defeating Evert in the final 6–3, 6–2. Evert said immediately after the final, which was her thirteenth career match with King, "I think that's the best that Billie Jean has ever played. I hit some great shots but they just kept coming back at me."<ref>"Billie Jean Dumps Evert at Sarasota", ''Daily Times-News'', ], ], ], page 5B</ref> Looking back at that match, King said, "I probably played so well because I had to, for the money. Out of frustration comes creativity. Right?"<ref></ref> Two months later, Wade defeated King in the semifinals of the ] tournament. At the ] tournament in April, King defeated ] 6–1, 6–3 before losing to Evert in the final. As King was serving for the match at 6–5 in the third set, a disputed line call went in Evert's favor. King said after the match that she was cheated out of the match and that she had never been angrier about a match.<ref>"Cool Chris Edges Angry Billie Jean", ''Star-News'', ], ], ], page B-2</ref>
			===The later years: 1976–1990===
	King played only one of the ] warm-up tournaments, defeating ] in the ] semifinals before losing to Wade in the final. Seeded third at Wimbledon, King defeated seventh seeded Morozova in the quarterfinals (6–3, 6–3) and then top seeded Evert in the semifinals (2–6, 6–2, 6–3) after being down 3–0 (40–15) in the final set.<ref>{{cite book |author=Deford, Frank; King, Billie Jean |title=Billie Jean |publisher=Viking |location=New York, N.Y |year=1982 |pages=95 |isbn=0-670-47843-1 |oclc= |doi= |accessdate=}}</ref> Evert blamed her semifinal defeat on a loss of concentration when she saw ], her former fiance, escorting ] into ]. King, however, believes that the match turned around because King planned for and totally prepared for Wimbledon that year and told herself when she was on the verge of defeat, "Hey, Billie Jean, this is ridiculous. You paid the price. For once, you looked ahead. You're supposed to win. Get your bahoola in gear."<ref>{{cite book |author=Deford, Frank; King, Billie Jean |title=Billie Jean |publisher=Viking |location=New York, N.Y |year=1982 |pages=95 |isbn=0-670-47843-1 |oclc= |doi= |accessdate=}}</ref> King then defeated fourth seeded Goolagong Cawley in the second most lopsided women's final ever at Wimbledon (6–0, 6–1). King called her performance a "near perfect match" and said to the news media, "I'm never coming back."<ref>{{cite book |author=Lannin, Joanne |title=Billie Jean King: Tennis Trailblazer |publisher=Lerner Publications Co |location=Minneapolis |year=1999 |pages=99 |isbn=0-8225-4959-X |oclc= |doi=}}</ref>
	===The later years: 1976 through 1990===
	====1976====		====1976====
			Except for five Federation Cup singles matches that she won in straight sets in August, King played only in doubles and mixed doubles events from January through September. She partnered ] to the mixed doubles title at the US Open. She lost to ] in both of the singles tournaments she played the remainder of the year. Looking back, King said, "I wasted 1976. After watching Chris Evert and Evonne Cawley play the final at ] I asked myself what I was doing. So, despite my age and the operations, the Old Lady came back...."<ref>{{cite book |author1=Brace, Reginald |author2=King, Billie Jean |title=Play Better Tennis: With Billie Jean King and Reginald Brace |publisher=Octopus |year=1981 |page=16 |isbn= 0-7064-1223-0 }}</ref> King had knee surgery for the third time on November 9,<ref>"Billie Jean Undergoes Knee Surgery", ''Tyrone (Pennsylvania) Daily Herald'', November 10, 1976, page 12</ref> this time on her right knee,<ref>"King Will Resume Singles Competition", ''The Pocono Record'', Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, January 20, 1977, page 14</ref> and did not play the remainder of the year.
	Except for five ] singles matches that she won in straight sets in August, King played only in doubles and mixed doubles events from January through September. She partnered ] to the mixed doubles title at the ]. She lost to ] in both of the singles tournaments she played the remainder of the year. Looking back, King said, "I wasted 1976. After watching ] and Cawley]] play the final at ] I asked myself what I was doing. So, despite my age and the operations, the Old Lady came back...."<ref>{{cite book |author=Brace, Reginald; King, Billie Jean |title=Play Better Tennis: With Billie Jean King and Reginald Brace |publisher=Octopus |location= |year=1981 |pages=16 |isbn= 0706412230 |oclc= |doi=}}</ref> King had knee surgery for the third time on ],<ref>"Bille Jean Undergoes Knee Surgery", ''Tyrone (Pennsylvania) Daily Herald'', ], ], page 12</ref> this time on her right knee,<ref>"King Will Resume Singles Competition", ''The Pocono Record'', ], ], ], page 14</ref> and did not play the remainder of the year.
	====1977====		====1977====
			King spent the first three months of the year rehabilitating her right knee after surgery in November 1976.<ref>"King to Command McFarlin Spotlight", ''San Antonio Light'', March 21, 1977, page 1-B</ref>
			In March 1977, King requested that the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) exercise its right to grant a wild card entry to King for the eight-player Virginia Slims Championships at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Margaret Court, who finished in sixth place on the Virginia Slims points list, had left the tour due to her fourth pregnancy and thus failed to qualify for the tournament because she did not play enough Virginia Slims tournaments leading up to the championships. This left a spot open in the draw, which the WTA filled with ]. King then decided to play the Lionel Cup tournament in ], Texas, which the WTA harshly criticized because tournament officials there had allowed ], a ], to enter.<ref>"Billie Jean King returns to tennis action", ''The Independent Record'', Helena, Montana, March 23, 1977, page 10.</ref> Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, and ] (president of the WTA) criticized King's decision because of Richards's unresolved and highly controversial status on the women's tennis tour. Evert said she was disappointed with King and that until Richards's status was resolved, "all of the women should stick together." Navratilova said, "Billie Jean is a bad girl pouting. She made a bad decision. She's mad because she could not get what she wanted." Stöve said that if King had wanted the competition, "here are plenty of men around here she could've played with. She didn't have to choose a 'disputed' tournament."<ref>"Gals Continue to Snap at King", ''San Antonio Light'', March 25, 1977, page 4-E</ref> The draw in San Antonio called for King to play Richards in the semi-finals had form held; however, Richards lost in the quarterfinals. King eventually won the tournament.
	King spent the first three months of the year rehabilitating her right knee after surgery in November 1976.<ref>"King to Command McFarlin Spotlight", ''San Antonio Light'', ], ], page 1-B</ref>
			At the clay court Family Circle Cup in late March, King played for the last time her long-time rival Nancy Richey Gunter in the first round. King won 0–6, 7–6, 6–2. She defeated another clay court specialist, ], in the second round before winning only one game from Evert in the final.
	In March 1977, King requested that the ] (WTA) exercise its right to grand a wild card entry to King for the eight-player ] at ] in ]. ], who finished in sixth place on the Virginia Slims points list, failed to qualify for the tournament because she did not play enough Virginia Slims tournaments leading up to the championships. This left a spot open in the draw, which the WTA filled with ]. King then decided to play the Lionel Cup tournament in ], which the WTA harshly criticized because tournament officials there had allowed ] ] to enter.<ref>"Billie Jean King returns to tennis action", ''The Independent Record'', ], ], ], page 10.</ref> ], ], and ] (president of the WTA) criticized King's decision because of Richards's unresolved and highly controversial status on the women's tennis tour. Evert said she was disappointed with King and that until Richards's status was resolved, "all of the women should stick together." Navratilova said, "Billie Jean is a bad girl pouting. She made a bad decision. She's mad because she could not get what she wanted." Stöve said that if King had wanted the competition, "here are plenty of men around here she could've played with. She didn't have to choose a 'disputed' tournament."<ref>"Gals Coninue to Snap at King", ''San Antonio Light'', ], ], page 4-E</ref> The draw in San Antonio called for King to play Richards in the semifinals had form held; however, Richards lost in the quarterfinals. King eventually won the tournament.
			At ] in the third round, King played Maria Bueno for the last time, with King winning 6–2, 7–5. In the quarterfinals, Evert defeated King for the first time at a Grand Slam singles tournament and for the first time on grass 6–1, 6–2 in just 46 minutes. Evert said it was the best match she had ever played on grass up to that point in her career,<ref>"Evert Thrashes Former Queen, King With 6–1, 6–2 Win at Wimbledon", ''Galveston (Texas) News'', June 28, 1977, page B1</ref> and King said, "No excuses. Let's forget knees, ankles, toes, everything else. She just played beautiful tennis. I don't think many players would've beaten her today."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1946&dat=19770628&id=XJguAAAAIBAJ&pg=1064,2757618 | title=Evert Demolishes Billie Jean | newspaper=The Gazette | location=Montreal, Quebec, Canada | date=June 28, 1977 | access-date=August 26, 2017 | page=18}}</ref> King also said after the match, "Maybe I can be happy being number eight instead of number one. At this stage, just playing, that's winning enough for me."<ref>{{cite book | author=Lannon, Joanne | title=Billie Jean King: Tennis Trailblazer | publisher=Lerner Publications Company | location=Minneapolis | year=1999 | page= | isbn=0-8225-4959-X | url=https://archive.org/details/billiejeankingte00lann/page/101 }}</ref> But when asked about retirement, King said, "Retire? Quit tournament tennis? You gotta be kidding. It just means I've got a lot more work. I've got to make myself match tough ... mentally as well as physically. I gotta go out and kill myself for the next six months. It's a long, arduous process. I will suffer. But I will be back."<ref>"Tennis' Joe Frazier", ''Idaho State Journal'', Pocatello, Idaho, June 28, 1977, page A6</ref> There was a small historic note at Wimbledon 1977 in that it was the first time ever that King competed at the championships that she did not reach a final. From her debut in 1961 until 1976, she had played in the final of one of the three championship events for women every year. Perhaps there was irony in this in that as the Wimbledon champion with the most titles in its history, the event was celebrating its centenary in the year King failed to make a final for the first time. The only other years she competed at the championship and did not feature in a final were 1980 and 1982. In her entire Wimbledon career of 22 competitions, King never failed to be a semi-finalist in at least one event every year.<ref>Barrett, John. Wimbledon: The Official History. Vision Sports Publishing, 2014 (revised edition). {{ISBN|978-1-909534-23-0}}</ref>
	At the ] ] in late March, King played for the last time her long-time rival ] in the first round. King won 0–6, 7–6, 6–2. She defeated another clay court specialist, ], in the second round before winning only one game from Evert in the final.
			Evert repeated her Wimbledon quarterfinal victory over King at the clay court ], winning 6–2, 6–0. This loss prompted King to say, "I better get it together by October or November or that's it. I'll have to make some big decisions. I'm not 20-years-old and I can't just go out and change my game. It's only the last four weeks I haven't been in pain. I keep using that as a copout, I shouldn't play."<ref>"Comeback Soon Over for King?", ''News Tribune'', Fort Pierce, Florida, September 8, 1977, page 10</ref>
	At ] in the second round, King played ] for the last time, with King winning 6–2, 7–5. In the quarterfinals, Evert defeated King for the first time at a ] singles tournament and for the first time on ] 6–1, 6–2 in just 46 minutes. Evert said it was the best match she had ever played on grass up to that point in her career,<ref>"Evert Thrashes Former Queen, King With 6–1, 6–2 Win at Wimbledon", ''Galveston (Texas) News'', ], ], page B1</ref> and King said, "She just played beautiful tennis. I don't think many players would've beaten her today."<ref>Evert Drops King in Quarter-Finals", ''Wisconsin State Journal'', ], ], page 1, section 2</ref> King also said after the match, "Maybe I can be happy being number eight instead of number one. At this stage, just playing, that's winning enough for me."<ref>{{cite book |author=Lannin, Joanne |title=Billie Jean King: Tennis Trailblazer |publisher=Lerner Publications Co |location=Minneapolis |year=1999 |pages=101 |isbn=0-8225-4959-X |oclc= |doi=}}</ref> But when asked about retirement, King said, "Retire? Quit tournament tennis? You gotta be kidding. It just means I've got a lot more work. I've got to make myself match tough ... mentally as well as physically. I gotta go out and kill myself for the next six months. It's a long, arduous process. I will suffer. But I will be back."<ref>"Tennis' Joe Frazier", ''Idaho State Journal'', ], ], ], page A6</ref>
			The remainder of the year, King's win–loss record was 31–3, losing to only Evert, Dianne Fromholtz Balestrat, and ]. King won five of the eight tournaments she entered plus both of her Wightman Cup matches. She defeated Navratilova all four times they played, including three times in three consecutive weeks, and beat Wimbledon champion Virginia Wade twice. Beginning September 26, King played seven consecutive weeks. She lost to Tyler in the second round in ], and Fromholtz Balestrat in the semi-finals in ]. She then won three hard court tournaments in three consecutive weeks. She defeated Navratilova and ] to win in Phoenix, losing only four points to Turnbull in the third set of the final.<ref>"King Wins 1st Major Tourney in 2 Years", ''Raleigh Register'', Beckley, West Virginia, October 17, 1977, page 8</ref> The next week, she defeated Navratilova, Fromholtz Balestrat, and Wimbledon runner-up Stöve to win in ]. The third week, she defeated Ruzici, Stöve, and ] Wright to win in San Juan. In November, Evert snapped King's 18-match winning streak in the final of the Colgate Series Championships in ]. King then won her Wightman Cup matches, defeated Navratilova to win the tournament in Japan, and beat Wade to win the Bremar Cup in London. King said, "I have never had a run like this, even in the years when I was Wimbledon champion. At 34, I feel fitter than when I was 24."<ref>"King, Wade London Finalists", ''Star-News'', Pasadena, California, December 11, 1977, page D-7</ref>
	Evert repeated her Wimbledon quarterfinal victory over King at the clay court ], winning 6–2, 6–0. This loss prompted King to say, "I better get it together by October or November or that's it. I'll have to make some big decisions. I'm not 20-years-old and I can't just go out and change my game. It's only the last four weeks I haven't been in pain. I keep using that as a copout, I shouldn't play."<ref>"Comeback Soon Over for King?", ''News Tribune'', ], ], ], page 10</ref>
	The remainder of the year, King's win-loss record was 31–3, losing only to Evert, ], and . King won five of the eight tournaments she entered plus both of her ] matches. She defeated Navratilova all four times they played, including three times in three consecutive weeks, and beat ] champion ] twice. Beginning ], King played seven consecutive weeks. She lost to Tyler in the second round in ] and Fromholtz Balestrat in the semifinals in ]. She then won three ] tournaments in three consecutive weeks. She defeated Navratilova and ] to win in ], losing only four points to Turnbull in the third set of the final.<ref>"King Wins 1st Major Tourney in 2 Years", ''Raleigh Register'', ], ], ], page 8</ref> The next week, she defeated Navratilova, Fromholtz Balestrat, and Wimbledon runner-up Stöve to win in ]. The third week, she defeated Ruzici, Stöve, and to win in ]. In November, Evert snapped King's 18-match winning streak in the final of the Colgate Series Championships in ]. King then won her Wightman Cup matches, defeated Navratilova to win the tournament in ], and beat Wade to win the Bremar Cup in ]. King said, "I have never had a run like this, even in the years when I was Wimbledon champion. At 34 I feel fitter than when I was 24."<ref>"King, Wade London Finalists", ''Star-News'', ], ], ], page D-7</ref>
	====1978====		====1978====
			] (1978)]]
	King played 10 singles tournaments during the first half of 1978, limiting herself to doubles after ].		King played ten singles tournaments during the first half of 1978, limiting herself to doubles after Wimbledon.
	To start the year, King was the runner-up in ] and ] (losing to ] in both) and in ] (losing to ]). At the ], King lost her first round robin match to ] and defaulted her two remaining round robin matches because of a leg injury sustained during the first match.		To start the year, King was the runner-up in Houston and ] (losing to Martina Navratilova in both) and in Philadelphia (losing to Chris Evert). At the Virginia Slims Championships, King lost her first round robin match to Virginia Wade and defaulted her two remaining round robin matches because of a leg injury sustained during the first match.
	At ], King played with a painful heel spur in her left foot and lost to Evert in the quarterfinals for the second consecutive year 6–3, 3–6, 6–2. The match was on-serve in the third set with King serving at 2–3 (40–0) before Evert won five consecutive points to break serve. King won a total of only two points during the last two games. King said after the match, "I don't think my mobility is very good and that's what I need to beat her. Physically, she tears your guts apart unless you can stay with her. I'm really disappointed. I really wanted to play well. I just couldn't cut it because of my heel."<ref>"Evert Enters Grudge Match With Wade", ''Galveston (Texas) Daily News'', ], ], page 1-B</ref>		At ], King played with a painful heel spur in her left foot and lost to Evert in the quarterfinals for the second consecutive year 6–3, 3–6, 6–2. The match was on-serve in the third set with King serving at 2–3 (40–0) before Evert won five consecutive points to break serve. King won a total of only two points during the last two games. King said after the match, "I don't think my mobility is very good and that's what I need to beat her. Physically, she tears your guts apart unless you can stay with her. I'm really disappointed. I really wanted to play well. I just couldn't cut it because of my heel."<ref>"Evert Enters Grudge Match With Wade", ''Galveston (Texas) Daily News'', July 5, 1978, page 1-B</ref> King and her partner ] lost in the final of mixed doubles in straight sets.
	King teamed with Navratilova to win the women's doubles title at the ], King's fourth women's doubles title at that tournament and 14th ] women's doubles title overall. To end the year, King was undefeated in five doubles matches (four with Evert and one with ]) as the U.S. won the ] in ]. During the Federation Cup competition, King hinted at retirement from future major singles competitions and said that she was "sick and tired of continued surgery" in trying to get fit enough for those events.<ref>"U.S. wins Federation Cup opener", ''European Stars and Stripes'', ], ], page 28</ref> Nevertheless, King had foot surgery on ] in an attempt to regain mobility for a return to the tennis tour.<ref>"Surgery for King", ''Valley Independent'', ], ], ], page 9</ref>		King teamed with Navratilova to win the women's doubles title at the US Open, King's fourth women's doubles title at that tournament and fourteenth Grand Slam women's doubles title overall. To end the year, King was undefeated in five doubles matches (four with Evert and one with Rosemary Casals) as the U.S. won the Federation Cup in Melbourne, Australia. She also teamed with ] in the ] against Great Britain, beating ] & ] in the best of seven rubbers, despite the US losing the Cup 3–4. During the Federation Cup competition, King hinted at retirement from future major singles competitions and said that she was "sick and tired of continued surgery" in trying to get fit enough for those events.<ref>"U.S. wins Federation Cup opener", ''European Stars and Stripes'', November 29, 1978, page 28</ref> Nevertheless, King had foot surgery on December 22 in an attempt to regain mobility for a return to the tennis tour.<ref>"Surgery for King", ''Valley Independent'', Monessen, Pennsylvania, December 22, 1978, page 9</ref>
	====1979====		====1979====
			During the first half of 1979, King played only one event – doubles in the Federation Cup tie against Spain – because of major surgery to her left foot during December 1978.
			King returned to singles competition at the Wimbledon warm-up tournament in ]. She defeated the reigning Wimbledon champion, Martina Navratilova, in a 48-minute quarterfinal 6–1, 6–2<ref>"Sports Shorts", ''The Capital'', Annapolis, Maryland, June 16, 1979, page 25</ref> before losing to Evonne Goolagong Cawley in the semi-finals 1–6, 6–4, 10–8. Seeded seventh at ], King defeated ] in the fourth round before losing the last six games<ref>{{Cite news|last=Radosta| first=John S.|author-link=John S. Radosta | title=Tracy Austin Ousts Mrs. King, 6–4, 6–7, 6–2 | newspaper=The New York Times | date=July 3, 1979}}</ref> of the quarterfinal match with fourth-seeded ] 6–4, 6–7(5), 6–2. King partnered with Navratilova at Wimbledon to win King's 20th and final Wimbledon title, breaking ]'s longstanding record of 19 Wimbledon titles just one day after Ryan collapsed and died at Wimbledon.<ref>"Ryan dies at Wimbledon", ''The News'', Frederick, Maryland, July 7, 1979, page D-2</ref>
	During the first half of 1979, King played only one event - doubles in the ] tie against Spain - because of major surgery to her left foot during December 1978.
			At the ], the ninth-seeded King reached the quarterfinals without dropping a set, where she upset the fourth-seeded Virginia Wade 6–3, 7–6(4). Next up was a semi-final match with the four-time defending champion and top-seeded Chris Evert; however, with King hampered by a neck injury sustained during a bear hug with a friend the day before the match, Evert won 6–1, 6–0, including the last eleven games and 48 of the last 63 points.<ref name = "Amdur-19790908">{{Cite news| last=Amdur| first=Neil| title=Injured Mrs. King Is Routed By Mrs. Lloyd in Semi-finals|newspaper=The New York Times|date=September 8, 1979}}</ref> This was Evert's eighth consecutive win over King, with Evert during those matches losing only one set and 31 games and winning four 6–0 sets.<ref name = "Amdur-19790908" /> Evert said after the match, "Psychologically, I feel very confident when I ... play her."<ref name = "Amdur-19790908" />
	King returned to singles competition at the ] warm-up tournament in ]. She defeated the defending Wimbledon champion, ], in a 48-minute quarterfinal 6–1, 6–2<ref>"Sports Shorts", ''The Capital'', ], ], ], page 25</ref> before losing to ] in the semifinals 1–6, 6–4, 10–8. Seeded seventh at ], King defeated ] in the fourth round before losing the last six games<ref>{{Citation|last=Radosta| first=John S.|author-link=John S. Radosta|title=Tracy Austin Ousts Mrs. King, 6–4, 6–7, 6–2|newspaper=The New York Times|date=], ]|year=1979|month=July}}</ref> of the quarterfinal match with fourth-seeded ] 6–4, 6–7(5), 6–2. King partnered with Navratilova at Wimbledon to win King's 20th and final Wimbledon title, breaking ] longstanding record of 19 Wimbledon titles just one day after Ryan collapsed and died at Wimbledon.<ref>"Ryan dies at Wimbledon", ''The News'', ], ], ], page D-2</ref>
			The following week in Tokyo, King won her first singles title in almost two years, defeating Goolagong Cawley in the final. In November in Stockholm, King defeated Betty Stöve in the final after Stöve lost her concentration while serving for the match at 5–4 in the third set.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Brace, Reginald |author2=King, Billie Jean |title=Play Better Tennis: With Billie Jean King and Reginald Brace | publisher=Octopus |year=1981 |page=46 |isbn= 0-7064-1223-0}}</ref> Three weeks later in Brighton, King lost a semi-final match with Navratilova 7–5, 0–6, 7–6(3) after King led 6–5 in the third set.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Navratilova-Lloyd Final|newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 25, 1979}}</ref> She ended the year with a quarterfinal loss in Melbourne (not the Australian Open), a second round loss in Sydney, and a three-set semi-final loss to Austin in Tokyo.
	At the ], the ninth-seeded King reached the quarterfinals without dropping a set, where she upset the fourth-seeded ] 6–3, 7–6(4). Next up was a semifinal match with the four-time defending champion and top-seeded ]; however, with King hampered by a neck injury sustained during a bear hug with a friend the day before the match, Evert won 6–1, 6–0, including the last eleven games and 48 of the last 63 points.<ref name = "Amdur-19790908">{{Citation|last=Amdur| first=Neil|author-link=Neil Amdur|title=Injured Mrs. King Is Routed By Mrs. Lloyd in Semifinals|newspaper=The New York Times|date=], ]|year=1979|month=September}}</ref> This was Evert's eighth consecutive win over King, with Evert during those matches losing only one set and 31 games and winning four 6–0 sets.<ref name = "Amdur-19790908"/> Evert said after the match, "Psychologically, I feel very confident when I ... play her."<ref name = "Amdur-19790908"/>
			====1980–1981====
	The following week in ], King won her first singles title in almost two years, defeating Goolagong Cawley in the final. In November in ], King defeated ] in the final after Stöve lost her concentration while serving for the match at 5–4 in the third set.<ref>{{cite book |author=Brace, Reginald; King, Billie Jean |title=Play Better Tennis: With Billie Jean King and Reginald Brace |publisher=Octopus |location= |year=1981 |pages=46 |isbn= 0706412230 |oclc= |doi=}}</ref> Three weeks later in ], King lost a semifinal match with Navratilova 7–5, 0–6, 7–6(3) after King led 6–5 in the third set.<ref>{{Citation|title=Navratilova-Lloyd Final|newspaper=The New York Times|date=], ]|year=1979|month=November}}</ref> She ended the year with a quarterfinal loss in Melbourne (not the ]), a second round loss in ], and a three-set semifinal loss to Austin in Tokyo.
			King won the tournament in Houston that began in February, snapping Martina Navratilova's 28-match winning streak in the straight-sets final.<ref name=advance>Martina and Billie advance", ''Daily Press'', Escanaba, Michigan, March 20, 1980, page 3-B</ref>
			At the winter series-ending Avon Championships in March, King defeated Virginia Wade in her first round robin match 6–1, 6–3. After Wade held serve at love to open the match, King won nine consecutive games and lost only nine points during those games.<ref name=advance/> King then lost her second round robin match to Navratilova and defeated Wendy Turnbull in an elimination round match, before losing to Tracy Austin in the semi-finals
	====1980====
			King played the 1980 French Open, her first time since she won the event in 1972 and completed a career singles Grand Slam.<ref>{{Cite book |last=King |first=Billie Jean |url=http://archive.org/details/autobiographyofb0000king |title=The autobiography of Billie Jean King |date=1982 |publisher=London; New York : Granada |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-0-246-11792-2}}</ref>{{Citation needed|date=September 2017}} She was seeded second but lost in the quarterfinals to fifth-seeded ] Balestrat of Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/SEWTATour-Archive/Archive/Draws/1980/903.pdf|title=WTA Tournament Archives|website=WTA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424043911/http://www.wtatennis.com/SEWTATour-Archive/Archive/Draws/1980/903.pdf|archive-date=April 24, 2016|access-date=September 23, 2017}}</ref>
	King won the tournament in ] that began in late February, snapping ] 28-match winning streak in the straight-sets final.<ref>Martina and Billie advance", ''Daily Press'', ], ], ], page 3-B</ref>
			At ], King defeated ] in a two-hour, forty minute fourth round match after King saved a match point in the second set and recovered from a 4–2 (40–0) deficit in the third set with Shriver serving.<ref>"This Is a Wimbly to Remember for Veteran King", ''Abilene (Texas) Reporter-News'', July 1, 1980, page 1-C</ref> In a quarterfinal that took two days to complete, King lost to two-time defending champion and top-seeded Navratilova 7–6, 1–6, 10–8. The beginning of the match was delayed until late afternoon because of rain. Because she wore glasses, King agreed to start the match then on condition that tournament officials immediately suspend the match if the rain resumed. During the first set, drizzle began to fall; however, the chair umpire refused to suspend the match. King led in the tiebreaker 5–1 before Navratilova came back to win the set, whereupon the umpire then agreed to the suspension. When the match resumed the next day, King won 20 of the first 23 points to take a 5–0 lead in the second set and lost a total of seven points while winning the set in just 17 minutes. In the third set, Navratilova broke serve to take a 2–0 lead before King broke back twice and eventually served for the match at 6–5. King then hit four volley errors, enabling Navratilova to break serve at love and even the match. King saved three match points while serving at 6–7 and three more match points while serving at 7–8. During the change-over between games at 8–9, King's glasses broke for the first time in her career. She had a spare pair, but they did not feel the same. King saved two match points before Navratilova broke serve to win the match. King said, "I think that may be the single match in my career that I could have won if I hadn't had bad eyes."<ref>{{cite book |author1=Deford, Frank |author2=King, Billie Jean |title=Billie Jean |publisher=Viking |location=New York, N.Y. |year=1982 |page= |isbn=0-670-47843-1 |url=https://archive.org/details/billiejean00king/page/82 }}</ref><ref>"Navratilova downs veteran King", ''Daily Intelligencer'', Doylestown, Pennsylvania, July 2, 1980, page 21</ref><ref>"Martina Edges King; Borg, Connors Win", ''Syracuse (New York) Herald-Journal'', July 2, 1980, page C-1</ref>
	At the winter series-ending ] in March, King defeated ] in her first round robin match 6–1, 6–3. After Wade held serve at love to open the match, King won nine consecutive games and lost only nine points during those games.<ref>Martina and Billie advance", ''Daily Press'', ], ], ], page 3-B</ref> King then lost her second round robin match to Navratilova and defeated ] in an elimination round match, before losing to ] in the semifinals 6–3, 6–1.
			King teamed with Navratilova to win King's 39th and final Grand Slam title at the US Open. Navratilova then decided she wanted a new doubles partner and started playing with Shriver but refused to discuss the change directly with King. She finally confronted Navratilova during the spring of 1981, reportedly saying to her, "Tell me I'm too old ... but tell me something." Navratilova refused to talk about it.<ref>{{cite book |author=Lannin, Joanne |title=Billie Jean King: Tennis Trailblazer |publisher=Lerner Publications Co |location=Minneapolis |year=1999 |page= |isbn=0-8225-4959-X |url=https://archive.org/details/billiejeankingte00lann/page/103 }}</ref>
	King played the ] for the first time since she won the event in 1972 and completed a career singles ]. She was seeded second but lost in the quarterfinals to fifth-seeded ] of ] 6–1, 6–4.
			King had minor knee surgery on November 14 in San Francisco to remove adhesions and cartilage.<ref>"Surgery for King", ''Valley Independent'', Monessen, Pennsylvania, November 15, 1980, page 6</ref>
	At ], King defeated ] in a two hour, forty minute fourth round match 5–7, 7–6, 10–8 after King saved a match point in the second set and recovered from a 4–2 (40–0) deficit in the third set with Shriver serving.<ref>"This Is a Wimbly to Remember for Veteran King", ''Abilene (Texas) Reporter-News'', ], ], page 1-C</ref> In a quarterfinal that took two days to complete, King lost to two-time defending champion and top-seeded Navratilova 7–6, 1–6, 10–8. The beginning of the match was delayed until late afternoon because of rain. Because she wore eyeglasses, King agreed to start the match then on condition that tournament officials immediately suspend the match if the rain resumed. During the first set, drizzle began to fall; however, the chair umpire refused to suspend the match. King led in the tiebreaker 5–1 before Navratilova came back to win the set, whereupon the umpire then agreed to the suspension. When the match resumed the next day, King won 20 of the first 23 points to take a 5–0 lead in the second set and lost a total of seven points while winning the set in just 17 minutes. In the third set, Navratilova broke serve to take a 2–0 lead before King broke back twice and eventually served for the match at 6–5. King then hit four volley errors, enabling Navratilova to break serve at love and even the match. King saved three match points while serving at 6–7 and three more match points while serving at 7–8. During the change-over between games at 8–9, King's eyeglasses broke for the first time in her career. She had a spare pair, but they did not feel the same. King saved two match points before Navratilova broke serve to win the match. King said, "I think that may be the single match in my career that I could have won if I hadn't had bad eyes."<ref>{{cite book |author=Deford, Frank; King, Billie Jean |title=Billie Jean |publisher=Viking |location=New York, N.Y |year=1982 |pages= 82|isbn=0-670-47843-1 |oclc= |doi= |accessdate=}}</ref> <ref>"Navratilova downs veteran King", ''Daily Intelligencer'', ], ], ], page 21</ref> <ref>"Martina Edges King; Borg, Connors Win", ''Syracuse (New York) Herald-Journal'', ], ], page C-1</ref>
			====1982–1983====
	King teamed with Navratilova to win King's 39th and final ] title at the ]. Navratilova then decided she wanted a new doubles partner and started playing with Shriver but refused to discuss the change directly with King. She finally confronted Navratilova during the spring of 1981, reportedly saying to her, "Tell me I'm too old ... but tell me something." Navratilova refused to talk about it.<ref>{{cite book |author=Lannin, Joanne |title=Billie Jean King: Tennis Trailblazer |publisher=Lerner Publications Co |location=Minneapolis |year=1999 |pages=103 |isbn=0-8225-4959-X |oclc= |doi=}}</ref>
			In 1982, King began a comeback, winning the Wimbledon warm-up tournament the ] in Birmingham, her first singles title in more than two years. King was 38 years old and the twelfth-seed at ]. In her third round match with ] of South Africa, King was down 7–5, 5–4 (40–0) before Harford's apparent winner was deemed 'not up' by the umpire, something the South African protested vehemently. King then saved the next two match points<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,925571-2,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209080405/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,925571-2,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 9, 2008 |title=Wimbledon Under the Weather |magazine=Time |date=July 12, 1982 |access-date=July 4, 2011}}</ref> to win the second set 7–6(2) and then the third set 6–3. King said in her post-match press conference, "I can't recall the previous time I have been so close to defeat and won. When I was down 4–5 and love–40, I told myself, 'You have been here 21 years, so use that experience and hang on.{{' "}}<ref>Associated Press, June 27, 1982</ref> In the fourth round, King upset sixth-seeded Australian Wendy Turnbull in straight sets. King then upset third-seeded Tracy Austin in the quarterfinals 3–6, 6–4, 6–2 to become the oldest female semi-finalist at Wimbledon since ] in 1920. This was King's first career victory over Austin after five defeats and reversed the result of their 1979 Wimbledon quarterfinal. King said in her post-match press conference, "Today, I looked at the scoreboard when I was 2–0 in the third set and the '2' seemed to be getting bigger and bigger. In 1979, when I was up 2–0 at the same stage, I was tired and didn't have anything left. But today I felt so much better and was great mentally."<ref>Associated Press, July 1, 1982</ref> Two days later in the semi-finals, which was King's 250th career match at Wimbledon in singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles,<ref>Knight-Ridder Wire, July 3, 1982</ref> the second-seeded Chris Evert defeated King on her fifth match point 7–6(4), 2–6, 6–3. King was down a set and 2–1 in the second set before winning five consecutive games to even the match.<ref>Associated Press, July 3, 1982</ref> King explained that she actually lost the match in the first set by failing to convert break points at 15–40 in the second and fourth games.<ref>''Dallas Morning News'', "Lloyd spoils King's hopes", July 3, 1982, pages 1B, 9B</ref><ref>''Dallas Times Herald'', "Evert stops King rally in Wimbledon replay", July 3, 1982, page B-7</ref> Having started the year in retirement, King finished 1982 ranked 14 in the world.
			In 1983, she reached the semi-finals in her final appearance at ], losing to ] 6–1, 6–1 after beating ] in the quarterfinals, seventh-seeded Wendy Turnbull in the fourth round, and Rosemary Casals, her longtime doubles partner, in the third round. Jaeger claims that she was highly motivated to defeat King because King had defeated Turnbull, a favorite of Jaeger's, and because King refused a towel from an attendant just before her match with Jaeger, explaining, "I'm not going to sweat in this match."
	King had minor knee surgery on ] in ] to remove adhesions and cartilage.<ref>"Surgery for King", ''Valley Independent'', ], ], ], page 6</ref>
			King became the oldest WTA player to win a singles tournament when she won the ] grass court tournament in Birmingham at 39 years, 7 months and 23 days after a straight-sets victory in the final against ].<ref>{{cite news|title=Billie Jean King retained the $90,000 Edgbaston Women's Tennis...|url=http://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/06/12/Billie-Jean-King-retained-the-90000-Edgbaston-Womens-Tennis/5479424238400/|work=UPI|date=June 12, 1983}}</ref> Her tally of 20 Wimbledon titles remained when partnered with ] and the no.1 seeds in the ], they lost 6–7(5–7), 7–6(7–5), 7–5 to ] & ] in the final, King being the only player to drop her service in the final game. At her final appearance at the ] later in 1983, King didn't play singles, but partnered ] in the ], reaching the semi-finals and ] in the ], losing in the second round. The final official singles match of King's career was a second round loss to ] at the ].
	====1982====
			====1984 to present====
	In 1982, King was 38 years old and the twelfth-seed at ]. In her third round match with of ], King was down 7–5, 5–4 (40–0) before saving three match points<ref></ref> to win the second set 7–6(2) and then the third set 6–3. King said in her post-match press conference, "I can't recall the previous time I have been so close to defeat and won. When I was down 4–5 and love-40, I told myself, 'You have been here 21 years, so use that experience and hang on.'"<ref>Associated Press, ], ]</ref> In the fourth round, King upset sixth-seeded Australian ] in straight sets. King then upset third-seeded ] in the quarterfinals 3–6, 6–4, 6–2 to became the oldest female semifinalist at ] since ] in 1920. This was King's first career victory over Austin after five defeats and reversed the result of their 1979 Wimbledon quarterfinal. King said in her post-match press conference, "Today, I looked at the scoreboard when I was 2–0 in the third set and the '2' seemed to be getting bigger and bigger. In 1979, when I was up 2–0 at the same stage, I was tired and didn't have anything left. But today I felt so much better and was great mentally."<ref>Associated Press, ], ]</ref> Two days later in the semifinals, which was King's 250th career match at Wimbledon in singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles,<ref>Knight-Ridder Wire, ], ]</ref> the second-seeded ] defeated King on her fifth match point 7–6(4), 2–6, 6–3. King was down a set and 2–1 in the second set before winning five consecutive games to even the match.<ref>Associated Press, ], ]</ref> King explained that she actually lost the match in the first set by failing to convert break points at 15–40 in the second and fourth games.<ref>''Dallas Morning News,'' "Lloyd spoils King's hopes", ], ], pages 1B, 9B; ''Dallas Times Herald,'' "Evert stops King rally in Wimbledon replay", ], ], page B-7</ref>
			King played doubles sporadically from 1984 through 1990. She and ] were seeded sixth for the ], but they withdrew before the tournament began. She retired from competitive play in doubles in March 1990. In her last competitive doubles match, King and her partner, ], lost a second round match to ] and ] 6–3, 6–2 at the Virginia Slims of Florida tournament.
			King became the captain of the United States Fed Cup team and coach of its women's Olympic tennis squad. She guided the U.S. to the Fed Cup championship in 1996 and helped ], ], and ] capture Olympic gold medals.
	====1983====
			In 2002, King dismissed Capriati from the Fed Cup team, saying Capriati had violated rules that forbade bringing along and practicing with personal coaches.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-apr-27-sp-capriati27-story.html|title=King Dismisses Capriati From Fed Cup|last=Dillman|first=Lisa|date=April 27, 2002|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=October 15, 2017|issn=0458-3035}}</ref> Opinion was sharply divided, with many supporting King's decision but many feeling the punishment was too harsh, especially in hindsight when ] and ] were defeated by lower-ranked Austrians ] and ]. The following year, ] succeeded King as Fed Cup captain.
	King retired from competitive play in singles at the end of 1983.
			===Activism within the tennis profession===
	She reached the semifinals in her final appearance at ], losing to ] 6–1, 6–1 after beating ] in the quarterfinals, seventh-seeded ] in the fourth round, and ], her longtime doubles partner, in the third round. Jaeger claims that she was highly motivated to defeat King because King had defeated Turnbull, a favorite of Jaeger's, and because King refused a towel from an attendant just before her match with Jaeger, explaining, "I'm not going to sweat in this match."<ref></ref>
			==== Player compensation ====
	The final official singles match of King's career was a second round 7–6, 4–6, 6–4 loss to ] at the ].
			Before the start of the ] in 1968, King earned US$100 a week as a playground instructor and student at ] when not playing in major tennis tournaments.<ref name="ESPN-BillieJean" />
			In 1967, King criticized the United States Lawn Tennis Association (USLTA) in a series of press conferences, denouncing what she called the USLTA's practice of "shamateurism", where top players were paid under the table to guarantee their entry into tournaments. King argued that this was corrupt and kept the game highly elitist. King quickly became a significant force in the opening of tennis to professionalism. King said this about the amateur game:
	====1984–1990====
			{{blockquote|In America, tennis players are not people. If you are in tennis, you are a cross between a panhandler and a visiting in-law. You're not respected, you're tolerated. In England, you're respected as an artist. In Europe, you're a person of importance. ] gets decorated by ]. The ] leads the applause. How many times have I been presented at the ]? You work all your life to win Wimbledon and Forest Hills and all the people say is, "That's nice. Now what are you going to do with your life?" They don't ask ] that. Stop 12 people on the street and ask them who ] is and they're stuck for an answer, but they know the third-string right guard for the ]. I'd like to see tennis get out of its "sissy" image and see some guy yell, "Hit it, ya bum" and see it be a game you don't have to have a ] or a sash across your tuxedo to get in to watch.<ref>"Huck Finn of Tennis: That's Billie Jean", ''Oakland Tribune'', September 26, 1967, page 38</ref>}}
	King played doubles sporadically from 1984 through 1990. She retired from competitive play in doubles in March 1990. In her last competitive doubles match, King and her partner, ], lost a second round match to ] and ] 6–3, 6–2 at the ] of Florida tournament.
			==== Push for female equality ====
	===Furthering the tennis profession===
			When the open era began, King campaigned for equal prize money in the men's and women's games. In 1971, her husband, ] created the idea to form a nine player women's group with the financial backing of ''World Tennis'' magazine founder ] and the sponsorship of Virginia Slims chairman ]. King became the first woman athlete to earn over US$100,000 in prize money;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.billiejeanking.com/fact.aspx |title=BJK Firsts and Facts |publisher=Billiejeanking.com |date=August 12, 2009 |access-date=July 4, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100324004643/http://www.billiejeanking.com/fact.aspx |archive-date=March 24, 2010 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> however, inequalities continued. King won the US Open in 1972 but received US$15,000 less than the men's champion ]. She stated that she would not play the next year if the prize money was not equal. In 1973, the US Open became the first major tournament to offer equal prize money for men and women.
			King led player efforts to support the first professional women's tennis tour in the 1970s called the Virginia Slims, founded by Gladys Heldman and funded by ] of ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.budcollinstennis.com/buds-notes/notes-gladysh03.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513165717/http://www.budcollinstennis.com/buds-notes/notes-gladysh03.html|url-status=dead|title=Bud Collins on Gladys Heldman|archive-date=May 13, 2008}}</ref> Once the tour took flight, King worked tirelessly to promote it even though many of the other top players were not supportive. "For three years we had two tours and because of their governments Navratilova and Olga Morozova had to play the other tour. Chris , Margaret , Virginia , they let us do the pioneering work and they weren't very nice to us. If you go back and look at the old quotes; they played for the love of the game, we played for the money. When we got backing and money, we were all playing together – I wonder why? I tried not to get upset with them. Forgiveness is important. Our job was to have one voice and win them over."<ref name = "TimesOnline-20071209">Walsh, David (December 9, 2007) . ''Sunday Times''.</ref>
	Before the start of the ] in 1968, King earned ]100 a week as a playground instructor and student at ] when not playing in major tennis tournaments.
			In 1973, King became the first president of the women's players union – the Women's Tennis Association. In 1974, she, with husband Larry King and ], founded '']'' magazine and started the Women's Sports Foundation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/cgi-bin/iowa/about/article.html?record=86|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013152332/http://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/cgi-bin/iowa/about/article.html?record=86|url-status=dead|title=Billie Jean King: Founder, Leader, Legend|archive-date=October 13, 2007}}</ref> Also in 1974, ] began, founded by Larry King, Dennis Murphy, Frank Barman and Jordan Kaiser.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wtt.com/page.aspx?article_id=64 |title=Billie Jean King co-founder |publisher=Wtt.com |access-date=July 4, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721042537/http://www.wtt.com/page.aspx?article_id=64 |archive-date=July 21, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> She became league commissioner in 1982 and major owner in 1984.
	In 1967, King criticized the ] (USLTA) in a series of press conferences, denouncing what she called the USLTA's practice of "shamateurism", where top players were paid under the table to guarantee their entry into tournaments. King argued that this was corrupt and kept the game highly elitist. King quickly became a significant force in the opening of tennis to professionalism. King said this about the amateur game,
			King is a member of the Board of Honorary Trustees for the ],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thesportsmuseum.com/about_board.html |title=Board of Honorary Trustees |publisher=Thesportsmuseum.com |access-date=July 4, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717032433/http://www.thesportsmuseum.com/about_board.html |archive-date=July 17, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> which opened in 2008. The museum is the home of the Billie Jean King International Women's Sports Center, a comprehensive women's sports hall of fame and exhibit.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thesportsmuseum.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130507141236/http://www.thesportsmuseum.com/experience_bjk.html|url-status=dead|title=thesportsmuseum.com|archive-date=May 7, 2013|website=www.thesportsmuseum.com}}</ref>
	{{quote|In America, tennis players are not people. If you are in tennis, you are a cross between a panhandler and a visiting in-law. You're not respected, you're tolerated. In ], you're respected as an artist. In ], you're a person of importance. ] gets decorated by ]. The ] leads the applause. How many times have I been presented at the ]? You work all your life to win ] and ] and all the people say is, "That's nice. Now what are you going to do with your life?" They don't ask ] that. Stop 12 people on the street and ask them who ] is and they're stuck for an answer, but they know the third-string right guard for the ]. I'd like to see tennis get out of its "sissy" image and see some guy yell, "Hit it, ya bum" and see it be a game you don't have to have a ] or a sash across your tuxedo to get in to watch.<ref>"Huck Finn of Tennis: That's Billie Jean", ''Oakland Tribune'', ], ], page 38</ref>}}
			Billie Jean King through her various efforts has been said to have started the second wave of feminism. Not just for women in sports, but for women everywhere, Kings triumphs have led to greater opportunities . For example, it is said that “In a single tennis match, Billie Jean King was able to do more for the cause of women than most feminists can achieve in a lifetime” (Paule-Koba). Kings win against Bobby Riggs, one of the greatest male tennis players of their time, was not just a win for herself, but a win for women everywhere. After Riggs sexist comments leading up to the match, King realized she had a lot more to win the match for then a trophy. “Billie Jean King was the rare athlete who brought together sport and feminism, and, in doing so, she put a human face on the ideals of liberal feminism” (Paule-Koba). Since her win against Riggs, King has started her own tour for women to create equal pay for them, influenced and aided the title IX legislation, and helped create the Women's sports foundation known as womenSports and World Team Tennis.<ref>194. Paule-Koba, A. L. (2012a). Pressure is a privilege: Billie Jean King, title IX, and gender equity. Reviews in American History, 40(4), 711–715. https://doi.org/10.1353/rah.2012.0094</ref>
	When the open era began, King campaigned for equal prize money in the men's and women's games. As the financial backing of the women's game improved due to the efforts of ''World Tennis'' magazine founder, publisher and editor ], King became the first woman athlete to earn over US$100,000 in prize money in 1971;<ref></ref> however, inequalities continued. King won the US Open in 1972 but received US$15,000 less than the men's champion ]. She stated that she would not play the next year if the prize money were not equal. In 1973, the US Open became the first major tournament to offer equal prize money for men and women.
			=== Other activities ===
	King led player efforts to support the first professional women's tennis tour in the 1970s called the ], founded by Heldman and funded by Joseph Cullman of ].<ref></ref> Once the tour took flight, King worked tirelessly to promote it even though many of the other top players were not supportive. "For three years we had two tours and because of their governments Navratilova]] and ] had to play the other tour. ]], ]], ]], they let us do the pioneering work and they weren't very nice to us. If you go back and look at the old quotes; they played for the love of the game, we played for the money. When we got backing and money, we were all playing together – I wonder why? I tried not to get upset with them. Forgiveness is important. Our job was to have one voice and win them over."<ref name = "TimesOnline-20071209"/>
			King's husband Larry co-founded ] in 1973 with Dennis Murphy, Jordan Kaiser, and Fred Barman and WTT began in 1974.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-jun-30-sp-dwyre30-story.html|title=Billie Jean King is still making team work|last=Dwyre|first=Bill|date=June 30, 2009|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=September 23, 2017|issn=0458-3035}}</ref> The couple used their savings to put on a team tennis event at the Oakland Coliseum.<ref name=":2" /> King remained involved with World Team Tennis for decades, eventually sharing ownership with her ex-husband, her life partner ] and USTA.<ref name=":2" /> In 2017, King sold her majority ownership stake of the league to ] and ]. WTT was based on her philosophy for gender equality and it had been running continuously for over 40 years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/other-sports/billie-jean-king-sells-majority-ownership-mylan-world-team-tennis|title=Billie Jean King sells majority ownership of Mylan World Team Tennis|website=RSN|date=March 13, 2017 }}</ref>
			In 1999, King was elected to serve on the board of directors of ], garnering some criticism from anti-tobacco groups.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cleanlungs.com/education/features/king.html|title=Billie Jean King Elected To Philip Morris Board|publisher=Cleanlungs.com|access-date=July 4, 2011|date=1999}}</ref> She no longer serves in that capacity.
	In 1973, King became the first president of the women's players union – the ]. In 1974, she, with husband Larry King and ], founded ] magazine and started the ].<ref></ref> Also in 1974, King helped to found ].<ref></ref> She became league commissioner in 1982.
			{{as of|2012}} King was involved in the ] and the ].<ref name="ABILITY magazine">{{cite news|url=http://www.abilitymagazine.com/billie-jean-king.html|title=Billie Jean King Still Got Game|newspaper=ABILITY magazine|access-date=October 22, 2012}}</ref> She also served on the President's Council for Fitness, Sports and Nutrition as a way to encourage young people to stay active.<ref name="ABILITY magazine" />
	King is a member of the Board of Honorary Trustees for the ],<ref></ref> which opened in 2008. The museum is the home of the ], a comprehensive women's sports hall of fame and exhibit.<ref></ref>
			In 2008, King published the book ''Pressure is a Privilege: Lessons I've Learned from Life and the Battle of the Sexes''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93937984|title=Billie Jean King Remembers 'Battle of the Sexes'|date=August 25, 2008|work=NPR|access-date=October 15, 2017}}</ref>
	===Coach of national teams===
			In December 2013, US President Barack Obama appointed King and openly gay ice hockey player ] to represent the United States at the ] in ], Russia. This has been interpreted as a signal on gay rights, in the context of ] regarding ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/236283091.html|title=Obama picks gay athletes for delegation to Sochi Olympics, sending signal on gay rights|author=Pells, Eddie |date=December 17, 2013|agency=Associated Press|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219031640/http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/236283091.html|archive-date=December 19, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref> King was forced to drop out of the delegation due to her mother's ill health. Betty Moffitt, King's mother, died on February 7, 2014, the day of the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2014/02/07/tennis-great-billie-jean-kings-mother-dies-in-arizona/|title=Tennis Great Billie Jean King's Mother Dies in Arizona|website=] |date=February 7, 2014|access-date=February 8, 2014}}</ref>
	In the mid-1990s, King became the captain of the United States ] team and coach of its women's ] tennis squad. She guided the U.S. to the Fed Cup championship in 1996 and helped ], ], and ] capture Olympic gold medals.
			Billie Jean was selected to deliver the ] commencement address on June 16, 2017, in ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2017/february/equality-advocate-and-sports-icon-to-address-class-of-2017/?linkId=34456207|title=Equality advocate and sports icon to address Class of 2017 – Northwestern Now|website=news.northwestern.edu}}</ref>
	In 2002, King dismissed Capriati from the Fed Cup team, saying Capriati had violated rules that forbade bringing along and practicing with personal coaches. Opinion was sharply divided, with many supporting King's decision but many feeling the punishment was too harsh, especially in hindsight when ] and ] were defeated by lower-ranked Austrians ] and . The following year, ] succeeded King as Fed Cup captain.
			She attended the ] in 2018 as a guest of ].<ref>{{cite web|last=Yam |first=Kimberly |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/8-activists-who-went-to-the-golden-globes_us_5a539f75e4b003133ecacab1 |title=Here's What You Should Know About The 8 Activists Who Went to the Golden Globes &#124; HuffPost |date=January 8, 2018 |work=Huffington Post |access-date=January 11, 2018}}</ref>
	===Career statistics===
	====Year end singles rankings====
			King and Kloss became minority owners of the ] baseball team in September 2018, and the ]'s ] basketball team.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/dodgers-welcome-billie-jean-king-ilana-kloss/c-295526684|title=Addition of King, Kloss sends 'strong message'|first=Ken|last=Gurnick|work=MLB.com|date=September 21, 2018|access-date=October 31, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com:443/Daily/Issues/2018/09/21/Franchises/Dodgers.aspx|title=Dodgers, WNBA Sparks Adding Billie Jean King As Minority Owner|website=www.sportsbusinessdaily.com|date=September 21, 2018 }}</ref> In October 2020, they became part of the ownership group of ], a Los Angeles–based team set to start play in the ] in 2022.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/article/angel-city-confirms-name-as-angel-city-football-club-and-officially-joins-national-womens-soccer-league |title=Angel City Confirms Name as Angel City Football Club and Officially Joins National Women's Soccer League |publisher=National Women's Soccer League |date=October 21, 2020 |access-date=October 21, 2020}}</ref>
	{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
	|- bgcolor="#efefef"
	! Type !! 1959 !! 1960 !! 1961 !! 1962 !! 1963 !! 1964 !! 1965 !! 1966 !! 1967 !! 1968 !! 1969 !! 1970 !! 1971 !! 1972 !! 1973 !! 1974 !! 1975 !! 1976 !! 1977 !!1978 !!1979 !!1980 !!1981 !!1982 !! 1983
	|-
	| align="left" | World<sup>1</sup>
	| N
	| N
	| N
	| N
	| style="background:#EEE8AA;"|4<sup>2</sup>
	| style="background:#EEE8AA;"|7
	| style="background:#EEE8AA;"|4<sup>3</sup>
	| style="background:#00ff00;"|'''1'''
	| style="background:#00ff00;"|'''1'''
	| style="background:#00ff00;"|'''1'''
	| style="background:#EEE8AA;"|3<sup>4</sup>
	| style="background:#EEE8AA;"|2<sup>5</sup>
	| style="background:#00ff00;"|'''1'''
	| style="background:#00ff00;"|'''1'''
	| style="background:#EEE8AA;"|2<sup>5</sup>
	| style="background:#00ff00;"|'''1'''
	| style="background:#EEE8AA;"|2<sup>6</sup>
	| N
	| style="background:#EEE8AA;"|2<sup>6</sup>
	| style="background:#EEE8AA;"|5
	| style="background:#EEE8AA;"|5
	| style="background:#EEE8AA;"|7
	| N
	| N
	| N
	|-
	| align="left" | WTA<sup>7</sup>
	| -
	| -
	| -
	| -
	| -
	| -
	| -
	| -
	| -
	| -
	| -
	| -
	| -
	| -
	| style="background:#EEE8AA;"|2
	| style="background:#00ff00;"|'''1'''
	| style="background:#EEE8AA;"|2
	| N
	| style="background:#EEE8AA;"|2
	| style="background:#EEE8AA;"|5
	| style="background:#EEE8AA;"|5
	| style="background:#EEE8AA;"|6
	| N
	| 14
	| 13
	|-
	| align="left" | U.S.<sup>8</sup>
	| N
	| style="background:#EEE8AA;"|4<sup>9</sup>
	| style="background:#EEE8AA;"|3<sup>10</sup>
	| style="background:#EEE8AA;"|3<sup>10</sup>
	| style="background:#EEE8AA;"|2<sup>11</sup>
	| style="background:#EEE8AA;"|2<sup>12</sup>
	| style="background:#00ff00;"|'''1C'''
	| style="background:#00ff00;"|'''1'''
	| style="background:#00ff00;"|'''1'''
	| E
	| E
	| style="background:#00ff00;"|'''1'''
	| style="background:#00ff00;"|'''1'''
	| style="background:#00ff00;"|'''1'''
	| style="background:#00ff00;"|'''1'''
	| style="background:#EEE8AA;"|2<sup>6</sup>
	| E
	| N
	| style="background:#EEE8AA;"|2<sup>6</sup>
	| style="background:#EEE8AA;"|2<sup>6</sup>
	| style="background:#EEE8AA;"|4<sup>13</sup>
	| style="background:#EEE8AA;"|5
	| N
	| style="background:#EEE8AA;"|7
	| E
	|}
			King is also an investor in ], an American media platform dedicated to women's sports.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-06-09 |title=Billionaire Joe Tsai, Billie Jean King Back Just Women's Sports |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-06-09/billionaire-joe-tsai-billie-jean-king-back-just-women-s-sports |access-date=2023-10-13}}</ref>
	*E = excluded from the rankings, because she was a contract professional player (1968–69),<ref>{{cite book |author=Starr, Cynthia; King, Billie Jean |title=We Have Come a Long Way: The Story of Women's Tennis |publisher=McGraw-Hill |location=New York |year=1988 |pages=116 |isbn=0-07-034625-9 |oclc= |doi=}}</ref> had retired (1975),<ref>"60-Second Sports", ''Oakland Tribune'', ], ], page 22</ref> or for unknown reasons (1983).
			On June 29, 2023, the Mark Walter Group and BJK Enterprises purchased the intellectual property and other key elements of the ] (PHF), a professional women's hockey league in the United States and Canada.<ref name="salvian20230630">{{cite news |last1=Salvian |first1=Hailey |title=What we know about the PHF shutdown, and more on the new pro women's hockey league |url=https://theathletic.com/4655207/2023/06/30/premier-hockey-federation-why-mark-walter/ |access-date=2023-06-30 |work=] |date=2023-06-30 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> Headed by ] and King, respectively, both businesses had entered a partnership with the ] (PWHPA) in May 2022, with the intent to create a new professional women's ice hockey league in North America.<ref name="salvian20220524">{{cite news |last1=Salvian |first1=Hailey |title=PWHPA, Billie Jean King considering new league: Source |url=https://theathletic.com/3490779/2022/05/24/pwhpa-billie-jean-king-enterprises-exploring-starting-womens-hockey-league-source/ |access-date=2023-06-30 |work=] |date=2022-05-24 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> The buyout changed the landscape in North American women's professional hockey, as it resulted in a single league with stakeholders from both the PHF and PWHPA. The new league began on January 1, 2024, with the first game played between New York and Toronto in Toronto.<ref name="phf-sale-espn">{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/37937093/premier-hockey-federation-sale-unite-women-hockey |title=Sources: Premier Hockey Federation sale could unite women's hockey |author=ESPN News Services |date=June 29, 2023 |publisher=] |access-date=June 30, 2023}}</ref><ref name="phf-sale-phf">{{cite press release |url=https://www.premierhockeyfederation.com/news/new-women-s-pro-hockey-league-to-launch-in-2024 |title=New Women's Pro Hockey League to Launch in 2024 |last=Krotz |first=Paul |date=June 30, 2023 |website=PremierHockeyFederation.com |publisher=] |access-date=June 30, 2023 |quote=Initiative, led by Mark and Kimbra Walter, Billie Jean King has PWHPA and PHF support}}</ref>
	*N = not ranked in top ten.
			Also in 2023, King competed in ] of '']'' as "Royal Hen". She was the first of Group B to be eliminated on "A Celebration of ]".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://ew.com/tv/the-masked-singer-royal-hen-revealed-billie-jean-king/|title=Masked Singer reveals Royal Hen as tennis legend and iconic activist with sweet Elton John connection|first=Lauren|last=Huff|publisher=Entertainment Weekly|date=October 18, 2023|access-date=October 20, 2023}}</ref>
	*C = co-ranked U.S. No. 1 with ].
			==Awards, honors, and tributes==
	<sup>1</sup> The world rankings in this table are from ] of the ] ] for 1959 through 1967 and from ] for 1968 through 1983.<ref>{{cite book |author=Hollander, Zander; Collins, Bud |title=Bud Collins' Modern Encyclopedia of Tennis |publisher=Visible Ink Press |location=Detroit, MI |year=1994 |pages=622–5 |isbn=081039443X |oclc= |doi=}}</ref><br>
			===Tributes from other players===
	<sup>2</sup> King was ranked behind ], ], and ].<br>
			]]]
	<sup>3</sup> King was ranked behind Court, Bueno, and Bowrey.<br>
	<sup>4</sup> King was ranked behind Court and ].<br>
	<sup>5</sup> King was ranked behind Court.<br>
	<sup>6</sup> King was ranked behind ].<br>
	<sup>7</sup> The ] (WTA) rankings began in 1973.<ref>{{cite book |author=Hollander, Zander; Collins, Bud |title=Bud Collins' Modern Encyclopedia of Tennis |publisher=Visible Ink Press |location=Detroit, MI |year=1994 |pages=631–3 |isbn=081039443X |oclc= |doi=}}</ref><br>
	<sup>8</sup> The U.S. rankings are from the ].<ref>{{cite book |author=Hollander, Zander; Collins, Bud |title=Bud Collins' Modern Encyclopedia of Tennis |publisher=Visible Ink Press |location=Detroit, MI |year=1994 |pages=605–8 |isbn=081039443X |oclc= |doi=}}</ref><br>
	<sup>9</sup> King was ranked behind ], ], and Gunter.<br>
	<sup>10</sup> King was ranked behind Hard and Susman.<br>
	<sup>11</sup> King was ranked behind Hard.<br>
	<sup>12</sup> King was ranked behind Gunter.<br>
	<sup>13</sup> King was ranked behind ], Evert, and ].
			], who won more Grand Slam titles than anyone, has said that King was "the greatest competitor I've ever known".<ref name="Who Is the Greatest Female Player Ever?">{{Cite web|url=http://www.insidetennis.com/0405_bestfemale.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081228115125/http://www.insidetennis.com/0405_bestfemale.html|url-status=dead|title=Who Is the Greatest Female Player Ever?|archive-date=December 28, 2008}}</ref>
	====Grand Slam singles tournaments====
			], winner of 18 Grand Slam singles titles, has said, "She's the wisest human being that I've ever met and has vision people can only dream about. Billie Jean King is my mentor and has given me advice about my tennis and my boyfriends. On dealing with my parents and even how to raise children. And she doesn't have any."<ref name=":5">{{cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/sports/other_sports/tennis/articles/2006/12/03/no_royalty_like_king | title=No royalty like King | work=The Boston Globe |date=December 3, 2006 | access-date=July 4, 2011 | first=Stan | last=Grossfeld}}</ref>
	King's triumph at the ] in 1972 made her only the fifth woman in tennis history to win the singles titles at all four ] events, a "career Grand Slam." (Four additional women have completed a career Grand Slam since King.) King also won a career Grand Slam in mixed doubles. In women's doubles, only the ] eluded her.
			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 ]. Martina Navratilova, ], and ] all picked King. Navratilova said, "I would have to pick Billie Jean at her best. Consistently, Chris is hardest to beat but for one big occasion, one big match, one crucial point, yes, it would have to be Billie Jean." Casals said, "No matter how far down you got her, you never could be sure of beating her."<ref>Billie Jean King toughest in tight spot: Durr says", ''Daily Leader'', Pontiac, Illinois, March 22, 1979, page 13</ref>
	King won a record 20 career titles at ] – 6 singles, 10 women's doubles, and 4 mixed doubles. (] also has 20 career titles at Wimbledon.)
			===Awards and honors===
	King played 51 Grand Slam singles events from 1959 through 1983 (197–39 .835 win-loss record): 21 at Wimbledon (96–15 win-loss record), 18 at the ] (63–14 win-loss record), 7 at the ] (22–6 win-loss record), and 5 at the Australian Championships/Open (16–4 win-loss record). King reached at least the semifinals in 27 and at least the quarterfinals in 40 out of her 51 attempts.
			* King was the ] Female Athlete of the Year in 1967.<ref>"Billie Jean King Named 'Woman Athlete of the Year{{' "}}, ''Daily Capital News'', Jefferson City, Missouri, January 13, 1968, page 6</ref>
			* In 1972, King became the first female athlete ever to be named '']'' ].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/magazine/specials/sportsman/2006/12/04/wade.sportsman/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061205215838/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/magazine/specials/sportsman/2006/12/04/wade.sportsman/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 5, 2006 |title=''Sports Illustrated'' honors Wade |magazine=Sports Illustrated |access-date=July 4, 2011 |date=December 4, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thedynamicpath.com/pages/personalities/sports/billie-jean-king.php |title=Billie Jean King |publisher=The Dynamic Path |access-date=July 4, 2011}}</ref>
			* In 1975, '']'' magazine found that King was the most admired woman in the world from a poll of its readers. ], who had been Israel's prime minister until the previous year, finished second.<ref name="ESPN-BillieJean" /> In a May 19, 1975, '']'' article about King, ] noted that she had become something of a sex symbol.<ref name="Mrs. Billie Jean King!" />
			* King was inducted into the ] in 1987.<ref name="ITHF biography" />
			* '']'' magazine in 1990 named her one of the "100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century".<ref name="ESPN-BillieJean" />
			* King was the recipient of the 1999 ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/espy2004/s/04asheaward.html |title=Weah selected for Arthur Ashe Courage Award |publisher=ESPN |access-date=July 4, 2011}}</ref>
			* In 1999 King was inducted into the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.glhalloffame.org/index.pl?page=inductees&todo=year |title=Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017032241/http://www.glhalloffame.org/index.pl?page=inductees&todo=year |archive-date=October 17, 2015 }}</ref>
			* In 2000, King received an award from ], an organization devoted to reducing discrimination against gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender people, for "furthering the visibility and inclusion of the community in her work".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.glaad.org/press|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209020450/http://www.glaad.org/media/archive_detail.php?id=99|url-status=dead|title=GLAAD's Resources for Press|date=September 12, 2011|archive-date=December 9, 2008|website=GLAAD}}</ref>
			* In 2003, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) presented her with its highest accolade, the ], for her contributions to tennis both on and off the court.
			* In 2006, the Women's Sports Foundation began to sponsor the ], which are named after and hosted by King.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5UIgAAAAIBAJ&pg=3229,6074838 |newspaper=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |date=April 15, 2006 |first=Melissa |last=Murphy |title=Documentary focuses on tennis great Billie Jean King }}</ref>
			]]]
	King was the runner-up in 6 Grand Slam singles events.
			* On August 28, 2006, the ] in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park was rededicated as the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.usta.com/nationaltenniscenternews/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=14189&itype=941&icategoryid=0|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080314232644/http://www.usta.com/nationaltenniscenternews/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=14189&itype=941&icategoryid=0|url-status=dead|title=History of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center|archive-date=March 14, 2008}}</ref> ], ], Jimmy Connors, and Chris Evert were among the speakers during the rededication ceremony.
			* In 2006, California Governor ] and his wife ] inducted King into the ] located at ].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ocregister.com/2006/08/01/state-unveils-hall-of-fame/|title=State unveils Hall of Fame|date=August 1, 2017|work=Orange County Register|access-date=October 9, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.californiamuseum.org/inductees|title=Inductees – California Museum|website=www.californiamuseum.org|access-date=October 9, 2017}}</ref>
			* On November 20, 2007, King was presented with the 2007 Sunday Times Sports Women of the Year Lifetime Achievement award for her contribution to sport both on and off the court.<ref name="TimesOnline-20071209" />
			* She was honored by the Office of the ] in March 2008 and was included in a map of ] related or dedicated to important women.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mbpo.org/free_details.asp?ID=234 |title=Scott Stringer – Manhattan Borough President |publisher=Mbpo.org |access-date=July 4, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718113101/http://www.mbpo.org/free_details.asp?ID=234 |archive-date=July 18, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
			* On August 12, 2009, President ] awarded King the ] for her work advocating for the rights of women and the ] community.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/13/us/politics/13obama.html|title=Obama Gives Medal of Freedom to 16 Luminaries|last=Gay|first=Sheryl|date=August 12, 2009|work=The New York Times|access-date=July 4, 2011}}</ref><ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091215034234/http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/President-Obama-Names-Medal-of-Freedom-Recipients/ |date=December 15, 2009 }}, White House Office of the Press Secretary, July 30, 2009</ref> This made her the first female athlete to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/house/3041027/billie-jean-king-congressional-gold-medal-indomitable-champion-equality/|title=Tennis legend Billie Jean King up for Congressional Gold Medal: 'Indomitable champion for equality' - Washington Examiner|first=Heather|last=Hamilton|date=June 13, 2024}}</ref>
			* She was inducted into the ] on August 5, 2011.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.usta.com/en/home/about-usta/usta-awards/southerncalifornia/hall-of-fame-southern-california.html|title=Hall Of Fame Southern California|access-date=October 15, 2017}}</ref>
			* On August 2, 2013, King was among the first class of inductees into the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.out.com/entertainment/popnography/2013/06/18/national-gay-lesbian-sports-hall-fame-chicago |title=National Gay & Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame's Inaugural Class Announced &#124; Out Magazine |publisher=Out.com |date=June 18, 2013 |access-date=December 4, 2013}}</ref>
			* In 2014, she was named one of ESPNW's Impact 25.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/espnw/news-commentary/impact25/slideshow/12020053/18/billie-jean-king-71-2014-us-olympic-delegate-sochi|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216171701/http://espn.go.com/espnw/news-commentary/impact25/slideshow/12020053/18/billie-jean-king-71-2014-us-olympic-delegate-sochi|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 16, 2014|title=2014 espnW Impact 25}}</ref>
			* King was shown in ''Marie Claire'' magazine's "The 8 Greatest Moments for Women in Sports".<ref>{{cite web|last=Friedman |first=Megan |url=http://www.marieclaire.com/culture/g2761/female-athletes-history/?thumbnails |title=Historic Moments in Female Sports – Athletic Women |date=March 17, 2015 |publisher=Marieclaire.com |access-date=April 16, 2015}}</ref>
			* King received the ] on December 16, 2018. It was presented to by long-time friend and fellow tennis player and broadcaster ], making King only the second American (after ]) and the first American woman to win the award.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sports Personality of the Year: Billie Jean King given lifetime achievement award |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/sports-personality/46551058 |publisher=] |date=December 16, 2018}}</ref>
			* ]'s more than {{convert|11|acre|ha}} athletic facility is named the Billie Jean King Sports Complex. The sports complex—which was approved by the ] Board of Trustees on September 21—features the ], the University Stadium, Jesse Owens Track and Field, Reeder Field (baseball), the swimming pool, and tennis and basketball courts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.calstatela.edu/univ/ppa/spotlight/archive/2010/BJKSportsComplex.php|title=Billie Jean King Sports Complex – Spotlight|date=November 2, 2013|website=calstatela.edu}}</ref>
			* On September 21, 2019, her hometown of Long Beach, California held a grand opening of the Long Beach Public Library's new main library, named after King. The Billie Jean King Main Library is located in Downtown Long Beach, and has exhibited King's Presidential Medal of Freedom.
			* The Fed Cup, the premier international team competition in women's tennis, was renamed the ] in September 2020 in her honor.
			* ] and ] champion as part owner of the ]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tennis.com/baseline/articles/dodgers-part-owner-bjk-celebrates-world-series-win|title=Dodgers part-owner BJK celebrates World Series win|website=Tennis.com}}</ref>
			* In 2021, King received the ], in recognition of her excellence on the tennis court as well as her life's work in pursuit of gender and racial equality.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPT-3LZTtQA|title=2021 Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award Winner - Billie Jean King|website=Laureus official youtube|date=October 11, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.laureus.com/news/laureus-unites-thought-leaders-in-womens-sport-to-mark-international-day-of-the-girl|title=Laureus Unites Thought Leaders In Women's Sport to Mark International Day of the Girl|website=Laureus|date=October 11, 2021}}</ref>
			*In June 2022, King was awarded the French ] by President ], on the 50th anniversary of her French Open victory.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220603-billie-jean-king-awarded-france-s-legion-of-honour|title=Billie Jean King awarded France's Legion of Honour|date=June 3, 2022|website=France 24}}</ref>
			* Star on the ] (sports entertainment)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tennis.com/baseline/articles/billie-jean-king-to-receive-hollywood-walk-of-fame-star-first-female-athlete|title=Billie Jean King to receive Hollywood Walk of Fame star|website=Tennis.com}}</ref>
			* In 2024, King received the Golden Plate Award of the ], presented by ].<ref>{{cite web|title=Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement |url=https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/#sports|website=achievement.org|publisher=American Academy of Achievement}}</ref>
			* King received a ] in September 2024 for her "courageous and groundbreaking leadership in advancing equal rights for women in athletics, education, and society."<ref>{{Cite web |title=S.2861 - Billie Jean King Congressional Gold Medal Act |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/2861 |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=Congress.gov}}</ref>
			==Playing style and personality==
	An indicator of King's mental toughness at crunch time in Grand Slam singles tournaments was her 11–2 career record in deuce third sets, i.e., third sets that were tied 5–5 before being resolved.
			]
			King learned to play tennis on the public courts of ], and was coached by tennis teacher ].<ref name="Higdon, Hal, Plays Tennis Like a Man" /> She furthered her tennis career at the ].
			She was an aggressive, hard-hitting net-rusher with excellent speed;<ref name = "ESPN-BillieJean" /> ], however, said about King, "Her weakness is her impatience."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,907800-2,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070503044822/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,907800-2,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 3, 2007 |title=Chris Evert: Miss Cool on the Court |magazine=Time |date=August 27, 1973 |access-date=July 4, 2011}}</ref>
	====Singles titles and career prize money====
			Concerning her motivations in life and tennis, King said,
	King won 129 singles titles, and her career prize money totalled ]1,966,487.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/players/playerprofiles/Playerbio.asp?PlayerID=110100 |title=Women's Tennis Association biography of Billie Jean King |accessdate=2007-02-15}}</ref>
			{{blockquote|I'm a perfectionist much more than I'm a super competitor, and there's a big difference there.... I've been painted as a person who only competes. ... But most of all, I get off on hitting a shot correctly. ... Any woman who wants to achieve anything has to be aggressive and tough, but the press never sees us as multidimensional. They don't see the emotions, the downs....<ref>"Billie Jean King a perfectionist", ''New Mexican'', Santa Fe, New Mexico, June 1, 1980, page C-7</ref>}}
	====Major international team competitions====
	=====Federation Cup=====
			In a 1984 interview, just after she had turned 40, King said,
	In ] finals, King was on the winning United States team seven times, in 1963, 1966, 1967, and 1976 through 1979. Her career win-loss record was 52–4 (26–3 in singles and 26–1 in doubles). She won the last 30 matches she played (excluding two unfinished matches), including 15 straight wins in both singles and doubles.<ref></ref>
			{{blockquote|Sometimes when I'm watching someone like Martina , I remember how nice it was to be No. 1. Believe me, it's the best time in your life. Don't let anyone ever tell you different. ... My only regret is that I had to do too much ''off'' the court. Deep down, I wonder how good I really could have been if I concentrated just on tennis.<ref>"The Challenge of Her Life – Billie Jean at 40", '']'' magazine, ''Syracuse Herald Journal'', January 8, 1984, page 7</ref>}}
	=====Wightman Cup=====
			], who frequently played King but never felt close to her, said about King's personality,
	In ] competition, King's career win-loss record was 22–4 (14–2 in singles and 8–2 in doubles), winning her last 9 matches (6 in singles and 3 in doubles). The United States won the cup 10 of the 11 years that King participated. In singles, King was 6–1 against ], 4–0 against ], and 1–1 against ].<ref>{{cite book |author=Hollander, Zander; Collins, Bud |title=Bud Collins' Modern Encyclopedia of Tennis |publisher=Visible Ink Press |location=Detroit, MI |year=1994 |pages=580–1 |isbn=081039443X |oclc= |doi=}}</ref>
			{{blockquote|One of the reasons I've never gotten close to Billie Jean is that I've never felt strong enough to survive against that overwhelming personality of hers. She talks about me being the smart one. Let me tell you, Billie Jean's the smartest one, the cleverest one you'll ever see. She was the one who was able to channel everything into winning, into being the most consummate tennis player.<ref name="Mrs. Billie Jean King!">{{cite news |author=Deford, Frank |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1975/05/19/mrs-billie-jean-king/ |title=Mrs. Billie Jean King! |publisher=] |date=May 19, 1975 |access-date=July 4, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209032646/http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1089860/4/index.htm |archive-date=December 9, 2008 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>}}
	== Awards, honors, and tributes ==
			], another frequent opponent of King, said,
	], who won more ] titles than anyone, has said that King was "the greatest competitor I’ve ever known".<ref></ref>
			{{blockquote|For a time, I think I was as close to Billie Jean as anyone ever was. But as soon as I got to the point where I could read her too well, she tried to dissociate the relationship. She doesn't want to risk appearing weak in front of anybody. She told me once that if you want to be the best, you must never let anyone, anyone, know what you really feel. You see, she told me, they can't hurt you if they don't know.<ref name="Mrs. Billie Jean King!" />}}
	], winner of 18 Grand Slam singles titles, has said, "She's the wisest human being that I've ever met and has vision people can only dream about. Billie Jean King is my mentor and has given me advice about my tennis and my boyfriends. On dealing with my parents and even how to raise children. And she doesn't have any."<ref></ref>
			Concerning the qualities of a champion tennis player, King said,
	King was the ] Female Athlete of the Year in 1967.<ref>"Billie Jean King Named 'Woman Athlete of the Year'", Daily Capital News, ], ], ], page 6</ref>
			{{blockquote|The difference between me at my peak and me in the last few years of my career is that when I was the champion I had the ultimate in confidence. When I decided, under pressure ... that I had to go with my very weakest shot – forehand down the line – I was positive that I could pull it off ... when it mattered the most. Even more than that; going into a match, I knew it was my weakest shot, and I knew in a tight spot my opponent was going to dare me to hit it, and I knew I could hit it those two or three or four times in a match when I absolutely had to. ... The cliché is to say that ... champions play the big points better. Yes, but that's only the half of it. The champions play their weaknesses better....<ref>{{cite book |author1=Deford, Frank |author2=King, Billie Jean |title=Billie Jean |publisher=Viking |location=New York City |year=1982 |pages= |isbn=0-670-47843-1 |url=https://archive.org/details/billiejean00king/page/96 }}</ref>}}
	In 1972, King became the first tennis player to be named '']'' ]. She was also the first female athlete ever to receive that honor.<ref></ref> <ref></ref>
			== In popular culture ==
	Friends with singer ], the 1975 song "Philadelphia Freedom" is a tribute to King.<ref></ref> On a ] program, John talked about how he brought a demo copy of the record to play for her right after he had recorded it.
			* King's friend ] wrote the song "]", a nod to her World TeamTennis team, for King. The song was released New Year's Day 1975 and became a number one hit.<ref name="ITHF biography" />
			* ], creator of the '']'' comic strip, was an admirer and close friend;<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.biography.com/news/peanuts-charles-schulz-facts|title=10 Facts About Charles Schulz, the Creator of the 'Peanuts' Gang|last=Kanzenberg|first=Corry|date=November 5, 2015|work=Biography.com|access-date=October 9, 2017}}</ref> Schulz referred to King several times in ''Peanuts'' and used the comic strip to support the women's sports movement after becoming friends with King.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.si.com/peppermint-patty-peanuts-charles-schulz-female-athletes|title=How Peppermint Patty became an advocate for female athletes|last=Kay|first=Stanley|date=August 19, 2016|work=SI.com|access-date=October 9, 2017}}</ref>
			* Actress ] portrayed King in the 2001 ABC television film '']''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2001/tv/reviews/when-billie-beat-bobby-1200467883/|title=When Billie Beat Bobby|last=Oxman|first=Steven|date=April 11, 2001|work=Variety|access-date=October 9, 2017}}</ref> King played a judge on '']'' in 2007,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0996071/fullcredits|title=Law & Order – Fallout – Full Cast & Crew|website=IMDb|access-date=February 5, 2018}}</ref> and appeared as herself on '']'' in 1973, '']'' in 2006, '']'' in May 2009, '']'' in 2016, and '']'' in 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/billie-jean-king/credits/223399/|title=Billie Jean King|website=TV Guide|access-date=October 13, 2017}}</ref> King's name appears in the lyrics of the ] song "]."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://slate.com/culture/2019/10/hot-topic-lyrics-le-tigre-who-is.html|title=57 Champions of Queer Feminism, All Name-Dropped in One Impossibly Catchy Song|first=Tammy|last=Oler|date=October 31, 2019|website=Slate Magazine}}</ref>
			* Actress ] portrayed King in the 2017 biographical film ].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/battle-of-the-sexes-emma-stone-billie-jean-king-1202561572/|title=Emma Stone Imagines a World Where 'Everyone Is Absolutely Equal' at 'Battle of the Sexes' Premiere|last=Sage|first=Alyssa|date=September 17, 2017|work=]|access-date=September 22, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Dargis|first1=Manohla|title=Review: Advantage, Bobby, but Game, Set, Match, Billie Jean in 'Battle of the Sexes'|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/21/movies/review-battle-of-the-sexes-billie-jean-king-bobby-riggs.html|work=]|date=September 21, 2017|access-date=19 February 2020}}</ref>
			* The ] designed dress King wore for the ''Battle of the Sexes'' match is part of a ] collection.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/how-billie-jean-king-picked-her-outfit-for-the-battle-of-the-sexes-match-89938552/|title=How Billie Jean King Picked Her Outfit for the Battle of the Sexes Match|last=Leibowitz|first=Ed|date=September 2003|work=Smithsonian|access-date=October 9, 2017}}</ref>
			* In 2023, King competed in the ] of '']'' as "Royal Hen". She sang "]" and "]" in an episode that was a tribute to ] where she was eliminated.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/the-masked-singer-season-10-episode-5-recap-billie-jean-king-royal-hen-1235761328/ | title=The Masked Singer reveals identity of the Royal Hen | date=October 19, 2023 | publisher=Variety magazine | accessdate=19 October 2023}}</ref>
			==Personal life==
	In 1975, ] magazine found that King was the most admired woman in the world from a poll of its readers. ], who had been ] prime minister until the previous year, finished second.<ref name = "ESPN-BillieJean"/>
			Billie Jean and ] were engaged in fall of 1964 and married in Long Beach, California, on September 17, 1965.<ref name="Higdon, Hal, Plays Tennis Like a Man" /><ref>{{cite news|title=Billie Jean King of Her Family|newspaper=]|publisher=]|location=Long Beach, California|date=November 23, 1965|page=C-4}}</ref> Billie Jean credited Larry with introducing her to ] and for pushing her to pursue tennis as a career.<ref name=":4" /> Billie Jean later said she "was totally in love with Larry" when they married.<ref name="TimesOnline-20071209" />
			By 1968, King realized that she was attracted to women.<ref name="NYTimes-20060426">{{cite news |first=Alessandra |last=Stanley |date=April 26, 2006 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/26/arts/television/26stan.html |title=The Legacy of Billie Jean King, an Athlete Who Demanded Equal Play |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=February 1, 2014}}</ref> In 1971, she began an affair with her secretary, Marilyn Barnett (born Marilyn Kathryn McRae on January 28, 1948). Barnett had been living rent-free in the Kings' Malibu house. In 1979, the Kings asked Barnett to leave their house, but she did not want to. Refusing to leave the house, Barnett threatened to leak records and receipts that she had kept over the years. These receipts included letters from Billie Jean to Marilyn, credit card receipts, and paid bills. After a suicide attempt where she jumped off the balcony of the house leaving her a ], Barnett sued the Kings in a May 1981 ] lawsuit for half their income and the Malibu house where she had been staying. Billie Jean acknowledged the relationship between her and Marilyn shortly afterward, making Billie Jean the first prominent female professional athlete to ].<ref name="Ware, S. 2015">Ware, S. (2015). ''Game, set, match: Billie Jean King and the revolution in women's sports''. Chapel Hill: The University Of North Carolina Press.</ref> Feeling she could not admit to the extent of the relationship, Billie Jean publicly called it a fling and a mistake. The lawsuit caused Billie Jean to lose an estimated $2&nbsp;million in endorsements and forced her to prolong her tennis career to pay attorneys.<ref name=":5" /> In December 1981, a court order stipulated that Barnett leave the house and that her threats to publish private correspondence between her and King in exchange for money came close to extortion. Barnett's palimony suit was thrown out of court in November 1982.<ref>{{cite news|title=Billie Jean King wins palimony case |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/11/19/Billie-Jean-King-wins-palimony-case/4584406530000/|date=November 11, 1982|work=UPI}}</ref> But in a bizarre twist of fate, a few months later in March 1983, the house that had been contested was destroyed during a ] that lashed the southern California coastline.<ref>{{cite web|title=An angry storm Wednesday smashed historic piers |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/03/02/An-angry-storm-Wednesday-smashed-historic-piers-and-expensive/4291415429200/|date=March 2, 1983|work=UPI}}</ref>
	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 ] ]. ], ], and ] all picked King. Navratilova said, "I would have to pick Billie Jean at her best. Consistently, Chris is hardest to beat but for one big occasion, one big match, one crucial point, yes, it would have to be Billie Jean." Casals said, "No matter how far down you got her, you never could be sure of beating her."<ref>Billie Jean King toughest in tight spot: Durr says", ''Daily Leader'', ], ], ], page 13</ref>
			Also in 1971, King had an abortion that was made public in a ] magazine article.<ref name = "NYTimes-20060426"/> Larry had revealed Billie Jean's abortion without consulting her.<ref name = "NYTimes-20060426"/>
	King was inducted into the ] in 1987.<ref></ref>
			Concerning the personal cost of concealing her sexuality for so many years, Billie Jean said:
	'']'' magazine in 1990 named her one of the "100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century."<ref name = "ESPN-BillieJean"/>
			{{blockquote|I wanted to tell the truth but my parents were homophobic and I was in the closet. As well as that, I had people tell me that if I talked about what I was going through, it would be the end of the women's tour. I couldn't get a closet deep enough. One of my big goals was always to be honest with my parents and I couldn't be for a long time. I tried to bring up the subject but felt I couldn't. My mother would say, "We're not talking about things like that", and I was pretty easily stopped because I was reluctant anyway. I ended up with an eating disorder that came from trying to numb myself from my feelings. I needed to surrender far sooner than I did. At the age of 51, I was finally able to talk about it properly with my parents and no longer did I have to measure my words with them. That was a turning point for me as it meant I didn't have regrets anymore.<ref name = "TimesOnline-20071209" />}}
	King was the recipient of the 1999 ].<ref></ref>
			Billie Jean and Larry remained married through the palimony suit fallout.<ref name=":4" /> Their marriage ended in 1987 after Billie Jean fell in love with her doubles partner, ].<ref name=":4" /> Billie Jean and Larry nevertheless remained close, and she is the godmother of Larry's son from his subsequent marriage.<ref name=":4" />
	In 2000, King received an award from the ], an organization devoted to reducing discrimination against gays, lesbians and bisexuals, for "furthering the visibility and inclusion of the community in her work." The award noted her involvement in production and the free distribution of educational films, as well as serving on the boards of several ] charities.<ref></ref>
			On October 18, 2018, King and Kloss were married by former New York City Mayor ] in a secret ceremony.<ref>{{Cite book|last=King|first=Billie Jean|title=All In|publisher=Knopf|year=2021|isbn=978-1-101-94733-3|pages=412–413}}</ref> King and her wife Kloss have residences in New York City and Chicago.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.imgspeakers.com/_images/speakers/KingBillieJean.pdf |title=Billie Jean King, Mother of Modern Sports |publisher=Imgspeakers.com |access-date=July 4, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929080549/http://www.imgspeakers.com/_images/speakers/KingBillieJean.pdf |archive-date=September 29, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |agency=]|url=http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_445847.html |title=Evert, Navratilova weigh in on tennis legend Billie Jean King |website=Pittsburghlive.com |date=April 23, 2006 |access-date=July 4, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422145449/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_445847.html |archive-date=April 22, 2009 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> King is a ].<ref>{{cite book |last= Avery-Grant |first=Anika |author-link= |date=1999 |title=The Vegetarian Female: A Guide to a Healthier Diet for Women of All Ages |url= |location= |publisher= Avery Publishing |pages=86–87 |isbn=978-0-89529-840-9}}</ref>
	In 2006, the ] began to sponsor the ], which are named after and hosted by King.
			It was announced in March 2021 that King would be an advisor to First Women's Bank in Chicago.<ref>{{cite web |title=Billie Jean King Joins First Women's Bank (in organization) in Effort to Close the Gender Gap in Access to Capital |url=https://apnews.com/press-release/pr-newswire/business-financial-services-demographics-billie-jean-king-banking-and-credit-d643f11170d19b391bbcb9700dcf1b50 |website=Assosciated Press |date=March 24, 2021 |access-date=25 March 2021}}</ref>
	On ], ], the ] in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park was rededicated as the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.<ref></ref> ], ], ], and Chris Evert were among the speakers during the rededication ceremony. The center is the largest sports facility in the world to be named after a woman.
			==Grand Slam statistics==
	On ], ], ] Governor ] and his wife ] inducted King into the ] located at ].
			{{Main|Billie Jean King career statistics}}
			=== Grand Slam single finals ===
	On ], ], the ] presented King with its highest award, the Champion of Justice Award.{{Fact|date=February 2008}}
			'''18 finals (12 titles, 6 runners-up)'''
	On ], ], King was presented with the 2007 Sunday Times Sports Women of the Year Lifetime Achievement award for her contribution to sport both on and off the court.<ref name = "TimesOnline-20071209"/>
	], creator of the '']'' comic strip, was another of King's admirers and close friends. Schulz referenced King several times in ''Peanuts'' over the years. In one strip, ] tells ], "Has anyone ever told you that when you're mad, you look just like Billie Jean King?"
	==Grand Slam finals==
	===Singles===
	====Wins (12)====
	{| class="sortable wikitable"
	|width="50"|'''Year
	|width="200"|'''Championship
	|width="200"|'''Opponent in Final
	|width="100"|'''Score in Final
	|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
	|1966||] || ] ]||6–3, 3–6, 6–1
	|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
	|1967 || Wimbledon <small>(2) || ] ] || 6–3, 6–4
	|-bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
	|1967 ||] || ] Ann Haydon Jones || 11–9, 6–4
	|-bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
	|1968|| ]|| ] ] || 6–1, 6–2
	|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
	|1968 || Wimbledon <small>(3) || ] ]||9–7, 7–5
	|-bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
	|1971 || US Open <small>(2) || ] ] || 6–4, 7–6
	|-bgcolor="#EBC2AF"
	|1972 || ] || ] ]||6–3, 6–3
	|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
	|1972 || Wimbledon <small>(4) || ] Evonne Goolagong Cawley || 6–3, 6–3
	|-bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
	|1972 || US Open <small>(3) || ] ] || 6–3, 7–5
	|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
	|1973|| Wimbledon <small>(5) || ] ] || 6–0, 7–5
	|-bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
	|1974|| US Open <small>(4) || ] Evonne Goolagong Cawley || 3–6, 6–3, 7–5
	|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
	|1975 || Wimbledon <small>(6) || ] Evonne Goolagong Cawley || 6–0, 6–1
	|}
	====Runner-ups (6)====
	{| class="sortable wikitable"		{| class="sortable wikitable"
	|-		|-
			!Result
	|width="50"|'''Year
			!style="width:35px"|Year
	|width="200"|'''Championship
			!style="width:200px"|Tournament
	|width="200"|'''Opponent in Final
			!style="width:50px"|Surface
	|width="100"|'''Score in Final
			!style="width:200px"|Opponent
	|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
			!style="width:150px" class="unsortable"|Score
	| 1963 ||] || ] ] || 6–3, 6–4
			|- style="background:#cfc;"
	|-bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
	| 1965 || ] || ] Margaret Court || 8–6, 7–5		| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss || 1963 || ] || Grass || {{flagicon|AUS}} ] || 3–6, 4–6
			|- style="background:#ccf;"
	|-bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
			| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss || 1965 || ] || Grass || {{flagicon|AUS}} Margaret Court || 6–8, 5–7
	|1968 || US Open || ] ] || 6–4, 6–2
			|- style="background:#cfc;"
	|-bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
			| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win || 1966 || Wimbledon || Grass || {{flagicon|BRA|1960}} ] || 6–3, 3–6, 6–1
	|1969 || ] || ] Margaret Court || 6–4, 6–1
			|- style="background:#cfc;"
	|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
	|1969 || Wimbledon || ] ] || 3–6, 6–3, 6–2		| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win || 1967 || Wimbledon <small>(2)</small> || Grass || {{flagicon|GBR}} ] || 6–3, 6–4
			|- style="background:#ccf;"
	|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
			| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win || 1967 || U.S. Championships || Grass || {{flagicon|GBR}} Ann Haydon-Jones || 11–9, 6–4
	|1970 || Wimbledon || ] Margaret Court || 14–12, 11–9
			|- style="background:#ffc;"
	|}
			| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win || 1968 || ] || Grass || {{flagicon|AUS}} Margaret Court || 6–1, 6–2
	===Women's doubles===
	====Wins (16)====
	{| class="sortable wikitable"
	|-		|-
			| align=center colspan=6|'''↓ Open Era ↓'''
	|width="50"|'''Year
			|- style="background:#cfc;"
	|width="200"|'''Championship
			| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win || 1968 || Wimbledon <small>(3)</small> || Grass || {{flagicon|AUS}} ] || 9–7, 7–5
	|width="200"|'''Partnering
			|- style="background:#ccf;"
	|width="230"|'''Opponents in Final
			| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss || 1968 || US Open || Grass || {{flagicon|GBR}} ] || 4–6, 2–6
	|width="100"|'''Score in Final
			|- style="background:#ffc;"
	|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
	| 1961 || ] || {{flagicon|USA}} ] || {{flagicon|AUS}} ]<br>{{flagicon|AUS}} ] || 6–3, 6–4		| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss || 1969 || Australian Open || Grass ||{{flagicon|AUS}} Margaret Court || 4–6, 1–6
			|- style="background:#cfc;"
	|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
			| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss || 1969 || Wimbledon || Grass ||{{flagicon|GBR}} Ann Haydon-Jones || 6–3, 3–6, 2–6
	| 1962 || Wimbledon <small>(2nd) || {{flagicon|USA}} Karen Hantze Susman || {{flagicon|RSA|1928}} ]<br>{{flagicon|RSA|1928}} ] || 5–7, 6–3, 7–5
			|- style="background:#cfc;"
	|-bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
	| 1964 || ] || {{flagicon|USA}} Karen Hantze Susman || {{flagicon|AUS}} Margaret Court<br>{{flagicon|AUS}} ] || 3–6, 6–2, 6–4		| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss || 1970 || Wimbledon || Grass ||{{flagicon|AUS}} Margaret Court || 12–14, 9–11
			|- style="background:#ccf;"
	|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
	| 1965 || Wimbledon <small>(3rd) || {{flagicon|BRA}} ] || {{flagicon|FRA}} ]<br>{{flagicon|FRA}} ] || 6–2, 7–5		| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win || 1971 || US Open <small>(2)</small> || Grass || {{flagicon|USA}} ] || 6–4, 7–6<sup>(5–2)</sup>
			|- style="background:#ebc2af;"
	|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
			| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win || 1972 || French Open || Clay || {{flagicon|AUS}} ] || 6–3, 6–3
	| 1967 || Wimbledon <small>(4th) || {{flagicon|USA}} ] || {{flagicon|BRA}} Maria Bueno<br>{{flagicon|USA}} ] || 9–11, 6–4, 6–2
			|- style="background:#cfc;"
	|-bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
	| 1967 || U.S. Championships <small>(2nd) || {{flagicon|USA}} Rosemary Casals || {{flagicon|USA}} ]<br>{{flagicon|USA}} ] || 4–6, 6–3, 6–4		| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win || 1972 || Wimbledon <small>(4)</small> ||Grass || {{flagicon|AUS}} ] || 6–3, 6–3
			|- style="background:#ccf;"
	|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
	| 1968 || Wimbledon <small>(5th) || {{flagicon|USA}} Rosemary Casals || {{flagicon|FRA}} Françoise Durr<br>{{flagicon|GBR}} ] || 3–6, 6–4, 7–5		| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win || 1972 || US Open <small>(3)</small> || Grass || {{flagicon|AUS}} ] || 6–3, 7–5
			|- style="background:#cfc;"
	|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
	| 1970 || Wimbledon <small>(6th) || {{flagicon|USA}} Rosemary Casals || {{flagicon|FRA}} Françoise Durr<br>{{flagicon|GBR}} ] || 6–2, 6–3		| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win || 1973|| Wimbledon <small>(5)</small> || Grass || {{flagicon|USA}} ] || 6–0, 7–5
			|- style="background:#ccf;"
	|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
	| 1971 || Wimbledon <small>(7th) || {{flagicon|USA}} Rosemary Casals || {{flagicon|AUS}} Margaret Court<br>{{flagicon|AUS}} ] || 6–3, 6–2		| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win || 1974|| US Open <small>(4)</small> || Grass || {{flagicon|AUS}} ] || 3–6, 6–3, 7–5
			|- style="background:#cfc;"
	|-bgcolor="#EBC2AF"
	| 1972 || ] || {{flagicon|NED}} ] || {{flagicon|GBR}} ]<br>{{flagicon|GBR}} ] || 6–1, 6–2		| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win || 1975 || Wimbledon <small>(6)</small> || Grass || {{flagicon|AUS}} ] || 6–0, 6–1
	|-bgcolor="CCFFCC"
	| 1972 || Wimbledon <small>(8th) || {{flagicon|NED}} Betty Stöve || {{flagicon|AUS}} ]<br>{{flagicon|FRA}} Françoise Durr || 6–2, 4–6, 6–3
	|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
	| 1973 || Wimbledon <small>(9th) || {{flagicon|USA}} Rosemary Casals || {{flagicon|FRA}} Françoise Durr<br>{{flagicon|NED}} Betty Stöve || 6–1, 4–6, 7–5
	|-bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
	| 1974 || US Open <small>(3rd) || {{flagicon|USA}} Rosemary Casals || {{flagicon|FRA}} Françoise Durr<br>{{flagicon|NED}} Betty Stöve || 7–6, 6–7, 6–4
	|-bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
	| 1978 || US Open <small>(4th) || {{flagicon|TCH}} ] || {{flagicon|AUS}} ]<br>{{flagicon|AUS}} ] || 7–6, 6–4
	|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
	| 1979 || Wimbledon <small>(10th) || {{flagicon|TCH}} Martina Navratilova || {{flagicon|NED}} Betty Stöve<br>{{flagicon|AUS}} Wendy Turnbull || 5–7, 6–3, 6–2
	|-bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
	| 1980 || US Open <small>(5th) || {{flagicon|TCH}} Martina Navratilova || {{flagicon|USA}} ]<br>{{flagicon|NED}} Betty Stöve || 7–6, 7–5
	|}		|}
			===Grand Slam tournament timeline===
	====Runner-ups (13)====
			{{Performance key|short=yes|active=no}}
	{| class="sortable wikitable"
			{|class=wikitable style=text-align:center;font-size:90%
	|-
			!Tournament!!'59!!'60!!'61!!'62!!'63!!'64!!'65!!'66!!'67!!'68!!'69!!'70!!]!!]!!]!!]!!]!!]!!]!!]!!]!!]!!]!!]!!]!!]!!{{Tooltip|SR|Strike rate}}!!{{Tooltip|W–L|Win–loss}}
	|width="50"|'''Year
	|width="200"|'''Championship
	|width="200"|'''Partnering
	|width="230"|'''Opponents in Final
	|width="100"|'''Score in Final
	|-bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
	| 1962 || ] || {{flagicon|USA}} ] || {{flagicon|BRA}} ]<br>{{flagicon|USA}} ] || 4–6, 6–3, 6–2
	|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
	| 1964 || ] || {{flagicon|USA}} Karen Hantze Susman || {{flagicon|AUS}} ]<br>{{flagicon|AUS}} ] || 7–5, 6–2
	|-bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
	| 1965 || ] || {{flagicon|AUS}} ] || {{flagicon|AUS}} Margaret Court<br>{{flagicon|AUS}} Lesley Turner Bowrey || 1–6, 6–2, 6–3
	|-bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
	| 1965 || U.S. Championships <small>(2nd) || {{flagicon|USA}} Karen Hantze Susman || {{flagicon|USA}} ]<br>{{flagicon|USA}} ] || 6–4, 6–4
	|-bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
	| 1966 || U.S. Championships <small>(3rd) || {{flagicon|USA}} ] || {{flagicon|BRA}} Maria Bueno<br>{{flagicon|USA}} Nancy Richey Gunter || 6–3, 6–4
	|-bgcolor="#EBC2AF"
	| 1968 || ] || {{flagicon|USA}} Rosemary Casals || {{flagicon|FRA}} ]<br>{{flagicon|GBR}} ] || 7–5, 4–6, 6–4
	|-bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
	| 1968 || US Open <small>(4th) || {{flagicon|USA}} Rosemary Casals || {{flagicon|BRA}} Maria Bueno<br> {{flagicon|AUS}} Margaret Court || 4–6, 9–7, 8–6
	|-bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
	| 1969 || Australian Open <small>(2nd) || {{flagicon|USA}} Rosemary Casals || {{flagicon|AUS}} Margaret Court<br>{{flagicon|AUS}} Lesley Turner Bowrey || 6–4, 6–4
	|-bgcolor="#EBC2AF"
	| 1970 || French Open <small>(2nd) || {{flagicon|USA}} Rosemary Casals || {{flagicon|FRA}} Françoise Durr<br>{{flagicon|FRA}} ] || 6–1, 3–6, 6–3
	|-bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
	| 1973 || US Open <small>(5th)|| {{flagicon|USA}} Rosemary Casals || {{flagicon|AUS}} Margaret Court<br>{{flagicon|GBR}} ] || 3–6, 6–3, 7–5
	|-bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
	| 1975 || US Open <small>(6th) || {{flagicon|USA}} Rosemary Casals || {{flagicon|AUS}} Margaret Court<br>{{flagicon|GBR}} Virginia Wade || 7–5, 2–6, 7–6
	|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
	| 1976 || Wimbledon <small>(2nd) || {{flagicon|NED}} ] || {{flagicon|USA}} ]<br>{{flagicon|TCH}} ] || 6–1, 3–6, 7–5
	|-bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
	| 1979 || US Open <small>(7th) || {{flagicon|TCH}} Martina Navratilova || {{flagicon|NED}} Betty Stöve<br>{{flagicon|AUS}} ] || 7–5, 6–3
	|}
	===Mixed doubles===
	====Wins (11)====
	{| class="sortable wikitable"
	|-
	|width="50"|'''Year
	|width="200"|'''Championship
	|width="200"|'''Partnering
	|width="230"|'''Opponents in Final
	|width="100"|'''Score in Final
	|-bgcolor="#EBC2AF"
	| 1967 || ] || {{flagicon|AUS}} ] || {{flagicon|GBR}} ]<br>{{flagicon|ROM}} ] || 6–3, 6–1
	|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
	| 1967 || ] || {{flagicon|AUS}} Owen Davidson || {{flagicon|BRA}} ]<br>{{flagicon|AUS}} ] || 7–5, 6–2
	|-bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
	| 1967 || ] || {{flagicon|AUS}} Owen Davidson || {{flagicon|USA}} ]<br>{{flagicon|USA}} ] || 6–3, 6–2
	|-bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
	| 1968 || ] || {{flagicon|AUS}} ] || {{flagicon|AUS}} ]<br>{{flagicon|AUS}} ] || walkover
	|-bgcolor="#EBC2AF"
	| 1970 || French Open <small>(2nd) || {{flagicon|RSA|1928}} ] || {{flagicon|FRA}} ]<br>{{flagicon|FRA}} ] || 6–2, 6–4
	|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
	| 1971 || Wimbledon <small>(2nd) || {{flagicon|AUS}} Owen Davidson || {{flagicon|AUS}} Margaret Court<br>{{flagicon|USA}} ] || 3–6, 6–2, 15–13
	|-bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
	| 1971 || US Open <small>(2nd) || {{flagicon|AUS}} Owen Davidson || {{flagicon|FRA}} ]<br>{{flagicon|NED}} ] || 6–3, 7–5
	|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
	| 1973 || Wimbledon <small>(3rd) || {{flagicon|AUS}} Owen Davidson || {{flagicon|USA}} ]<br>{{flagicon|MEX}} ] || 6–3, 6–2
	|-bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
	| 1973 || US Open <small>(3rd) || {{flagicon|AUS}} Owen Davidson || {{flagicon|AUS}} Margaret Court<br>{{flagicon|USA}} ] || 6–3, 3–6, 7–6
	|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
	| 1974 || Wimbledon <small>(4th) || {{flagicon|AUS}} Owen Davidson || {{flagicon|GBR}} ]<br>{{flagicon|GBR}} ] || 6–3, 9–7
	|-bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
	| 1976 || US Open <small>(4th) || {{flagicon|AUS}} ] || {{flagicon|RSA|1928}} ]<br>{{flagicon|NED}} Betty Stöve || 3–6, 6–2, 7–5
	|}
	====Runner-ups (7)====
	{| class="sortable wikitable"
	|-
	|width="50"|'''Year
	|width="200"|'''Championship
	|width="200"|'''Partnering
	|width="230"|'''Opponents in Final
	|width="100"|'''Score in Final
	|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
	| 1966 || ] || {{flagicon|USA}} ] || {{flagicon|AUS}} ]<br>{{flagicon|AUS}} ] || 4–6, 6–3, 6–3
	|-bgcolor="#EBC2AF"
	| 1968 || ] || {{flagicon|AUS}} ] || {{flagicon|FRA}} ]<br>{{flagicon|FRA}} ] || 6–1, 6–4
	|-bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
	| 1975 || ] || {{flagicon|AUS}} ] || {{flagicon|USA}} ]<br>{{flagicon|USA}} ] || 6–3, 7–6
	|-bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
	| 1977 || US Open <small>(2nd) || {{flagicon|USA}} ] || {{flagicon|RSA|1928}} ]<br>{{flagicon|NED}} ] || 6–2, 3–6, 6–3
	|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
	| 1978 || Wimbledon <small>(2nd) || {{flagicon|AUS}} ] || {{flagicon|RSA|1928}} Frew McMillan<br>{{flagicon|NED}} Betty Stöve || 6–2, 6–2
	|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
	| 1978 || US Open <small>(3rd) || {{flagicon|AUS}} Ray Ruffels || {{flagicon|RSA|1928}} Frew McMillan<br>{{flagicon|NED}} Betty Stöve || 6–3, 7–6
	|-bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
	| 1983 || Wimbledon <small>(3rd) || {{flagicon|USA}} ] || {{flagicon|GBR}} ]<br>{{flagicon|AUS}} ] || 6–7, 7–6, 7–5
	|}
	==Career finals==
	===Singles (183)===
	====Wins (129)====
	{| class="sortable wikitable"
	|width="40" |'''No.
	|width="160" |'''Week of
	|width="690" |'''Tournament Name and Location
	|width="95" |'''Surface
	|width="175" |'''Opponent in Final
	|width="120" |'''Score in Final
	|-
	| 1.
	| ], ]
	| ] and District Women's Grass Court Championships, ], ]
	| Grass
	| ]
	| 6–1, 6–0
	|-
	| 2.
	| ], ]
	| Pennsylvania Lawn Tennis Championships, ], U.S.
	| Grass
	| ]
	| 6–3, 6–4
	|-
	| 3.
	| ], ]
	| Philadelphia and District Women's Grass Court Championships, Pennsylvania, U.S. <small>(2)
	| Grass
	| ]
	| 6–3, 6–4
	|-
	| 4.
	| ], ]
	| Pasadena Metropolitan Tournament, ], U.S.
	| Hard
	| Carole Caldwell Graebner <small>(2)
	| 6–3, 3–6, 9–7
	|-
	| 5.
	| ], ]
	| Pasadena Metropolitan Tournament, Pasadena, California, U.S. <small>(2)
	| Hard
	| ]
	| 6–2, 6–2
	|-
	| 6.
	| ], ]
	| Southern California Championships, ], U.S.
	| Hard
	| ]
	| 6–4, 6–3
	|-
	| 7.
	| ], ]
	| ] Championships, ]
	| Grass
	| Carole Caldwell Graebner <small>(3)
	| 6–4, 6–3
	|-
	| 8.
	| ], ]
	| ] Invitational Tennis Tournament, ], U.S.
	| Hard
	| ]
	| 2–6, 6–1, 6–0
	|-
	| 9.
	| ], ]
	| Ojai Valley Tournament, ], U.S.
	| Hard
	| ]
	| 3–6, 6–1, 6–4
	|-
	| 10.
	| ], ]
	| Eastern Grass Court Championships, ], U.S.
	| Grass
	| ]
	| 7–5, 3–6, 8–6
	|-
	| 11.
	| ], ]
	| Essex County Club Invitational, ], ], U.S.
	| Grass
	| ]
	| 6–4, 4–6, 11–9
	|-
	| 12.
	| ], ]
	| Ojai Valley Tournament, Ojai, California, U.S. <small>(2)
	| Hard
	| ]
	| 6–4, 6–2
	|-
	| 13.
	| ], ]
	| Southern California Championships, Los Angeles, U.S. <small>(2)
	| Hard
	| Kathleen Harter <small>(2)
	| 6–3, 6–1
	|-
	| 14.
	| ], ]
	| California State Championships, ], U.S.
	| Hard
	| ]
	| 6–2, 8–6
	|-
	| 15.
	| ], ]
	| Pennsylvania Lawn Tennis Championships, Merion, U.S. <small>(2)
	| Grass
	| Carole Caldwell Graebner <small>(4)
	| 6–1, 6–2
	|-
	| 16.
	| ], ]
	| Eastern Grass Court Championships, South Orange, New Jersey, U.S. <small> (2)
	| Grass
	| ]
	| 7–5, 6–3
	|-
	| 17.
	| ], ]
	| Essex County Club Invitational, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, U.S. <small>(2)
	| Grass
	| ]
	| 6–3, 10–8
	|-
	| 18.
	| ], ]
	| ], ], U.S.
	| Indoor
	| ]
	| 6–0, 6–2
	|-
	| 19.
	| ], ]
	| Thunderbird Invitational Tennis Tournament, ], U.S.
	| Hard
	| Mary Ann Eisel <small>(2)
	| 6–3, 6–2
	|-
	| 20.
	| ], ]
	| ]n Tennis Championships, ]<sup>1</sup>
	| Hard
	| ]
	| 6–3, 6–2
	|-
	| 21.
	| ], ]
	| Ojai Valley Tournament, Ojai, California, U.S. <small>(3)
	| Hard
	| Rosemary Casals <small>(2)
	| 6–2, 6–4
	|-
	| 22.
	| ], ]
	| Southern California Championships, Los Angeles, U.S. <small>(3)
	| Hard
	| ]
	| 6–3, 10–8
	|-
	| 23.
	| ], ]
	| U.S. Hard Court Championships, ], U.S.
	| Hard
	| ]
	| 7–5, 6–0
	|-
	| 24.
	| ], ]
	| Tulsa Invitational Tennis Championship, ], U.S.
	| Clay
	| Carol Hanks Aucamp <small>(2)
	| 6–0, 6–1
	|-
	| 25.
	| ], ]
	| North of ] Championships, ]
	| Grass
	| ]
	| 6–2, 6–1
	|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
	| 26.
	| ], ]
	| ], ]
	| Grass
	| ]
	| 6–3, 3–6, 6–1
	|-
	| 27.
	| ], ]
	| Piping Rock Invitational, ], U.S.
	| Grass
	| ]
	| 6–2, 6–0
	|-
	| 28.
	| ], ]
	| U.S. Indoor Championships, ], U.S. <small>(2)
	| Indoor
	| ]
	| 6–1, 6–0
	|-
	| 29.
	| ], ]
	| Pacific Coast Indoor Tennis Championships, ], U.S.
	| Indoor
	| Patti Hogan <small>(2)
	| 10–8, 7–5
	|-
	| 30.
	| ], ]
	| South African Tennis Championships, Johannesburg <small>(2)
	| Hard
	| Maria Bueno <small>(2)
	| 7–5, 5–7, 6–2
	|-
	| 31.
	| ], ]
	| California State Championships, Portola Valley, U.S. <small>(2)
	| Hard
	| Rosemary Casals <small>(3)
	| 6–1, 6–3
	|-
	| 32.
	| ], ]
	| Charlotte Invitation Tennis Tournament, ], U.S.
	| Clay
	| ]
	| 6–1, 6–2
	|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
	| 33.
	| ], ]
	| Wimbledon, London <small>(2)
	| Grass
	| ]
	| 6–3, 6–4
	|-
	| 34.
	| ], ]
	| Eastern Grass Court Championships, South Orange, New Jersey, U.S. <small> (3)
	| Grass
	| Kathleen Harter <small>(3)
	| 4–6, 6–2, 6–3
	|-
	| 35.
	| ], ]
	| Essex County Club Invitational, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, U.S. <small>(3)
	| Grass
	| ]
	| 8–6, 6–1
	|- bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
	| 36.
	| ], ]
	| ], ]
	| Grass
	| Ann Haydon Jones <small>(2)
	| 11–9, 6–4
	|-
	| 37.
	| ], ]
	| , Los Angeles, U.S.
	| Hard
	| Rosemary Casals <small>(4)
	| 6–0, 6–4
	|-
	| 38.
	| ], ]
	| South American and Argentine Tennis Championships, ]
	| Clay
	| Rosemary Casals <small>(5)
	| 6–3, 3–6, 6–2
	|-
	| 39.
	| ], ]
	| ] Championships, ]
	| Grass
	| ]
	| 6–3, 3–6, 7–5
	|-
	| 40.
	| ], ]
	| ] Championships, ]
	| Grass
	| Margaret Court <small>(2)
	| 6–2, 6–4
	|-
	| 41.
	| ], ]
	| ]n Championships, ]
	| Grass
	| ]
	| 6–2, 6–4
	|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
	| 42.
	| ], ]
	| ], Melbourne, Australia
	| Grass
	| Lesley Turner Bowrey <small>(2)
	| 6–3, 3–6, 7–5
	|-
	| 43.
	| ], ]
	| New England Women's Invitational Indoor Tennis Championships, ], U.S.
	| Indoor
	| Mary Ann Eisel <small>(3)
	| 6–3, 6–4
	|-
	| 44.
	| ], ]
	| U.S. Indoor Championships, Winchester, Massachusetts, U.S. <small> (3)
	| Indoor
	| Rosemary Casals <small>(6)
	| 6–3, 9–7
	|-
	| 45.
	| ], ]
	| ] Indoor (round robin), ], U.S.
	| Indoor
	| Rosemary Casals <small>(7)</small><br>Mary Ann Eisel <small>(4)
	| 31–20<br>31–25
	|-
	| 46.
	| ], ]
	| National Tennis League Professional Tour, ]
	| Indoor
	| Rosemary Casals <small>(8)
	| 10–6
	|-
	| 47.
	| ], ]
	| National Tennis League Professional Tour, ]
	| ???
	| Ann Haydon Jones <small>(3)
	| 9–7, 6–4
	|-
	| 48.
	| ], ]
	| Wembley Professional Lawn Tennis Tournament, London
	| Indoor
	| Ann Haydon Jones <small>(4)
	| 4–6, 9–7, 7–5
	|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
	| 49.
	| ], ]
	| Wimbledon, London <small> (3)
	| Grass
	| Judy Tegart Dalton <small>(2)
	| 9–7, 7–5
	|-
	| 50.
	| ], ]
	| National Tennis League Professional Tour, Los Angeles, U.S.
	| Indoor
	| Ann Haydon Jones <small>(5)
	| 12–10, 6–3
	|-
	| 51.
	| ], ]
	| National Tennis League Professional Tour, ], U.S.
	| ???
	| Rosemary Casals <small>(9)
	| 10–8, 6–4
	|-
	| 52.
	| ], ]
	| International Pro Tennis Invitational, ] and ], U.S.
	| Indoor
	| Ann Haydon Jones <small>(6)
	| 6–3, 6–2
	|-
	| 53.
	| ], ] (played)
	| International Pro Tennis Invitational, ], U.S.
	| Indoor
	| Ann Haydon Jones <small>(7)
	| 6–3, 6–3
	|-
	| 54.
	| ], ]
	| International Pro Tennis Invitational, Los Angeles, U.S. <small>(2)
	| Indoor
	| Ann Haydon Jones <small>(8)
	| 17–15,<sup>2</sup> 6–3
	|-
	| 55.
	| ], ]
	| South African Open, Johannesburg <small>(3)
	| Hard
	| Nancy Richey Gunter <small>(2)
	| 6–3, 6–4
	|-
	| 56.
	| ], ]
	| ] Open, ]
	| Hard
	| ]
	| 6–4, 6–1
	|-
	| 57.
	| ], ]
	| Irish Open, Dublin <small>(2)
	| Grass
	| ]
	| 6–2, 6–2
	|-
	| 58.
	| ], ]
	| Saint Louis Professional Tournament, ], U.S.
	| Indoor ?
	| Rosemary Casals <small>(10)
	| 6–4, 6–2
	|-
	| 59.
	| ], ]
	| Masters Tennis Tournament, Binghampton, New York, U.S. <small>(2)
	| ???
	| Ann Haydon Jones <small>(9)
	| 10–8, 3–6, 6–4
	|-
	| 60.
	| ], ]
	| Cal-Neva Professional Tennis Tournament, ], U.S.
	| ???
	| Rosemary Casals <small>(11)
	| 6–0, 6–4
	|-
	| 61.
	| ], ]
	| ], Los Angeles, U.S. <small>(2)
	| Hard
	| Ann Haydon Jones <small>(10)
	| 6–2, 6–3
	|-
	| 62.
	| ], ]
	| Midland Racquet Club Invitational, ], U.S.
	| ???
	| Rosemary Casals <small>(12)
	| 6–3, 6–3
	|-
	| 63.
	| ], ]
	| Stockholm Indoor Open, ]
	| Indoor
	| Julie Heldman <small>(2)
	| 9–7, 6–2
	|-
	| 64.
	| ], ]
	| Dunlop International, ], Australia
	| Grass
	| Margaret Court <small>(3)
	| 6–2, 4–6, 6–3
	|-
	| 65.
	| ], ]
	| ]
	| ???
	| Rosemary Casals <small>(13)
	| 6–1, 6–0
	|-
	| 66.
	| ], ]
	| ] Open, ] <small>(2)
	| Hard
	| Margaret Court <small>(4)
	| 6–4, 2–6, 6–2
	|-
	| 67.
	| ], ]
	| ], Rome<sup>3</sup>
	| Clay
	| Julie Heldman <small>(3)
	| 6–1, 6–3
	|-
	| 68.
	| ], ]
	| ] Invitational, ], U.S.
	| Indoor (clay)
	| Nancy Richey Gunter <small>(3)
	| 6–3, 6–3
	|-
	| 69.
	| ], ]
	| Embassy Indoor Tennis Championships, ], London
	| Indoor
	| Ann Haydon Jones <small>(11)
	| 8–6, 3–6, 6–1
	|-
	| 70.
	| ], ]
	| British Motor Car Invitational (Virginia Slims), San Francisco, U.S.
	| Indoor
	| Rosemary Casals <small>(14)
	| 6–3, 6–4
	|-
	| 71.
	| ], ]
	| Billie Jean King Invitational (Virginia Slims), ], U.S.
	| Indoor
	| Rosemary Casals <small>(15)
	| 6–1, 6–2
	|-
	| 72.
	| ], ]
	| Virginia Slims Professional Tennis Tournament, ], U.S.
	| Indoor
	| Rosemary Casals <small>(16)
	| 6–3, 6–2
	|-
	| 73.
	| ], ]
	| Virginia Slims Invitational, ], U.S.
	| Indoor
	| Rosemary Casals <small>(17)
	| 1–6, 7–6, 6–4
	|-
	| 74.
	| ], ]
	| Virginia Slims Invitational, ] and ], U.S.
	| Indoor
	| Ann Haydon Jones <small>(12)
	| 6–4, 6–1
	|-
	| 75.
	| ], ]
	| U.S. Indoor Championships (Virginia Slims), Winchester, Massachusetts, U.S. <small> (4)
	| Indoor
	| Rosemary Casals <small>(18)
	| 4–6, 6–2, 6–3
	|-
	| 76.
	| ], ]
	| Kmart Invitational (Virginia Slims), ] and ], U.S.
	| Indoor
	| Rosemary Casals <small>(19)
	| 3–6, 6–1, 6–2
	|-
	| 77.
	| ], ]
	| Virginia Slims Invitational, ], U.S.
	| ???
	| Rosemary Casals <small>(20)
	| 4–6, 7–5, 6–1
	|-
	| 78.
	| ], ]
	| ], ], ]
	| Clay
	| ]
	| 6–3, 6–2
	|-
	| 79.
	| ], ]
	| Rothmans North of England Tennis Championships, ], United Kingdom
	| Grass
	| Rosemary Casals <small>(21)
	| 6–3, 6–3
	|-
	| 80.
	| ], ]
	| Austrian Open, ]
	| Clay
	| ]
	| 6–2, 4–6, 7–5
	|-
	| 81.
	| ], ]
	| Virginia Slims International, ], U.S.
	| Indoor
	| Kerry Melville Reid <small>(2)
	| 6–4, 4–6, 6–1
	|-
	| 82.
	| ], ]
	| U.S. Women's Clay Court Championships, ], U.S.
	| Clay
	| ]
	| 6–4, 7–5
	|- bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
	| 83.
	| ], ]
	| US Open, New York City <small> (2)
	| Grass
	| Rosemary Casals <small>(22)
	| 6–4, 7–6(2)
	|-
	| 84.
	| ], ]
	| Virginia Slims Invitational, ], U.S.
	| ???
	| Rosemary Casals <small>(23)
	| 6–1, 4–6, 6–3
	|-
	| 85.
	| ], ]
	| Virginia Slims Thunderbird Invitational, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.<sup>4</sup> <small>(2)
	| Hard
	| Rosemary Casals <small>(24)
	| 7–5, 6–1
	|-
	| 86.
	| ], ]
	| Embassy Indoor Championships (British Indoors), ], London
	| Indoor
	| ]
	| 6–1, 5–7, 7–5
	|-
	| 87.
	| ], ]
	| British Motors Pro Tennis Championships (Virginia Slims), San Francisco, U.S. <small>(2)
	| Indoor
	| Kerry Melville Reid <small>(3)
	| 7–6, 7–6
	|-
	| 88.
	| ], ]
	| Virginia Slims Invitational, Richmond, Virginia, U.S.<sup>5</sup> <small>(2)
	| Clay (indoor)
	| Nancy Richey Gunter <small>(4)
	| 6–3, 6–4
	|-
	| 89.
	| ], ]
	| Virginia Slims Conquistadores, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
	| Hard
	| Françoise Durr <small>(2)
	| 6–0, 6–3
	|-
	| 90.
	| ], ]
	| Virginia Slims Indoor, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
	| Indoor
	| Nancy Richey Gunter <small>(5)
	| 6–3, 6–3
	|- bgcolor="#EBC2AF"
	| 91.
	| ], ]
	| ], Paris
	| Clay
	| ]
	| 6–3, 6–3
	|-
	| 92.
	| ], ]
	| John Player Round Robin, ], United Kingdom
	| Grass
	| Virginia Wade <small>(2)</small><br> Rosemary Casals <small>(25)
	| 6–7, 6–3, 6–4<br> 6–7, 6–4, 7–5
	|-
	| 93.
	| ], ]
	| W.D. & H.O. Wills Open, ], United Kingdom
	| Grass
	| Kerry Melville Reid <small>(4)
	| 6–3, 6–2
	|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
	| 94.
	| ], ]
	| Wimbledon, London <small> (4)
	| Grass
	| Evonne Goolagong Cawley <small>(2)
	| 6–3, 6–3
	|- bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
	| 95.
	| ], ]
	| US Open, New York City <small> (3)
	| Grass
	| Kerry Melville Reid <small>(5)
	| 6–3, 7–5
	|-
	| 96.
	| ], ]
	| Four Roses Premium Tennis Classic, Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
	| Clay
	| Margaret Court <small>(5)
	| 6–2, 6–2
	|-
	| 97.
	| ], ]
	| Virginia Slims Phoenix Thunderbird, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. <small>(3)
	| Hard
	| Margaret Court <small>(6)
	| 7–6, 6–3
	|-
	| 98.
	| ], ]
	| Virginia Slims, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. <small>(3)
	| Indoor
	| Rosemary Casals <small>(26)
	| 5–7, 6–2, 6–4
	|-
	| 99.
	| ], ]
	| Toray Sillok, ]
	| Indoor
	| Nancy Richey Gunter <small>(6)
	| 7–6, 5–7, 6–3
	|-
	| 100.
	| ], ]
	| Gulf Coast Professional Women's Tennis Tournament, ], U.S.
	| ???
	| Françoise Durr <small>(3)
	| 6–3, 7–5
	|-
	| 101.
	| ], ]
	| John Player Tournament, Nottingham, United Kingdom <small>(2)
	| Grass
	| Virginia Wade <small>(3)
	| 8–6, 6–4
	|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
	| 102.
	| ], ]
	| Wimbledon, London <small> (5)
	| Grass
	| ]
	| 6–0, 7–5
	|-
	| 103.
	| ], ]
	| Virginia Slims, ], U.S.
	| ???
	| ]
	| 6–4, 6–2
	|-
	| 104.
	| ], ]
	| Thunderbird Classic (Virginia Slims), Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. <small>(4)
	| Hard
	| Nancy Richey Gunter <small>(7)
	| 6–1, 6–3
	|-
	| 105.
	| ], ]
	| Virginia Slims of Hawaii, ], U.S.
	| Hard
	| ]
	| 6–1, 6–1
	|-
	| 106.
	| ], ]
	| Gunze Classic, Tokyo
	| ??? (indoor)
	| Nancy Richey Gunter <small>(8)
	| 6–4, 6–4
	|-
	| 107.
	| ], ]
	| Virginia Slims, San Francisco, U.S. <small>(3)
	| Indoor
	| Chris Evert <small>(2)
	| 7–6, 6–2
	|-
	| 108.
	| ], ]
	| Virginia Slims of Washington, ], U.S.
	| Indoor
	| Kerry Melville Reid <small>(6)
	| 6–0, 6–2
	|-
	| 109.
	| ], ]
	| Virginia Slims of ], U.S.
	| Indoor
	| Rosemary Casals <small>(27)
	| 6–1, 6–1
	|-
	| 110.
	| ], ]
	| Akron Open (Virginia Slims), Ohio, U.S.
	| Indoor
	| Nancy Richey Gunter <small>(9)
	| 6–3, 7–5
	|-
	| 111.
	| ], ]
	| U.S. Indoor Championships (Virginia Slims), New York City, U.S. <small>(5)
	| Indoor
	| Chris Evert <small>(3)
	| 6–3, 3–6, 6–2
	|- bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
	| 112.
	| ], ]
	| US Open, New York City <small> (4)
	| Grass
	| Evonne Goolagong Cawley <small>(3)
	| 3–6, 6–3, 7–5
	|-
	| 113.
	| ], ]
	| Virginia Slims of ], U.S.
	| Indoor
	| Chris Evert <small>(4)
	| 6–2, 6–3
	|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
	| 114.
	| ], ]
	| Wimbledon, London <small> (6)
	| Grass
	| Evonne Goolagong Cawley <small>(4)
	| 6–0, 6–1
	|-
	| 115.
	| ], ]
	| Lionel Cup, ], U.S.
	| Indoor
	| ]
	| 6–3, 3–6, 6–3
	|-
	| 116.
	| ], ]
	| Lionel Cup, ], U.S.
	| Indoor
	| ]
	| 6–1, 6–1
	|-
	| 117.
	| ], ]
	| Thunderbirds Tennis Tournament, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. <small>(5)
	| Hard
	| ]
	| 1–6, 6–1, 6–0
	|-
	| 118.
	| ], ]
	| ]
	| Hard (indoor) (?)
	| Betty Stöve <small>(2)
	| 6–1, 6–4
	|-
	| 119.
	| ], ]
	| Borinquen Classic (Virginia Slims), ]
	| Hard
	| ]
	| 6–1, 6–3
	|-
	| 120.
	| ], ]
	| Gunze World Tennis Tournament, ] and Tokyo, Japan <small>(2)
	| Hard (indoor)
	| ]
	| 7–5, 5–7, 6–1
	|-
	| 121.
	| ], ]
	| Bremar Cup, London
	| Indoor
	| Virginia Wade <small>(4)
	| 6–3, 6–1
	|-
	| 122.
	| ], ]
	| Toray Sillok, Tokyo <small>(2)
	| Indoor
	| Evonne Goolagong Cawley <small>(5)
	| 6–4, 7–5
	|-
	| 123.
	| ], ]
	| Stockholm Open, Sweden
	| Indoor
	| Betty Stöve <small>(3)
	| 6–3, 6–7, 7–5
	|-
	| 124.
	| ], ]
	| Avon Championships of Detroit, Michigan, U.S. <small>(2)
	| Indoor
	| Evonne Goolagong Cawley <small>(6)
	| 6–3, 6–0
	|-
	| 125.
	| ], ]
	| Avon Championships of Houston, Texas, U.S. <small>(2)
	| Indoor
	| Martina Navratilova <small>(2)
	| 6–1, 6–3
	|-		|-
			| style="text-align:left; background:#efefef;"|]
	| 126.
			|A
	| ], ]
			|A
	| Toray Sillok, Tokyo <small>(3)
			|A
	| Indoor
			|A
	| ]
			|A
	| 7–5, 6–4
			|A
			| style="background:yellow;"|]
			|A
			|A
			|bgcolor=lime|]
			| style="background:thistle;"|]
			|A
			|A
			|A
			|A
			|A
			|A
			|A
			|A/A
			|A
			|A
			|A
			|A
			| style="background:#ffebcd;"|]
			| style="background:#afeeee;"|]
			|A
			| style="background:#efefef;"|1 / 5
			| style="background:#efefef;"|16–4
	|-		|-
			| style="text-align:left; background:#efefef;"|]
	| 127.
			|A
	| ], ]
			|A
	| ], United Kingdom
			|A
	| Grass
			|A
	| ]
			|A
	| 6–2, 6–1
			|A
			|A
			|A
			| style="background:#ffebcd;"|]
			| style="background:yellow;"|]
			| style="background:#ffebcd;"|]
			| style="background:#ffebcd;"|]
			|A
			|bgcolor=lime|]
			|A
			|A
			|A
			|A
			|A
			|A
			|A
			| style="background:#ffebcd;"|]
			|A
			| style="background:#afeeee;"|]
			|A
			|A
			| style="background:#efefef;"|1 / 7
			| style="background:#efefef;"|21–6
	|-		|-
			| style="text-align:left; background:#efefef;"|]
	| 128.
			|A
	| ], ]
			|A
	| Kentish Times Festival, ], United Kingdom
			| style="background:#afeeee;"|]
	| Grass
			| style="background:#ffebcd;"|]
	| ]
			| style="background:thistle;"|]
	| 6–4, 6–3
			| style="background:yellow;"|]
			| style="background:yellow;"|]
			|bgcolor=lime|]
			|bgcolor=lime|]
			|bgcolor=lime|]
			| style="background:thistle;"|]
			| style="background:thistle;"|]
			| style="background:yellow;"|]
			|bgcolor=lime|]
			|bgcolor=lime|]
			| style="background:#ffebcd;"|]
			|bgcolor=lime|]
			|A
			| style="background:#ffebcd;"|]
			| style="background:#ffebcd;"|]
			| style="background:#ffebcd;"|]
			| style="background:#ffebcd;"|]
			|A
			| style="background:yellow;"|]
			| style="background:yellow;"|]
			|A
			| style="background:#efefef;"|6 / 21
			| style="background:#efefef;"|95–15
	|-		|-
			| style="text-align:left; background:#efefef;"|]
	| 129.
			| style="background:#afeeee;"|]
	| ], ]
			| style="background:#afeeee;"|]
	| ], Birmingham, United Kingdom <small>(2)
			| style="background:#afeeee;"|]
	| Grass
			| style="background:#afeeee;"|]
	| ]
			| style="background:#afeeee;"|]
	| 6–0, 7–5
			| style="background:#ffebcd;"|]
			| style="background:thistle;"|]
			| style="background:#afeeee;"|]
			|bgcolor=lime|''']'''
			| style="background:thistle;"|]
			| style="background:#ffebcd;"|]
			|A
			|bgcolor=lime|]
			|bgcolor=lime|]
			| style="background:#afeeee;"|]
			|bgcolor=lime|]
			|A
			|A
			| style="background:#ffebcd;"|]
			|A
			| style="background:yellow;"|]
			|A
			|A
			| style="background:#afeeee;"|]
			|A
			|A
			| style="background:#efefef;"|4 / 18
			| style="background:#efefef;"|58–14
			|- style="background:#efefef;"
			| style="text-align:left; "|SR
			|0 / 1
			|0 / 1
			|0 / 2
			|0 / 2
			|0 / 2
			|0 / 2
			|0 / 3
			|1 / 2
			|2 / 3
			|2 / 4
			|0 / 4
			|0 / 2
			|1 / 2
			|3 / 3
			|1 / 2
			|1 / 2
			|1 / 1
			|0 / 0
			|0 / 2
			|0 / 1
			|0 / 2
			|0 / 2
			|0 / 0
			|0 / 4
			|0 / 2
			|0 / 0
			!12 / 51
			!190–39
	|}		|}
			* Note: The Australian Open was held twice in 1977, in January and December.
	<sup>1</sup> This was the first important singles title of King's career.<br>
	<sup>2</sup> The crowd of 7,000 booed when a tiebreak was announced at 12–12. Both King and Jones refused to play a tiebreak, and a happy crowd got its moneys worth. King got a standing ovation when she won the 17–15 set.<br>
	<sup>3</sup> This was the first important clay court title of King's career.<br>
	<sup>4</sup> With this tournament championship, King became the first woman ever to win more than U.S.$100,000 in prize money during a calendar year.<br>
	<sup>5</sup> This victory snapped Gunter's 13-match winning streak on indoor clay courts.
			== Records ==
	====Runner-ups (54)====
			* Most singles matches played in a season (1971): 125.
			* Most singles matches won in a season (1971): 112.
			* Most doubles titles won in a season (1971): 21.
			* Most singles and doubles titles won in a season (1971): 38.
			* Most singles and doubles matches won in a season (1971): 192.
			* Most doubles matches won in a season (1971): 80.
			* Oldest singles title winner on the WTA Tour (Birmingham 1983): 39 years, 7 months.
			== Books ==
	{| class="sortable wikitable"
			* {{Cite book |last1=King |first1=Billie Jean |last2=Brennan |first2=Christine |year=2008 |title=Pressure Is a Privilege: Lessons I've Learned from Life and the Battle of the Sexes |url=https://archive.org/details/pressureisprivil00king |url-access=registration |location=New York |publisher=LifeTime Media |isbn=978-0-9816368-0-1 |oclc=1036819775}}
	|width="40" |'''No.
			* {{Cite book |last1=King |first1=Billie Jean |last2=Howard |first2=Johnette |first3=Maryanne |last3=Vollers |author-mask=2 |year=2021 |title=All In: An Autobiography |location=New York |publisher=Alfred A. Knopf |isbn=978-1-101-94733-3}}
	|width="160" |'''Week of
	|width="690" |'''Tournament Name and Location
	|width="90" |'''Surface
	|width="190" |'''Opponent in Final
	|width="120" |'''Score in Final
	|-
	| 1.
	| April or May, 1961
	| Central California Championships, ], ]
	| ???
	| ]
	| ???
	|-
	| 2.
	| ], ]
	| Southern California Championships, ], U.S.
	| Hard
	| ]
	| 6–4, 6–1
	|-
	| 3.
	| ], ]
	| Southern California Championships, Los Angeles, U.S. <small>(2)
	| Hard
	| Karen Hantze Susman <small>(2)
	| 6–3, 6–4
	|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
	| 4.
	| ], ]
	| ], ]
	| Grass
	| ]
	| 6–3, 6–4
	|-
	| 5.
	| ], ]
	| , Los Angeles, U.S.
	| Hard
	| ]
	| 6–3, 6–3
	|-
	| 6.
	| ], ]
	| ] Indoor Invitational, ], U.S.
	| Indoor
	| ]
	| 6–2, 7–5
	|-
	| 7.
	| ], ]
	| Southern California Championships, Los Angeles, U.S. <small>(3)
	| Hard
	| Carole Caldwell Graebner <small>(2)
	| 7–5, 3–6, 6–1
	|-
	| 8.
	| ], ]
	| Piping Rock Invitational, ], U.S.
	| Grass
	| Nancy Richey Gunter <small>(2)
	| 6–3, 1–6, 6–4
	|-
	| 9.
	| ], ]
	| ], Los Angeles, U.S. <small>(2)
	| Hard
	| ]
	| 3–6, 6–3, 6–3
	|-
	| 10.
	| ], ]
	| ], ], ]
	| Grass
	| Margaret Court <small>(2)
	| 6–4, 6–3
	|-
	| 11.
	| ], ]
	| South Australian Championships, ]
	| Grass
	| ]
	| 2–6, 6–4, 6–1
	|- bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
	| 12.
	| ], ]
	| ], ]
	| Grass
	| Margaret Court <small>(3)
	| 8–6, 7–5
	|-
	| 13.
	| ], ]
	| New England Women's Indoors, ], U.S.
	| Indoor
	| ]
	| 6–4, 5–7, 11–9
	|-
	| 14.
	| ], ]
	| South Australian Championships, Adelaide, Australia <small>(2)
	| Grass
	| ]
	| 4–6, 6–1, 6–4
	|-
	| 15.
	| ], ]
	| National Tennis League, ] Pro, New York City
	| Indoor
	| ]
	| 6–4, 6–4
	|-
	| 16.
	| ], ]
	| National Tennis League, Colonial Pro Invitational, ], U.S.
	| ???
	| Ann Haydon Jones <small>(2)
	| 6–1, 6–2
	|- bgcolor="#FFFFCC"
	| 17.
	| ], ]
	| US Open, New York City <small>(2)
	| Grass
	| ]
	| 6–4, 6–2
	|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"
	| 18.
	| ], ]
	| ], ]
	| Grass
	| Margaret Court <small>(4)
	| 6–4, 6–1
	|-
	| 19.
	| ], ]
	| Wills Open, ], ]
	| Grass
	| Margaret Court <small>(5)
	| 6–3, 6–3
	|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
	| 20.
	| ], ]
	| Wimbledon, London <small>(2)
	| Grass
	| Ann Haydon Jones <small>(3)
	| 3–6, 6–3, 6–2
	|-
	| 21.
	| ], ]
	| Howard Hughes Open, ], U.S.
	| Hard
	| Nancy Richey Gunter <small>(3)
	| 2–6, 6–4, 6–1
	|-
	| 22.
	| ], ]
	| Professional tournament in connection with dedication of the Sherwood Center, ], ], U.S.
	| ?
	| ]
	| 8–6
	|-
	| 23.
	| ], ]
	| British Open Indoor Tennis Championships, ], London
	| Indoor
	| Ann Haydon Jones <small>(4)
	| 9–11, 6–2, 9–7
	|-
	| 24.
	| ], ]
	| International Tennis Players Association Indoor Open, ], ], U.S.
	| Indoor
	| Margaret Court <small>(6)
	| 6–3, 7–6
	|-
	| 25.
	| ], ]
	| ] Memorial Tennis Tournament, ], Texas, U.S.
	| Hard (?)
	| Margaret Court <small>(7)
	| 1–6, 6–3, 11–9
	|-
	| 26.
	| ], ]
	| ]n Open, ]
	| Hard
	| Margaret Court <small>(8)
	| 6–4, 1–6, 6–3
	|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
	| 27.
	| ], ]
	| Wimbledon, London <small>(3)
	| Grass
	| Margaret Court <small>(9)
	| 14–12, 11–9
	|-
	| 28.
	| ], ]
	| International Tennis Championships (]), ], U.S.
	| Clay
	| ]
	| 6–3, 3–6, 6–3
	|-
	| 29.
	| ], ]
	| Virginia Slims Invitational, ], U.S.
	| Indoor
	| Rosemary Casals <small>(2)
	| 6–4, 6–4
	|-
	| 30.
	| ], ]
	| World Championship (Virginia Slims), Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
	| ???
	| Ann Haydon Jones <small>(5)
	| 7–5, 6–4
	|-
	| 31.
	| ], ]
	| London Grass Courts Tennis Championships, ], London, United Kingdom
	| Indoor wood & outdoor grass
	| Margaret Court <small>(10)
	| 6–3, 3–6, 6–3 (grass)
	|-
	| 32.
	| ], ]
	| Virginia Slims Clay Court Championship, ], U.S.
	| Clay
	| Françoise <small>(2)
	| 6–4, 6–2
	|-
	| 33.
	| ], ]
	| International Lawn Tennis Championship, ]
	| Grass
	| Françoise Durr <small>(3)
	| 6–3, 6–0
	|-
	| 34.
	| ], ]
	| Virginia Slims International, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. <small>(2)
	| Clay
	| ]
	| 6–1, 6–0
	|-
	| 35.
	| ], ]
	| Maureen Connolly Brinker International Ladies Championship (Virginia Slims), Dallas, Texas, U.S. <small>(2)
	| Indoor
	| Nancy Richey Gunter <small>(4)
	| 7–6, 6–1
	|-
	| 36.
	| ], ]
	| Virginia Slims, ], U.S.
	| Clay
	| ]
	| 6–4, 6–3
	|-
	| 37.
	| ], ]
	| Virginia Slims, ], U.S.
	| Outdoor
	| Nancy Richey Gunter <small>(5)
	| 1–6, 6–4, 6–4
	|-
	| 38.
	| ], ]
	| Virginia Slims Grass Court Championships, ], U.S.
	| Grass
	| Margaret Court <small>(11)
	| 6–4, 6–1
	|-
	| 39.
	| ], ]
	| Golden Gate Pacific Coast Tennis Classic, ], U.S.
	| Hard
	| Margaret Court <small>(12)
	| 6–2, 6–4
	|-
	| 40.
	| ], ]
	| Virginia Slims, Chicago, U.S. <small>(2)
	| Indoor
	| Margaret Court <small>(13)
	| 6–2, 4–6, 6–4
	|-
	| 41.
	| ], ]
	| Virginia Slims of Massachusetts, ], U.S.
	| Indoor
	| Margaret Court <small>(14)
	| 6–2, 6–4
	|-
	| 42.
	| ], ]
	| ], ], U.S.
	| ???
	| Margaret Court <small>(15)
	| 6–3, 4–6, 6–2
	|-
	| 43.
	| ], ]
	| Lady Baltimore, ], U.S.
	| Indoor
	| Rosemary Casals <small>(3)
	| 3–6, 7–6(5–3), 6–4
	|-
	| 44.
	| ], ]
	| Virginia Slims of Mission Viejo, ], U.S.
	| Hard
	| Chris Evert <small>(2)
	| 6–3, 6–1
	|-
	| 45.
	| ], ]
	| Virginia Slims, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
	| Indoor
	| ]
	| 7–6(5–2), 6–1
	|-
	| 46.
	| ], ]
	| Virginia Slims, ], U.S.
	| Indoor
	| Chris Evert <small>(3)
	| 6–1, 6–1
	|-
	| 47.
	| ], ]
	| L'Eggs World Series of Tennis, ], U.S.
	| Hard
	| Chris Evert <small>(4)
	| 4–6, 6–3, 7–6(5–2)
	|-
	| 48.
	| ], ]
	| ], ], United Kingdom
	| Grass
	| Virginia Wade <small>(2)
	| 7–5, 4–6, 6–4
	|-
	| 49.
	| ], ]
	| ], ], U.S.
	| Clay
	| Chris Evert <small>(5)
	| 6–0, 6–1
	|-
	| 50.
	| ], ]
	| Colgate Series Championships, ], U.S.
	| Hard
	| Chris Evert <small>(6)
	| 6–2, 6–2
	|-
	| 51.
	| ], ]
	| Virginia Slims, ], U.S.
	| Indoor
	| ]
	| 1–6, 6–2, 6–2
	|-
	| 52.
	| ], ]
	| Virginia Slims, ], U.S.
	| Indoor
	| Martina Navratilova <small>(2)
	| 7–5, 2–6, 6–3
	|-
	| 53.
	| ], ]
	| Virginia Slims, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. <small>(2)
	| Indoor
	| Chris Evert <small>(7)
	| 6–0, 6–4
	|-
	| 54.
	| ], ]
	| ] Orbas, Argentina
	| Indoor
	| Martina Navratilova <small>(3)
	| 6–3, 6–4
	|}
	===Women's doubles===		==See also==
			{{Portal|Tennis|Sports}}
	====Wins====
			{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
	====Runner-ups====
			* ]
	==Grand Slam tournament timelines==
			* ]
	===Singles===
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			{{div col end}}
			== Explanatory notes==
	{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
			{{Notelist}}
	|- bgcolor="#efefef"
	! Tournament !! 1959 !! 1960 !! 1961 !! 1962 !! 1963 !! 1964 !! 1965 !! 1966 !! 1967 !! 1968 !! 1969 !! 1970 !! 1971 !! 1972 !! 1973 !! 1974 !! 1975 !! 1976 !! 1977 !!1978 !!1979 !!1980 !!1981 !!1982 !! 1983 !! 1984 !! Career SR
	|-
	| align="left" style="background:#EFEFEF;" | ]
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| style="background:yellow;" | SF
	| A
	| A
	| style="background:#00ff00;" | '''W'''
	| style="background:#D8BFD8;" | F
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A / A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
	| style="background:#afeeee;"|2R
	| A
	| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | '''1 / 5'''
	|-
	| align="left" style="background:#EFEFEF;" | ]
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
	| style="background:yellow;" | SF
	| style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
	| style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
	| A
	| style="background:#00ff00;" | '''W'''
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
	| A
	| style="background:#afeeee;"|3R
	| A
	| A
	| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | '''1 / 7'''
	|-
	| align="left" style="background:#EFEFEF;" | ]
	| A
	| A
	| style="background:#afeeee;"|2R
	| style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
	| style="background:#D8BFD8;" | F
	| style="background:yellow;" | SF
	| style="background:yellow;" | SF
	| style="background:#00ff00;" | '''W'''
	| style="background:#00ff00;" | '''W'''
	| style="background:#00ff00;" | '''W'''
	| style="background:#D8BFD8;" | F
	| style="background:#D8BFD8;" | F
	| style="background:yellow;" | SF
	| style="background:#00ff00;" | '''W'''
	| style="background:#00ff00;" | '''W'''
	| style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
	| style="background:#00ff00;" | '''W'''
	| A
	| style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
	| style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
	| style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
	| style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
	| A
	| style="background:yellow;" | SF
	| style="background:yellow;" | SF
	| A
	| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | '''6 / 21'''
	|-
	| align="left" style="background:#EFEFEF;" | ]
	| style="background:#afeeee;"|1R
	| style="background:#afeeee;"|3R
	| style="background:#afeeee;"|2R
	| style="background:#afeeee;"|1R
	| style="background:#afeeee;"|4R
	| style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
	| style="background:#D8BFD8;" | F
	| style="background:#afeeee;"|2R
	| style="background:#00ff00;" | '''W'''
	| style="background:#D8BFD8;" | F
	| style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
	| A
	| style="background:#00ff00;" | '''W'''
	| style="background:#00ff00;" | '''W'''
	| style="background:#afeeee;"|3R
	| style="background:#00ff00;" | '''W'''
	| A
	| A
	| style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
	| A
	| style="background:yellow;" | SF
	| A
	| A
	| style="background:#afeeee;"|1R
	| A
	| A
	| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | '''4 / 18'''
	|- style="background:#EFEFEF;"
	| align="left" style="background:#EFEFEF;" | SR
	| 0 / 1
	| 0 / 1
	| 0 / 2
	| 0 / 2
	| 0 / 2
	| 0 / 2
	| 0 / 3
	| 1 / 2
	| 2 / 3
	| 2 / 4
	| 0 / 4
	| 0 / 2
	| 1 / 2
	| 3 / 3
	| 1 / 2
	| 1 / 2
	| 1 / 1
	| 0 / 0
	| 0 / 2
	| 0 / 1
	| 0 / 2
	| 0 / 2
	| 0 / 0
	| 0 / 4
	| 0 / 2
	| 0 / 0
	| '''12 / 51'''
	|}
			==References==
	A = did not participate in the tournament
			{{reflist}}
	SR = the ratio of the number of singles tournaments won to the number of those tournaments played
	Note: The Australian Open was held twice in 1977, in January and December.
	==== See also ====
	* ]
	===Women's doubles===
	{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
	|- bgcolor="#efefef"
	! Tournament !! 1959 !! 1960 !! 1961 !! 1962 !! 1963 !! 1964 !! 1965 !! 1966 !! 1967 !! 1968 !! 1969 !! 1970 !! 1971 !! 1972 !! 1973 !! 1974 !! 1975 !! 1976 !! 1977 !!1978 !!1979 !!1980 !!1981 !!1982 !! 1983 !! 1984 !! Career SR
	|-
	| align="left" style="background:#EFEFEF;" | ]
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| style="background:#D8BFD8;" | F
	| A
	| A
	| style="background:yellow;" | SF
	| style="background:#D8BFD8;" | F
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A / A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| style="background:yellow;" | SF
	| style="background:yellow;" | SF
	| A
	| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | '''0 / 5'''
	|-
	| align="left" style="background:#EFEFEF;" | ]
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
	| style="background:#D8BFD8;" |F
	| style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
	| style="background:#D8BFD8;" |F
	| A
	| style="background:#00ff00;" | '''W'''
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| style="background:#afeeee;"|1R
	| style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | '''1 / 7'''
	|-
	| align="left" style="background:#EFEFEF;" | ]
	| A
	| A
	| style="background:#00ff00;" |'''W'''
	| style="background:#00ff00;" |'''W'''
	| style="background:#afeeee;" |2R
	| style="background:#D8BFD8;" |F
	| style="background:#00ff00;" |'''W'''
	| style="background:#ffebcd;" |QF
	| style="background:#00ff00;" |'''W'''
	| style="background:#00ff00;" |'''W'''
	| style="background:#afeeee;" |3R
	| style="background:#00ff00;" |'''W'''
	| style="background:#00ff00;" |'''W'''
	| style="background:#00ff00;" |'''W'''
	| style="background:#00ff00;" |'''W'''
	| style="background:#ffebcd;" |QF
	| style="background:yellow;" |SF
	| style="background:#D8BFD8;" |F
	| style="background:#afeeee;" |2R
	| style="background:#ffebcd;" |QF
	| style="background:#00ff00;" |'''W'''
	| style="background:yellow;" |SF
	| A
	| style="background:#afeeee;" |2R
	| style="background:#afeeee;" |3R
	| A
	| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | '''10 / 22'''
	|-
	| align="left" style="background:#EFEFEF;" | ]
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
	| style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
	| style="background:#00ff00;"|'''W'''
	| style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
	| style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
	| style="background:#00ff00;"|'''W'''
	| style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
	| style="background:yellow;"|SF
	| A
	| A
	| style="background:yellow;"|SF
	| style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
	| style="background:#00ff00;"|'''W'''
	| style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
	| style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
	| style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
	| style="background:#00ff00;"|'''W'''
	| style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
	| style="background:#00ff00;"|'''W'''
	| A
	| style="background:#afeeee;"|3R
	| style="background:yellow;"|SF
	| style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
	| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | '''5 / 20'''
	|- style="background:#EFEFEF;"
	| align="left" style="background:#EFEFEF;" | SR
	| 0 / 0
	| 0 / 0
	| 1 / 1
	| 1 / 2
	| 0 / 2
	| 1 / 2
	| 1 / 3
	| 0 / 2
	| 2 / 3
	| 1 / 4
	| 0 / 4
	| 1 / 2
	| 1 / 1
	| 2 / 3
	| 1 / 2
	| 1 / 2
	| 0 / 2
	| 0 / 2
	| 0 / 2
	| 1 / 2
	| 1 / 2
	| 1 / 3
	| 0 / 1
	| 0 / 3
	| 0 / 3
	| 0 / 1
	| '''16 / 54'''
	|}
	A = did not participate in the tournament
	SR = the ratio of the number of singles tournaments won to the number of those tournaments played
	Note: The Australian Open was held twice in 1977, in January and December.
	===Mixed doubles===
	{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
	|- bgcolor="#efefef"
	! Tournament !! 1959 !! 1960 !! 1961 !! 1962 !! 1963 !! 1964 !! 1965 !! 1966 !! 1967 !! 1968 !! 1969 !! 1970 !! 1971 !! 1972 !! 1973 !! 1974 !! 1975 !! 1976 !! 1977 !!1978 !!1979 !!1980 !!1981 !!1982 !! 1983 !! 1984 !! Career SR
	|-
	| align="left" align="left" style="background:#EFEFEF;" | ]
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
	| A
	| A
	| style="background:#00ff00;" | '''W'''
	| style="background:yellow;" | SF
	| NH
	| NH
	| NH
	| NH
	| NH
	| NH
	| NH
	| NH/NH
	| NH
	| NH
	| NH
	| NH
	| NH
	| NH
	| NH
	| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | '''1 / 3'''
	|-
	| align="left" style="background:#EFEFEF;" | ]
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| style="background:#00ff00;" |'''W'''
	| style="background:#D8BFD8;" |F
	| style="background:yellow;" |SF
	| style="background:#00ff00;" |'''W'''
	| A
	| style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| style="background:#afeeee;"|2R
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | '''2 / 6'''
	|-
	| align="left" style="background:#EFEFEF;" | ]
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| style="background:#afeeee;" |2R
	| A
	| style="background:#D8BFD8;" |F
	| style="background:#00ff00;" |'''W'''
	| style="background:yellow;" |SF
	| style="background:#ffebcd;" |QF
	| style="background:#afeeee;" |3R
	| style="background:#00ff00;" |'''W'''
	| style="background:yellow;" |SF
	| style="background:#00ff00;" |'''W'''
	| style="background:#00ff00;" |'''W'''
	| style="background:#afeeee;" |3R
	| style="background:#afeeee;" |2R
	| style="background:yellow;" |SF
	| style="background:#D8BFD8;" |F
	| style="background:#afeeee;" |3R
	| style="background:#ffebcd;" |QF
	| A
	| style="background:#afeeee;" |3R
	| style="background:#D8BFD8;" |F
	| A
	| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | '''4 / 18'''
	|-
	| align="left" style="background:#EFEFEF;" | ]
	| A
	| A
	| A
	| style="background:#afeeee;"|2R
	| style="background:yellow;"|SF
	| style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
	| A
	| A
	| style="background:#00ff00;"|'''W'''
	| A
	| style="background:#afeeee;"|3R
	| A
	| style="background:#00ff00;"|'''W'''
	| style="background:yellow;"|SF
	| style="background:#00ff00;"|'''W'''
	| style="background:yellow;"|SF
	| style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
	| style="background:#00ff00;"|'''W'''
	| style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
	| style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
	| style="background:#afeeee;"|2R
	| A
	| A
	| style="background:#afeeee;"|2R
	| style="background:#afeeee;"|2R
	| style="background:#afeeee;"|3R
	| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | '''4 / 17'''
	|- style="background:#EFEFEF;"
	| align="left" style="background:#EFEFEF;" | SR
	| 0 / 0
	| 0 / 0
	| 0 / 0
	| 0 / 1
	| 0 / 1
	| 0 / 2
	| 0 / 1
	| 0 / 1
	| 3 / 3
	| 1 / 3
	| 0 / 4
	| 1 / 2
	| 2 / 2
	| 0 / 3
	| 2 / 2
	| 1 / 2
	| 0 / 2
	| 1 / 2
	| 0 / 2
	| 0 / 2
	| 0 / 2
	| 0 / 1
	| 0 / 1
	| 0 / 2
	| 0 / 2
	| 0 / 1
	| '''11 / 44'''
	|}
	A = did not participate in the tournament
	SR = the ratio of the number of singles tournaments won to the number of those tournaments played
	NH = event not held
	Note: The Australian Open was held twice in 1977, in January and December.
	==Grand Slam singles records==
	===Wimbledon===
	King's overall win-loss record at Wimbledon was 96–15 .865 in 21 years (1961–1975, 1977–1980, 1982–1983). (Her win total includes one walkover but does not include any first round byes.)
	King was 6–3 in finals, 9–5 in semifinals, and 14–6 in quarterfinals. King failed to reach the quarterfinals only once, in 1961 during her first Wimbledon. After receiving a bye during the first round, King lost to the fifth seed, ], in the second round.
	King was 23–7 in three set matches, 73–8 in two set matches, and 5–1 in deuce third sets, i.e., sets that were tied 5–5 before being resolved.
	King was seeded 18 times out of 21 years. (Wimbledon seeded 8 players from at least 1961 through 1976, 12 players in 1977, and 16 players from 1978 through the end of King's career.)
	*Seeded #1 in 1974 (quarterfinalist), 1968 (champion), 1967 (champion).
	*Seeded #2 in 1973 (champion), 1972 (champion), 1971 (semifinalist), 1970 (losing finalist), 1969 (losing finalist).
	*Seeded #3 in 1975 (champion) and 1964 (semifinalist).
	*Seeded #4 in 1966 (champion).
	*Seeded #5 in 1980 (quarterfinalist), 1978 (quarterfinalist), 1977 (quarterfinalist), 1965 (semifinalist).
	*Seeded #7 in 1979 (quarterfinalist).
	*Seeded #10 in 1983 (semifinalist).
	*Seeded #12 in 1982 (semifinalist).
	*Unseeded in 1963 (losing finalist), 1962 (quarterfinalist), 1961 (lost second round).
	King was 31–15 .674 against seeded players. She never lost to an unseeded player (65–0). Her worst loss was to #8 seed ] in 1974.
	*Versus #1 seeds, King was 4–7 (wins: ] (1975), ] (1972), ] (1966, 1962); losses: ] (1980), Chris Evert (1978, 1977), Margaret Court (1970, 1964, 1963), ] (1965)).
	*Versus #2 seeds, King was 2–1 (wins: Maria Bueno (1966), ] (1963); loss: Chris Evert (1982)).
	*Versus #3 seeds, King was 6–2 (wins: ] (1982), Evonne Goolagong Cawley (1973), Virginia Wade (1970), ] (1967, 1963), Lesley Turner Bowrey (1965); losses: ] (1983), Evonne Goolagong Cawley (1971)).
	*Versus #4 seeds, King was 3–2 (wins: Evonne Goolagong Cawley (1975), Chris Evert (1973), Ann Haydon Jones (1968); losses: Tracy Austin (1979), Ann Haydon Jones (1969)).
	*Versus #5 seeds, King was 0–2 (Ann Haydon Jones (1962), Yola Ramírez Ochoa (1961)).
	*Versus #6 seeds, King was 4–0 (] (1982), ] (1972), ] (1966), Ann Haydon Jones (1964)).
	*Versus #7 seeds, King was 8–0 (Wendy Turnbull (1983), ] (1975), ] (1973), Virginia Wade (1972), ] (1971), ] (1970), ] (1968), Maria Bueno (1963)).
	*Versus #8 seeds, King was 3–1 (wins: Judy Tegart Dalton (1969), Lesley Turner Bowrey (1968), Virginia Wade (1967); loss: Olga Morozova (1974)).
	*Versus #14 seeds, King was 1–0 (] (1978)).
	Against her major rivals at Wimbledon, King was 4–2 versus Ann Haydon Jones, 3–0 versus Rosemary Casals, 3–0 versus Virginia Wade, 3–0 versus Françoise Durr, 3–1 versus Evonne Goolagong Cawley, 3–1 versus Maria Bueno, 2–3 versus Margaret Court, 2–3 versus Chris Evert, 1–0 versus ], 1–0 versus ], 1–1 versus Olga Morozova, 1–1 versus Tracy Austin, and 0–1 versus Martina Navratilova.
	===United States Championships/Open===
	King's overall win-loss record at the United States Championships/Open was 63–14 .818 in 18 years (1959–1969, 1971–1974, 1977, 1979, 1982). She was 55–11 on grass, 5–2 on hard courts, and 3–1 on clay. (Her win total does not include any first round byes. Her loss total includes two retirements.)
	King was 4–2 in finals, 6–1 in semifinals, and 7–3 in quarterfinals.
	King was 8–4 in three set matches, 55–10 in two set matches, and 4–1 in deuce third sets, i.e., sets that were tied 5–5 before being resolved.
	King was seeded 14 times out of the 18 years she entered the tournament.
	*Seeded #1 in 1973 (lost third round), 1972 (champion), 1971 (champion), 1968 (losing finalist), 1967 (champion).
	*Seeded #2 in 1974 (champion), 1966 (lost second round).
	*Seeded #3 in 1969 (quarterfinalist), 1964 (quarterfinalist), 1963 (lost fourth round).
	*Seeded #5 in 1965 (losing finalist).
	*Seeded #7 in 1977 (quarterfinalist).
	*Seeded #9 in 1979 (semifinalist).
	*Seeded #12 in 1982 (lost first round).
	*Unseeded in 1962 (lost first round), 1961 (lost second round), 1960 (lost third round), 1959 (lost first round).
	King was 12–8 .600 against seeded players and 51–6 .895 against unseeded players.
	*Versus #1 seeds, King was 0–3 (] (1979 and 1977), ] (1965)).
	*Versus #2 seeds, King was 3–0 (] (1971), ] (1967), ] 1965).
	*Versus #3 seeds, King was 1–0 (Ann Haydon Jones (1965)).
	*Versus #4 seeds, King was 1–1 (win: ] (1979); loss: ] (1961)).
	*Versus #5 seeds, King was 3–1 (wins: ] (1974), Margaret Court (1972), Maria Bueno (1968); loss: ] (1964)).
	*Versus #6 seeds, King was 1–2 (win: Rosemary Casals (1974); losses: Nancy Richey Gunter (1969), Virginia Wade (1968)).
	*Versus #7 seeds, King was 0–1 (] (1960)).
	*Versus #8 seeds, King was 1–0 (Virginia Wade (1972)).
	*Versus #9 seeds, King was 2–0 (] (1977 and 1972)).
	Against her major rivals at the United States Championships/Open, King was 3–1 versus Virginia Wade, 2–0 versus Maria Bueno, 2–0 versus Ann Haydon Jones, 2–0 versus Rosemary Casals, 1–0 versus Evonne Goolagong Cawley, 1–0 versus ], 1–1 versus Margaret Court, 1–2 versus Chris Evert, 0–1 versus Christine Truman Janes, and 0–2 versus Nancy Richey Gunter.
	===French Championships/Open===
	King's overall win-loss record at the French Championships/Open was 22–6 .786 in 7 years (1967–1970, 1972, 1980, 1982). (Her win total does not include any first round byes but does include one walkover.)
	King was 1–0 in finals, 1–1 in semifinals, and 2–4 in quarterfinals. She failed to reach the quarterfinals only once, in 1982 when she lost to ] in the third round.
	King was 3–3 in three set matches, 19–3 in two set matches, and 1–0 in deuce third sets, i.e., sets that were tied 5–5 before being resolved.
	King was seeded all 7 years she entered the tournament.
	*Seeded #1 in 1968 (semifinalist), 1967 (quarterfinalist).
	*Seeded #2 in 1980 (quarterfinalist), 1970 (quarterfinalist), 1969 (quarterfinalist).
	*Seeded #3 in 1972 (champion).
	*Seeded #10 in 1982 (lost third round).
	King was 5–3 .625 against seeded players and 17–3 .850 against unseeded players.
	*Versus #1 seeds, King was 1–0 (] (1972)).
	*Versus #5 seeds, King was 0–2 (] (1980), ] (1968)).
	*Versus #6 seeds, King was 1–0 (] (1972)).
	*Versus #7 seeds, King was 1–1 (win: ] (1972); loss: Helga Niessen Masthoff (1970)).
	*Versus #8 seeds, King was 1–0 (] (1968)).
	*Versus #16 seeds, King was 1–0 (] (1967)).
	Against her major rivals at the French Championships/Open, King was 1–0 versus Virginia Wade, 1–0 versus Maria Bueno, 1–0 versus Evonne Goolagong Cawley, 1–1 versus Helga Niessen Masthoff, 0–1 versus ], and 0–1 versus Nancy Richey Gunter.
	===Australian Championships/Open===
	King's overall win-loss record at the Australian Championships/Open was 16–4 .800 in 5 years (1965, 1968, 1969, 1982, 1983). (Her win total does not include any first round byes.)
	King was 1–1 in finals, 2–1 in semifinals, and 3–1 in quarterfinals.
	King was 5–1 in three set matches, 11–3 in two set matches, and 1–0 in deuce third sets, i.e., sets that were tied 5–5 before being resolved.
	King was seeded all 5 years she entered the tournament.
	*Seeded #1 overall in 1969 (losing finalist), 1968 (champion).
	*Seeded #2 foreign in 1965 (semifinalist).
	*Seeded #7 overall in 1983 (lost 2nd round).
	*Seeded #9 overall in 1982 (quarterfinalist).
	King was 6–3 .667 against seeded players and 10–1 .909 against unseeded players.
	*Versus #1 seeds (domestic, foreign, or overall), King was 0–1 (] (1965)).
	*Versus #2 seeds (domestic, foreign, or overall), King was 0–2 (] 1982, Margaret Court (1969)).
	*Versus #3 seeds (domestic, foreign, or overall), King was 2–0 (] (1969), ] (1968)).
	*Versus #4 seeds (domestic, foreign, or overall), King was 1–0 (] (1965)).
	*Versus #6 seeds (domestic, foreign, or overall), King was 1–0 (] (1969)).
	*Versus #7 seeds (domestic, foreign, or overall), King was 2–0 (] (1982), Margaret Court (1968)).
	Against her major rivals at the Australian Championships/Open, King was 1–0 versus ], 1–0 versus Judy Tegart Dalton, 1–0 versus Evonne Goolagong Cawley, 1–0 versus Ann Haydon Jones, 1–2 versus Margaret Court, and 0–1 versus Chris Evert.
	==Footnotes==
	{{reflist|2}}
	==General references==
	{{TennisPortal}}
	*
	*
	*
	*
	*
	*
	==Further reading==		==Further reading==
			* {{cite book | author=Fein, Paul |title=You Can Quote Me on That: Greatest Tennis Quips, Insights and Zingers |publisher=Potomac Books |location=Washington, D.C. |year=2005 |isbn=1-57488-925-7 }}
			* Jones, Ann, ''A Game of Love'', 1971
	*{{cite book |author=Fein, Paul |title=You Can Quote Me On That: Greatest Tennis Quips, Insights And Zingers |publisher=Potomac Books |location=Washington |year=2005 |pages= |isbn=1-57488-925-7 |oclc= |doi=}}
			* Overman, Steven J. and K. B. Sagert, ''Icons of Women's Sport''. Greenwood Press, 2012, Vol. 1.
	*{{cite book |author=Roberts, Selena |title=A Necessary Spectacle : Billie Jean King, Bobby Riggs, and the Tennis Match That Leveled the Game |publisher=Crown |location=New York |year=2005 |pages= |isbn=1-4000-5146-0 |oclc= |doi=}}
			* {{cite book |author=Roberts, Selena |title=A Necessary Spectacle: Billie Jean King, Bobby Riggs, and the Tennis Match That Leveled the Game |publisher=Crown |location=New York |year=2005 |isbn=1-4000-5146-0 |url=https://archive.org/details/necessaryspectac00robe }}
			* Ware, Susan (2011). ''Game, Set, Match: Billie Jean King and the Revolution in Women's Sports''. University of North Carolina Press. Combines biography and history in a study of the tennis player, liberal feminism, and Title IX.
	==External links==		==External links==
			{{Commons category|Billie Jean King}}
	*
			* {{Official website|http://www.billiejeanking.com}}
	* {{wta|id=110100|name=Billie Jean King}}
			* {{WTA}}
	*
			* {{Fed Cup player}}
	* {{FedCupplayerlink|id=20000786}}
			* {{Tennis Hall of Fame}}
	*
			* at the ]
	*
			* {{IMDb name|id=0973361|name=Billie Jean King}}
	*
	*{{imdb title|0258446|When Billie Beat Bobby}} (info on the 2001 TV drama/comedy about ''The Battle of the Sexes'')
	*
	*
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			}}
			{{navboxes top|title=Billie Jean King in the ]}}
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			{{US Open women's doubles champions}}
			{{Australian Championships mixed doubles champions}}
			{{French Open mixed doubles champions}}
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			{{navboxes bottom}}
			{{Authority control}}
	{{Persondata
	|NAME=King, Billie Jean
	|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Moffitt, Billie Jean
	|SHORT DESCRIPTION=former ]
	|DATE OF BIRTH=], ]
	|PLACE OF BIRTH=], ]
	|DATE OF DEATH=
	|PLACE OF DEATH=
	}}
	{{DEFAULTSORT:King, Billie Jean}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:King, Billie Jean}}
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Latest revision as of 01:50, 19 December 2024

American tennis player (born 1943)

Billie Jean King
King in 2011
Born	Billie Jean Moffitt (1943-11-22) November 22, 1943 (age 81) Long Beach, California, U.S.
Height	5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Spouses	Larry King ​ ​(m. 1965; div. 1987)​ Ilana Kloss ​ ​(m. 2018)​
Tennis career
Country (sports)	United States
Turned pro	1968
Retired	1990
Plays	Right-handed (one-handed backhand)
College	California State University, Los Angeles
Prize money	$1,966,487
Int. Tennis HoF	1987 (member page)
Official website	billiejeanking.com
Singles
Career record	695–155 (81.76%)
Career titles	129 (67 during open era)
Highest ranking	No. 1 (1966, Lance Tingay)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open	W (1968)
French Open	W (1972)
Wimbledon	W (1966, 1967, 1968, 1972, 1973, 1975)
US Open	W (1967, 1971, 1972, 1974)
Doubles
Career record	87–37 (as shown on WTA website)
Highest ranking	No. 1 (1967)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open	F (1965, 1969)
French Open	W (1972)
Wimbledon	W (1961, 1962, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1979)
US Open	W (1964, 1967, 1974, 1978, 1980)
Other doubles tournaments
Tour Finals	W (1974, 1976, 1978, 1980)
Mixed doubles
Career titles	11
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Australian Open	W (1968)
French Open	W (1967, 1970)
Wimbledon	W (1967, 1971, 1973, 1974)
US Open	W (1967, 1971, 1973, 1976)
Team competitions
Fed Cup	W (1963, 1966, 1967, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979) (as player) W (1976, 1996, 1999, 2000) (as captain)
Coaching career
Tim Mayotte Martina Navratilova

Billie Jean King (née Moffitt; born November 22, 1943), also known as BJK, is an American former world No. 1 tennis player. King won 39 Grand Slam titles: 12 in singles, 16 in women's doubles, and 11 in mixed doubles. King was a member of the victorious United States team in seven Federation Cups and nine Wightman Cups. For three years, she was the U.S. captain in the Federation Cup.

King is an advocate of gender equality and has long been a pioneer for equality and social justice. In 1973, at the age of 29, she famously won the "Battle of the Sexes" tennis match against the 55-year-old Bobby Riggs. King was also the founder of the Women's Tennis Association and the Women's Sports Foundation. She was instrumental in persuading cigarette brand Virginia Slims to sponsor women's tennis in the 1970s and went on to serve on the board of their parent company Philip Morris in the 2000s.

Regarded by many as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, King was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987. The Fed Cup Award of Excellence was bestowed on her in 2010. In 1972, she was the joint winner, with John Wooden, of the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year award and was one of the Time Persons of the Year in 1975. She has also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year lifetime achievement award. She was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1990, and in 2006, the USTA National Tennis Center in New York City was renamed the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. In 2018, she won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2020, the Federation Cup was renamed the Billie Jean King Cup in her honor. In 2022, she was awarded the French Legion of Honour, and in 2024, she received a Congressional Gold Medal. On October 7, 2024, King was named the Grand Marshal of the 2025 Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game.

Early life

Billie Jean Moffitt was born in Long Beach, California, into a conservative Methodist family, the daughter of Betty (née Jerman), a housewife, and Bill Moffitt, a firefighter. Her family was athletic; her mother excelled at swimming, and her father played basketball, baseball and ran track. Her younger brother, Randy Moffitt, became a Major League Baseball pitcher, pitching for 12 years in the major leagues for the San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros, and Toronto Blue Jays. She also excelled at baseball and softball as a child, playing shortstop at 10 years old on a team with girls 4–5 years older than she. The team went on to win the Long Beach softball championship.

She switched from softball to tennis at the age of 11, because her parents suggested she should find a more 'ladylike' sport. She saved her own money, $8 ($92.40 in 2024 terms), to buy her first racket. She went with a school friend to take her first tennis lesson on the many free public courts in Long Beach, taking advantage of the free lessons offered by professional Clyde Walker, who worked for the City of Long Beach. One of the city's tennis facilities has subsequently been named the Billie Jean Moffitt King Tennis Center. As a kid playing in her first tennis tournaments, she was often hindered by her aggressive playing style. Bob Martin, sportswriter for the Long Beach, Press-Telegram wrote about her success in a weekly tennis column. One of King's first conflicts with the tennis establishments and status-quo came in her youth, when she was forbidden from being in a group picture at a tournament because she was wearing tennis shorts (sewn by her mother) instead of the usual white tennis dress.

King's family in Long Beach attended the Church of the Brethren, where the minister was former athlete and two-time Olympic pole-vaulting champion Bob Richards. One day, when King was 13 or 14, Richards asked her, "What are you going to do with your life?" She said: "Reverend, I'm going to be the best tennis player in the world."

King attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School. After graduating in 1961, she attended Los Angeles State College, now California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State LA). She did not graduate, leaving school in 1964 to focus on tennis. While attending Cal State, she met Larry King in a library in 1963. The pair became engaged while still in school when Billie Jean was 20 and Larry 19 years old and married on September 17, 1965, in Long Beach.

Career

King's French Open win in 1972 made her only the fifth woman in tennis history to win the singles titles at all four Grand Slam events, a "career Grand Slam". She also won a career Grand Slam in mixed doubles. In women's doubles, only the Australian Open eluded her.

King won a record 20 career titles at Wimbledon – six in singles, 10 in women's doubles, and four in mixed doubles.

King played 51 Grand Slam singles events from 1959 through 1983, reaching at least the semi-finals in 27 and at least the quarterfinals in 40 of her attempts. King was the runner-up in six Grand Slam singles events. An indicator of her mental toughness in Grand Slam singles tournaments was her 11–2 career record in deuce third sets, i.e., third sets that were tied 5–5 before being resolved.

King won 129 singles titles, 78 of which were WTA titles, and her career prize money totaled US$1,966,487.

In Federation Cup finals, she was on the winning United States team seven times, in 1963, 1966, 1967, and 1976 through 1979. Her career win–loss record was 52–4. She won the last 30 matches she played, including 15 straight wins in both singles and doubles. In Wightman Cup competition, her career win–loss record was 22–4, winning her last nine matches (six in singles and three in doubles). The United States won the cup in ten of the 11 years in which she participated. In singles, King was 6–1 against Ann Haydon-Jones, 4–0 against Virginia Wade, and 1–1 against Christine Truman Janes.

The early years: 1959–1963

As Billie Jean King began competing in 1959, she began working with new coaches including Frank Brennan and Alice Marble, who had won 18 Grand Slam titles as a player herself. She made her Grand Slam debut at the 1959 U.S. Championships when she was 15. She lost in the first round. She began playing at local, regional, and international tennis championships. Sports Illustrated already claimed her as "one of the most promising youngsters on the West Coast." She won her first tournament the next year in Philadelphia at the 1960 Philadelphia and District Grass Court Championships. At her second attempt at the U.S. Championships, King made it to the third round, losing to Bernice Carr Vukovich of South Africa. Also in 1960, she reached the final of the National Girls' 18 and Under Championships, losing to Karen Hantze Susman. Her national tennis ranking improved from number 19 in 1959 to number 4 in 1960. Despite the success, Marble terminated her professional relationship with King, for reasons stemming from King's ambition.

King first gained international recognition in 1961 when the Long Beach Tennis Patrons, the Century Club, and Harold Guiver raised $2,000 to send her to Wimbledon. There, she won the women's doubles title in her first attempt while partnering Karen Hantze. King was 17 and Hantze was 18, making them the youngest team to win the Wimbledon Doubles Title. King had less luck that year in the 1961 Wimbledon women's singles, losing to fifth-seeded Yola Ramírez in a two-day match on Centre Court. Despite these performances. she could not get a sports scholarship when later that year she attended Los Angeles State (now California State). For the 1962 singles tournament at Wimbledon, King upset Margaret Court, the World No. 1 and top seed, in a second round match by attacking Court's forehand This was the first time in Wimbledon history that the women's top seed had lost her first match. That same year, King and Hantze repeated their doubles victory at Wimbledon. In 1963, King again faced Margaret Court at Wimbledon. This time they met in the final, and Court prevailed.

1964

In 1964, King won four relatively minor titles but lost to Margaret Court in the Wimbledon semi-finals. She defeated Ann Haydon-Jones at both the Wightman Cup and Fed Cup but lost to Court in the final of the Federation Cup. At the U.S. Championships, fifth-seeded Nancy Richey upset third-seeded King in the quarterfinals. Late in the year, King decided to make a full-time commitment to tennis. While a history major at Los Angeles State College, King made the decision to play full-time when businessman Robert Mitchell offered to pay her way to Australia so that she could train under the great Australian coach Mervyn Rose. While in Australia, King played three tournaments that year and lost in the quarterfinals of the Queensland Grass Court Championships, the final of the New South Wales Championships (to Court), and the third round of the Victorian Championships.

1965

In early 1965, King continued her three-month tour of Australia. She lost in the final of the South Australian Championships and the first round of the Western Australia Championships. At the Fed Cup in Melbourne, she defeated Ann Haydon-Jones to help the United States defeat the United Kingdom in the second round. However, Margaret Court again defeated her in the final. At the Australian Championships two weeks later, she lost to Court in the semi-finals in two sets. At Wimbledon, she again lost in the semi-finals, this time in three sets to Maria Bueno. Her last tournament of the year was the U.S. Championships, where she defeated Jones in the quarterfinals and Bueno in the semi-finals. In the final, King led 5–3 in both sets, was two points from winning the first set, and had two set points in the second set before losing to Court in straight sets. She said that losing while being so close to winning was devastating, but the match proved to her that she was "good enough to be the best in the world. I'm going to win Wimbledon next year." She won six tournaments during the year. For the first time in 81 years, the annual convention of the United States Lawn Tennis Association overruled its ranking committee's recommendation to award her the sole U.S. No. 1 position and voted 59,810 to 40,966 to rank Nancy Richey Gunter and King as co-U.S. No. 1.

Prime competitive years: 1966–1975

Overview

Six of King's Grand Slam singles titles were at Wimbledon, four were at the U.S. Championships/Open, one was at the French Open, and one was at the Australian Championships. King reached the final of a Grand Slam singles tournament in 16 out of 25 attempts and had a 12–4 win–loss record in those finals. In the nine tournaments that she failed to reach the final, she was a losing semi-finalist twice and a losing quarter finalist five times. From 1971 through 1975, she won seven of the ten Grand Slam singles tournaments she played. She won the last seven Grand Slam singles finals she contested, six of them in straight sets and four of them against Evonne Goolagong. All but one of her Grand Slam singles titles were on grass.

King's Grand Slam record from 1966 through 1975 was comparable to that of Margaret Court, her primary rival during these years. One or both of these women played 35 of the 40 Grand Slam singles tournaments held during this period, and together they won 24 of them. During this period, Court won 31 of her career 64 Grand Slam titles, including 12 of her 24 Grand Slam singles titles, 11 of her 19 Grand Slam women's doubles titles, and eight of her 21 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. Court reached the final of a Grand Slam singles tournament in 14 out of 25 attempts and had a 12–2 win–loss record in those finals. Court won seven of the 12 Grand Slam finals she played against King during these years, including 2–1 in singles finals, 4–1 in women's doubles finals, and 1–3 in mixed doubles finals.

King was the year-ending World No. 1 in six of the ten years from 1966 through 1975. She was the year-ending World No. 2 in three of those years and the World No. 3 in the other year.

King won 97 of her career 129 singles titles during this period and was the runner-up in 36 other tournaments.

1966

In 1966, King defeated Dorothy "Dodo" Cheney (then 49 years old) for the first time in five career matches, winning their semi-final at the Southern California Championships 6–0, 6–3. King also ended her nine-match losing streak to Margaret Court by defeating her in the final of the South African Tennis Championships. She also won the women's singles in the Ojai Tennis Tournament. At the Wightman Cup just before Wimbledon, King defeated Virginia Wade and Ann Haydon-Jones. After thirteen unsuccessful attempts to win a Grand Slam singles title from 1959 through 1965, King at the age of 22 finally won the first of her six singles titles at Wimbledon and the first of twelve Grand Slam singles titles overall, defeating Court in the semi-finals 6–3, 6–3 and Maria Bueno in the final. King credited her semi-final victory to her forehand down the line, a new shot in her repertoire. She also said that the strategy for playing Court is, "Simple. Just chip the ball back at her feet." At the U.S. Championships, an ill King was upset by Kerry Melville in the second round.

1967

King successfully defended her title at the South African Tennis Championships in 1967, defeating Maria Bueno in the final. She played the French Championships for the first time in her career, falling in the quarterfinals to Annette Van Zyl of South Africa. At the Federation Cup one week later in West Germany on clay, King won all four of her matches, including victories over DuPlooy, Ann Haydon-Jones, and Helga Niessen. King then successfully switched surfaces and won her second consecutive Wimbledon singles title, defeating Virginia Wade in the quarterfinals 7–5, 6–2 and Jones. At the Wightman Cup, King again defeated Wade and Jones. King won her second Grand Slam singles title of the year when she won the U.S. Championships for the first time and without losing a set, defeating Wade, Van Zyl, Françoise Dürr, and Jones in consecutive matches. Jones pulled her left hamstring muscle early in the final and saved four match points in the second set before King prevailed. King won the singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles titles at both Wimbledon and the U.S. Championships, the first woman to do that since Alice Marble in 1939. King then returned to the Australian summer tour in December for the first time since 1965, playing seven events there and Judy Tegart in six of those events (winning four of their matches). King lost in the quarterfinals of the New South Wales Championships in Sydney to Tegart after King injured her left knee in the second game of the third set of that match. However, King won the Victorian Championships in Melbourne the following week, defeating Dalton, Reid, and Lesley Turner in the last three rounds. At a team event in Adelaide, King won all three of her singles and doubles matches to help the U.S. defeat Australia 5–1. To finish the year, King lost to Tegart in the final of the South Australian Championships in Adelaide.

1968

In early 1968, King won three consecutive tournaments to end her Australian tour. In Perth, King won the Western Australia Championships, defeating Margaret Court in the final. In Hobart, King won the Tasmanian Championships by defeating Judy Tegart-Dalton in the final. King then won the Australian Championships for the first time, defeating Dalton in the semi-finals and Court in the final. King continued to win tournaments upon her return to the United States, winning three indoor tournaments before Nancy Richey Gunter defeated King in the semi-finals of the Madison Square Garden Challenge Trophy amateur tournament in New York City before 10,233 spectators. The match started with Gunter taking a 4–2 lead in the first set, before King won 9 of the next 10 games. King served for the match at 5–1 and had a match point at 5–3 in the second set; however, she lost the final 12 games and the match 4–6, 7–5, 6–0. King then won three consecutive tournaments in Europe before losing to Ann Haydon-Jones in the final of a professional tournament at Madison Square Garden. Playing the French Open for only the second time in her career and attempting to win four consecutive Grand Slam singles titles (a "non-calendar year Grand Slam"), King defeated Maria Bueno in a quarterfinal before losing to Gunter in a semi-final 2–6, 6–3, 6–4. King rebounded to win her third consecutive Wimbledon singles title, defeating Jones in the semi-finals and Dalton in the final. At the US Open, King defeated Bueno in a semi-final before being upset in the final by Virginia Wade. On September 24, she had surgery to repair cartilage in her left knee and did not play in tournaments the remainder of the year. King said that it took eight months (May 1969) for her knee to recover completely from the surgery. In 1977, King said that her doctors predicted in 1968 that her left knee would allow her to play competitive tennis for only two more years.

1969

King participated in the 1969 Australian summer tour for the second consecutive year. Unlike the previous year, King did not win a tournament. She lost in the quarterfinals of the Tasmanian Championships and the semi-finals of the New South Wales Championships. At the Australian Open, King defeated 17-year-old Evonne Goolagong in the second round 6–3, 6–1 and Ann Haydon-Jones in a three-set semi-final before losing to Margaret Court in a straight-sets final. The following week, King lost in the semi-finals of the New Zealand Championships. Upon her return to the United States, King won the Pacific Coast Pro and the Los Angeles Pro. King then won two tournaments in South Africa, including the South African Open. During the European summer clay court season, King lost in the quarterfinals of both the Italian Open and the French Open. On grass at the Wills Open in Bristol, United Kingdom, King defeated Virginia Wade in the semi-finals (6–8, 11–9, 6–2) before losing to Court. At Wimbledon, King lost only 13 points while defeating Rosemary Casals in the semi-finals 6–1, 6–0; however, Jones upset King in the final and prevented King from winning her fourth consecutive singles title there. The week after, King again defeated Wade to win the Irish Open for the second time in her career. In the final Grand Slam tournament of the year, King lost in the quarterfinals of the US Open to Nancy Richey Gunter 6–4, 8–6. This was the first year since 1965 that King did not win at least one Grand Slam singles title. King finished the year with titles at the Pacific Southwest Open in Los Angeles, the Stockholm Indoors, and the Midland (Texas) Pro. She said during the Pacific Southwest Open, "It has been a bad year for me. My left knee has been OK, but I have been bothered by a severe tennis elbow for seven months. I expect to have a real big year in 1970, though, because I really have the motivation now. I feel like a kid again."

1970

In 1970, Margaret Court won all four Grand Slam singles tournaments and was clearly the World No. 1. King lost to Court three times in the first four months of the year, in Philadelphia, Dallas, and Johannesburg (at the South African Open). Court, however, was not totally dominant during this period as King defeated her in Sydney and Durban, South Africa. Where Court dominated was at the Grand Slam tournaments. King did not play the Australian Open. King had leg cramps and lost to Helga Niessen Masthoff of West Germany in the quarterfinals of the French Open 2–6, 8–6, 6–1. At Wimbledon, Court needed seven match points to defeat King in the final 14–12, 11–9 in one of the greatest women's finals in the history of the tournament. On July 22, King had right knee surgery, which forced her to miss the US Open. King returned to the tour in September, where she had a first round loss at the Virginia Slims Invitational in Houston and a semi-final loss at the Pacific Coast Championships in Berkeley, California. To close out the year, King in November won the Virginia Slims Invitational in Richmond, Virginia and the Embassy Indoor Tennis Championships in London. During the European clay court season, King warmed-up for the French Open by playing in Monte Carlo (losing in the semi-finals), winning the Italian Open (saving three match points against Virginia Wade in the semi-finals), playing in Bournemouth (losing to Wade in the quarterfinals), and playing in Berlin (losing to Masthoff in the semi-finals). The Italian Open victory was the first important clay court title of King's career. Along the way, she defeated Masthoff in a three-set quarterfinal and Wade in a three-set semi-final, saving two match points at 4–5 in the second set. The twelfth game of that set (with King leading 6–5) had 21 deuces and lasted 22 minutes, with Wade saving seven set points and holding sixteen game points before King won. In Wightman Cup competition two weeks before Wimbledon but played at the All England Club, King defeated both Wade and Ann Haydon-Jones in straight sets. Many things bothered King concerning her advocacy for women's rights in sports. Among these concerns, she sought better pay for female tennis players, given the substantial differences in budgets between male and female players. In September 1970, there was the Pacific Southwest Open which was a tennis tournament. The prize money for men and women varied significantly, with the top prize for men being $12,500 and for women, a mere $1,500. Women's expenses were not covered unless they made the quarterfinals. This had bothered King and was the final straw for her. King and other 8 women did not play because of the budgets which they were willing to take the risk of expulsion from the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association. King and the other women organized the women-only Houston Virginia Slims invitational and this helped launch the series of women-only tournaments.

1971

Although King won only one Grand Slam singles title in 1971, this was the best year of her career in terms of tournaments won (17). According to the International Tennis Hall of Fame, she played in 31 singles tournaments and compiled a 112–13 win–loss record.

She started the year by winning eight of the first thirteen tournaments she played, defeating Rosemary Casals in seven finals. King's five losses during this period were to Françoise Dürr (twice), Casals (once), Ann Haydon-Jones (once), and Chris Evert (in St. Petersburg). At the time, King said that retiring from the match with Evert after splitting the first two sets was necessary because of leg cramps. But in early 1972, King admitted that cramps associated with an abortion caused the retirement.

At the tournament in early May at Hurlingham, United Kingdom, King lost a second round match to an old rival, Christine Truman Janes (now 30 years old), 6–4, 6–2; but King recovered the next week to win the German Open in Hamburg on clay. Four weeks later at the Queen's Club tournament in London, King played Margaret Court for the first time in 1971, losing their final. At Wimbledon, King defeated Janes in the fourth round (6–2, 7–5) and Durr in the quarterfinals before losing unexpectedly to Evonne Goolagong in the semi-finals 6–4, 6–4. Two weeks after Wimbledon, King won the Rothmans North of England Championships on grass in Hoylake, United Kingdom, beating Virginia Wade, Court, and Casals in the last three rounds. She then played two clay court tournaments in Europe, winning neither, before resuming play in the United States.

In August, King won the indoor Houston tournament and the U.S. Women's Clay Court Championships in Indianapolis. King then switched back to grass and won the US Open without losing a set, defeating Evert in the semi-finals (6–3, 6–2) and Casals in the final. King then won the tournaments in Louisville, Phoenix, and London (Wembley Pro). King and Casals both defaulted at 6–6 in the final of the Pepsi Pacific Southwest Open in Los Angeles in September when their request to remove a lineswoman was denied, eventually resulting in the United States Lawn Tennis Association fining both players US$2,500. To end the year, King played two tournaments in New Zealand but did not win either. She lost in Christchurch to Durr and in Auckland to Kerry Melville Reid. In 1971, King was the first female tennis player to earn $100,000 a year. Being one of her greatest accomplishments, this earned her congratulatory phone call from President Richard M. Nixon.

1972

King won three Grand Slam singles titles in 1972, electing not to play the Australian Open despite being nearby when she played in New Zealand in late 1971. King said, "I was twenty-eight years old, and I was at the height of my powers. I'm quite sure I could have won the Grand Slam ... 1972, but the Australian was such a minor-league tournament at that time.... More important, I did not want to miss any Virginia Slims winter tournaments. I was playing enough as it was." Her dominance was aided by rival Margaret Court's absence from the tour due to childbirth during most of the 1972 season.

At the beginning of the year, King failed to win eight of the first ten tournaments she played. She won the title in San Francisco in mid-January. But then King lost in Long Beach to Françoise Dürr (although King claimed in her 1982 autobiography that she intentionally lost the match because of an argument with her husband) and in Fort Lauderdale on clay to Chris Evert 6–1, 6–0. The inconsistent results continued through mid-April, in Oklahoma City (losing in the quarterfinals); Washington, D.C. (losing in the second round); and Dallas (losing to Nancy Richey Gunter after defeating Evert in the quarterfinals 6–7(4–5), 6–3, 7–5 and Evonne Goolagong in the semi-finals 1–6, 6–4, 6–1). King won the title in Richmond; however, one week later, King lost in the semi-finals of the tournament in San Juan. This was followed in successive weeks by a loss in the Jacksonville final to Marie Neumannová Pinterová and in a St. Petersburg semi-final to Evert (6–2, 6–3).

King did not lose again until mid-August, winning six consecutive tournaments. She won the tournaments in Tucson and Indianapolis. King then won the French Open without losing a set and completed a career Grand Slam. She defeated Virginia Wade in the quarterfinals, Helga Niessen Masthoff in the semi-finals, and Goolagong in the final. On grass, King then won the Wimbledon warm-up tournaments in Nottingham and Bristol and won Wimbledon itself for the fourth time. She lost only one set during the tournament, to Wade in the quarterfinals. That was followed by straight set wins over Rosemary Casals and Goolagong. When the tour returned to the United States, King did not win any of the three tournaments she played before the US Open, including a straight sets loss to Margaret Court in Newport. At the US Open, however, King won the tournament without losing a set, including a quarterfinal win over Wade, a semi-final defeat of Court, and a final win over Kerry Melville Reid. King finished the year by winning the tournaments in Charlotte and Phoenix (defeating Court in the final of both), a runner-up finish in Oakland (losing to Court), and a semifinal finish at the year-end championships in Boca Raton (losing to Evert).

1973

1973 was Margaret Court's turn to win three Grand Slam singles titles, failing to win only Wimbledon, and was the clear world No. 1 for the year; this was her first full season since winning the Grand Slam in 1970, as she had missed significant portions of 1971 and 1972 due to childbirth. As during the previous year, King started 1973 inconsistently. She missed the first three Virginia Slims tournaments in January because of a wrist injury. She then lost in the third round at the Virginia Slims of Miami tournament but won the Virginia Slims of Indianapolis tournament, defeating Court in the semi-finals 6–7, 7–6, 6–3 and Rosemary Casals in the final. The semi-final victory ended Court's 12-tournament and 59-match winning streaks, with King saving at least three match points when down 5–4 (40–0) in the second set. Indianapolis was followed by five tournaments that King failed to win (Detroit, Boston, Chicago, Jacksonville, and the inaugural Family Circle Cup in Hilton Head, South Carolina). King lost to Court in two of those tournaments. After deciding not to defend her French Open singles title, King won four consecutive tournaments, including her fifth Wimbledon singles title when she defeated Kerry Melville Reid in the quarterfinals, Evonne Goolagong in the semi-finals on her eighth match point, and Chris Evert in the final. King lost only nine points in the 6–0 bageling of Evert in the first set of their final.

King also completed the Triple Crown at Wimbledon (winning the singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles titles in the same year), thus becoming the first, and only, player to do so at Wimbledon in the Open Era. In none of the preceding tournaments, however, did King play Court. Their rivalry resumed in the final of the Virginia Slims of Nashville tournament, where Court won for the third time in four matches against King in 1973. (This was the last ever singles match between those players, with Court winning 21 and King 13 of their 34 matches.) Three weeks later at the US Open, King retired from her fourth-round match with Julie Heldman while ill and suffering from the oppressive heat and humidity. When Heldman complained to the match umpire that King was taking too long between games, King reportedly told Heldman, "If you want the match that badly, you can have it!" The Battle of the Sexes match against Bobby Riggs was held in the middle of the Virginia Slims of Houston tournament. King won her first and second round matches three days before playing Riggs, defeated Riggs, won her quarterfinal match the day after the Riggs match, and then lost the following day to Casals in the semifinals 7–6, 6–1. According to King, "I had nothing left to give." To end the year, King won tournaments in Phoenix, Hawaii, and Tokyo and was the runner-up in Baltimore.

Battle of the Sexes

Main article: Battle of the Sexes (tennis)

In 1973, King defeated Bobby Riggs in an exhibition match, winning $100,000 ($707,000 in 2024 terms).

Riggs had been a top men's player in the 1930s and 1940s in both the amateur and professional ranks. He won the Wimbledon men's singles title in 1939, and was considered the World No. 1 male tennis player for 1941, 1946, and 1947. He then became a self-described tennis "hustler" who played in promotional challenge matches. Claiming that the women's game was so inferior to the men's game that even a 55-year-old like himself could beat the current top female players, he challenged and defeated Margaret Court 6–2, 6–1. King, who previously had rejected challenges from Riggs, then accepted a lucrative financial offer to play him for $100,000 in a winner-takes-all match.

Dubbed "the Battle of the Sexes", the Riggs–King match took place at the Houston Astrodome in Texas on September 20, 1973. The match garnered huge publicity. In front of 30,492 spectators and a television audience estimated at 50 million people (U.S.), and 90 million in 37 countries, 29-year-old King beat the 55-year-old Riggs 6–4, 6–3, 6–3. The match is considered a significant event in developing greater recognition and respect for women's tennis. as King said to author and photographer Lynn Gilbert in her book Particular Passions: Talks with Women who Have Shaped Our Times, "I thought it would set us back 50 years if I didn't win that match. It would ruin the women's tour and affect all women's self-esteem," and that "to beat a 55-year-old guy was no thrill for me. The thrill was exposing a lot of new people to tennis."

1974

King won five of the first seven tournaments she contested in 1974. She won the Virginia Slims of San Francisco, defeating Nancy Richey Gunter in the semi-finals and Chris Evert in the final. The following week in Indian Wells, California, King again defeated Gunter in the semi-finals but lost to Evert in the final. King then won tournaments in Fairfax, Virginia and Detroit before losing a semi-final match to Virginia Wade in Chicago. King won both tournaments she played in March, defeating Gunter in the Akron, Ohio final and Evert at the U.S. Indoor Championships final. Olga Morozova then upset King in her next two tournaments, at Philadelphia in the final and at Wimbledon in a quarterfinal 7–5, 6–2. Afterward, King did not play a tour match until the US Open, where she won her fourth singles title and third in the last four years. She defeated Rosemary Casals in a straight sets quarterfinal, avenged in the semi-finals her previous year's loss to Julie Heldman, and narrowly defeated Evonne Goolagong in the final. King did not reach a tournament final during the remainder of the year, losing to Heldman in an Orlando semi-final, Wade in a Phoenix semi-final, and Goolagong in a semi-final of the tour-ending Virginia Slims Championships in Los Angeles.

1975

In 1975, King played singles only half the year, as she retired (temporarily, as it turned out) from tournament singles competition immediately after winning her sixth Wimbledon singles title.

She began the year in San Francisco, defeating Françoise Dürr and Virginia Wade before losing to Chris Evert in the final. The following week, King won the Sarasota, Florida tournament, defeating Evert in the final 6–3, 6–2. Evert said immediately after the final, which was her thirteenth career match with King, "I think that's the best that Billie Jean has ever played. I hit some great shots but they just kept coming back at me." Looking back at that match, King said, "I probably played so well because I had to, for the money. Out of frustration comes creativity. Right?" Two months later, Wade defeated King in the semi-finals of the Philadelphia tournament. At the Austin, Texas, tournament in April, King defeated Evonne Goolagong 6–1, 6–3 before losing to Evert in the final. As King was serving for the match at 6–5 in the third set, a disputed line call went in Evert's favor. King said after the match that she was cheated out of the match and that she had never been angrier about a match.

King played only one of the Wimbledon warm-up tournaments, defeating Olga Morozova in the Eastbourne semi-finals before losing to Wade in the final. Seeded third at Wimbledon, King defeated seventh seeded Morozova in the quarterfinals (6–3, 6–3) and then top seeded Evert in the semi-finals (2–6, 6–2, 6–3) after being down 3–0 (40–15) in the final set. Evert blamed her semifinal defeat on a loss of concentration when she saw Jimmy Connors, her former fiancé, escorting Susan George into Centre Court. King, however, believes that the match turned around because King planned for and totally prepared for Wimbledon that year and told herself when she was on the verge of defeat, "Hey, Billie Jean, this is ridiculous. You paid the price. For once, you looked ahead. You're supposed to win. Get your bahoola in gear." King then defeated fourth seeded Goolagong Cawley in the second most lopsided women's final ever at Wimbledon (6–0, 6–1). King called her performance a "near perfect match" and said to the news media, "I'm never coming back."

The later years: 1976–1990

1976

Except for five Federation Cup singles matches that she won in straight sets in August, King played only in doubles and mixed doubles events from January through September. She partnered Phil Dent to the mixed doubles title at the US Open. She lost to Dianne Fromholtz Balestrat in both of the singles tournaments she played the remainder of the year. Looking back, King said, "I wasted 1976. After watching Chris Evert and Evonne Cawley play the final at Wimbledon I asked myself what I was doing. So, despite my age and the operations, the Old Lady came back...." King had knee surgery for the third time on November 9, this time on her right knee, and did not play the remainder of the year.

1977

King spent the first three months of the year rehabilitating her right knee after surgery in November 1976.

In March 1977, King requested that the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) exercise its right to grant a wild card entry to King for the eight-player Virginia Slims Championships at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Margaret Court, who finished in sixth place on the Virginia Slims points list, had left the tour due to her fourth pregnancy and thus failed to qualify for the tournament because she did not play enough Virginia Slims tournaments leading up to the championships. This left a spot open in the draw, which the WTA filled with Mima Jaušovec. King then decided to play the Lionel Cup tournament in San Antonio, Texas, which the WTA harshly criticized because tournament officials there had allowed Renée Richards, a transgender athlete, to enter. Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, and Betty Stöve (president of the WTA) criticized King's decision because of Richards's unresolved and highly controversial status on the women's tennis tour. Evert said she was disappointed with King and that until Richards's status was resolved, "all of the women should stick together." Navratilova said, "Billie Jean is a bad girl pouting. She made a bad decision. She's mad because she could not get what she wanted." Stöve said that if King had wanted the competition, "here are plenty of men around here she could've played with. She didn't have to choose a 'disputed' tournament." The draw in San Antonio called for King to play Richards in the semi-finals had form held; however, Richards lost in the quarterfinals. King eventually won the tournament.

At the clay court Family Circle Cup in late March, King played for the last time her long-time rival Nancy Richey Gunter in the first round. King won 0–6, 7–6, 6–2. She defeated another clay court specialist, Virginia Ruzici, in the second round before winning only one game from Evert in the final.

At Wimbledon in the third round, King played Maria Bueno for the last time, with King winning 6–2, 7–5. In the quarterfinals, Evert defeated King for the first time at a Grand Slam singles tournament and for the first time on grass 6–1, 6–2 in just 46 minutes. Evert said it was the best match she had ever played on grass up to that point in her career, and King said, "No excuses. Let's forget knees, ankles, toes, everything else. She just played beautiful tennis. I don't think many players would've beaten her today." King also said after the match, "Maybe I can be happy being number eight instead of number one. At this stage, just playing, that's winning enough for me." But when asked about retirement, King said, "Retire? Quit tournament tennis? You gotta be kidding. It just means I've got a lot more work. I've got to make myself match tough ... mentally as well as physically. I gotta go out and kill myself for the next six months. It's a long, arduous process. I will suffer. But I will be back." There was a small historic note at Wimbledon 1977 in that it was the first time ever that King competed at the championships that she did not reach a final. From her debut in 1961 until 1976, she had played in the final of one of the three championship events for women every year. Perhaps there was irony in this in that as the Wimbledon champion with the most titles in its history, the event was celebrating its centenary in the year King failed to make a final for the first time. The only other years she competed at the championship and did not feature in a final were 1980 and 1982. In her entire Wimbledon career of 22 competitions, King never failed to be a semi-finalist in at least one event every year.

Evert repeated her Wimbledon quarterfinal victory over King at the clay court US Open, winning 6–2, 6–0. This loss prompted King to say, "I better get it together by October or November or that's it. I'll have to make some big decisions. I'm not 20-years-old and I can't just go out and change my game. It's only the last four weeks I haven't been in pain. I keep using that as a copout, I shouldn't play."

The remainder of the year, King's win–loss record was 31–3, losing to only Evert, Dianne Fromholtz Balestrat, and Michelle Tyler. King won five of the eight tournaments she entered plus both of her Wightman Cup matches. She defeated Navratilova all four times they played, including three times in three consecutive weeks, and beat Wimbledon champion Virginia Wade twice. Beginning September 26, King played seven consecutive weeks. She lost to Tyler in the second round in Palm Harbor, Florida, and Fromholtz Balestrat in the semi-finals in Atlanta. She then won three hard court tournaments in three consecutive weeks. She defeated Navratilova and Wendy Turnbull to win in Phoenix, losing only four points to Turnbull in the third set of the final. The next week, she defeated Navratilova, Fromholtz Balestrat, and Wimbledon runner-up Stöve to win in São Paulo. The third week, she defeated Ruzici, Stöve, and Janet Newberry Wright to win in San Juan. In November, Evert snapped King's 18-match winning streak in the final of the Colgate Series Championships in Mission Hills, California. King then won her Wightman Cup matches, defeated Navratilova to win the tournament in Japan, and beat Wade to win the Bremar Cup in London. King said, "I have never had a run like this, even in the years when I was Wimbledon champion. At 34, I feel fitter than when I was 24."

1978

King played ten singles tournaments during the first half of 1978, limiting herself to doubles after Wimbledon.

To start the year, King was the runner-up in Houston and Kansas City (losing to Martina Navratilova in both) and in Philadelphia (losing to Chris Evert). At the Virginia Slims Championships, King lost her first round robin match to Virginia Wade and defaulted her two remaining round robin matches because of a leg injury sustained during the first match.

At Wimbledon, King played with a painful heel spur in her left foot and lost to Evert in the quarterfinals for the second consecutive year 6–3, 3–6, 6–2. The match was on-serve in the third set with King serving at 2–3 (40–0) before Evert won five consecutive points to break serve. King won a total of only two points during the last two games. King said after the match, "I don't think my mobility is very good and that's what I need to beat her. Physically, she tears your guts apart unless you can stay with her. I'm really disappointed. I really wanted to play well. I just couldn't cut it because of my heel." King and her partner Ray Ruffels lost in the final of mixed doubles in straight sets.

King teamed with Navratilova to win the women's doubles title at the US Open, King's fourth women's doubles title at that tournament and fourteenth Grand Slam women's doubles title overall. To end the year, King was undefeated in five doubles matches (four with Evert and one with Rosemary Casals) as the U.S. won the Federation Cup in Melbourne, Australia. She also teamed with Tracy Austin in the 1978 Wightman Cup against Great Britain, beating Anne Hobbs & Sue Mappin in the best of seven rubbers, despite the US losing the Cup 3–4. During the Federation Cup competition, King hinted at retirement from future major singles competitions and said that she was "sick and tired of continued surgery" in trying to get fit enough for those events. Nevertheless, King had foot surgery on December 22 in an attempt to regain mobility for a return to the tennis tour.

1979

During the first half of 1979, King played only one event – doubles in the Federation Cup tie against Spain – because of major surgery to her left foot during December 1978.

King returned to singles competition at the Wimbledon warm-up tournament in Chichester. She defeated the reigning Wimbledon champion, Martina Navratilova, in a 48-minute quarterfinal 6–1, 6–2 before losing to Evonne Goolagong Cawley in the semi-finals 1–6, 6–4, 10–8. Seeded seventh at Wimbledon, King defeated Hana Mandlíková in the fourth round before losing the last six games of the quarterfinal match with fourth-seeded Tracy Austin 6–4, 6–7(5), 6–2. King partnered with Navratilova at Wimbledon to win King's 20th and final Wimbledon title, breaking Elizabeth Ryan's longstanding record of 19 Wimbledon titles just one day after Ryan collapsed and died at Wimbledon.

At the US Open, the ninth-seeded King reached the quarterfinals without dropping a set, where she upset the fourth-seeded Virginia Wade 6–3, 7–6(4). Next up was a semi-final match with the four-time defending champion and top-seeded Chris Evert; however, with King hampered by a neck injury sustained during a bear hug with a friend the day before the match, Evert won 6–1, 6–0, including the last eleven games and 48 of the last 63 points. This was Evert's eighth consecutive win over King, with Evert during those matches losing only one set and 31 games and winning four 6–0 sets. Evert said after the match, "Psychologically, I feel very confident when I ... play her."

The following week in Tokyo, King won her first singles title in almost two years, defeating Goolagong Cawley in the final. In November in Stockholm, King defeated Betty Stöve in the final after Stöve lost her concentration while serving for the match at 5–4 in the third set. Three weeks later in Brighton, King lost a semi-final match with Navratilova 7–5, 0–6, 7–6(3) after King led 6–5 in the third set. She ended the year with a quarterfinal loss in Melbourne (not the Australian Open), a second round loss in Sydney, and a three-set semi-final loss to Austin in Tokyo.

1980–1981

King won the tournament in Houston that began in February, snapping Martina Navratilova's 28-match winning streak in the straight-sets final.

At the winter series-ending Avon Championships in March, King defeated Virginia Wade in her first round robin match 6–1, 6–3. After Wade held serve at love to open the match, King won nine consecutive games and lost only nine points during those games. King then lost her second round robin match to Navratilova and defeated Wendy Turnbull in an elimination round match, before losing to Tracy Austin in the semi-finals

King played the 1980 French Open, her first time since she won the event in 1972 and completed a career singles Grand Slam. She was seeded second but lost in the quarterfinals to fifth-seeded Dianne Fromholtz Balestrat of Australia.

At Wimbledon, King defeated Pam Shriver in a two-hour, forty minute fourth round match after King saved a match point in the second set and recovered from a 4–2 (40–0) deficit in the third set with Shriver serving. In a quarterfinal that took two days to complete, King lost to two-time defending champion and top-seeded Navratilova 7–6, 1–6, 10–8. The beginning of the match was delayed until late afternoon because of rain. Because she wore glasses, King agreed to start the match then on condition that tournament officials immediately suspend the match if the rain resumed. During the first set, drizzle began to fall; however, the chair umpire refused to suspend the match. King led in the tiebreaker 5–1 before Navratilova came back to win the set, whereupon the umpire then agreed to the suspension. When the match resumed the next day, King won 20 of the first 23 points to take a 5–0 lead in the second set and lost a total of seven points while winning the set in just 17 minutes. In the third set, Navratilova broke serve to take a 2–0 lead before King broke back twice and eventually served for the match at 6–5. King then hit four volley errors, enabling Navratilova to break serve at love and even the match. King saved three match points while serving at 6–7 and three more match points while serving at 7–8. During the change-over between games at 8–9, King's glasses broke for the first time in her career. She had a spare pair, but they did not feel the same. King saved two match points before Navratilova broke serve to win the match. King said, "I think that may be the single match in my career that I could have won if I hadn't had bad eyes."

King teamed with Navratilova to win King's 39th and final Grand Slam title at the US Open. Navratilova then decided she wanted a new doubles partner and started playing with Shriver but refused to discuss the change directly with King. She finally confronted Navratilova during the spring of 1981, reportedly saying to her, "Tell me I'm too old ... but tell me something." Navratilova refused to talk about it.

King had minor knee surgery on November 14 in San Francisco to remove adhesions and cartilage.

1982–1983

In 1982, King began a comeback, winning the Wimbledon warm-up tournament the 1982 Edgbaston Cup in Birmingham, her first singles title in more than two years. King was 38 years old and the twelfth-seed at Wimbledon. In her third round match with Tanya Harford of South Africa, King was down 7–5, 5–4 (40–0) before Harford's apparent winner was deemed 'not up' by the umpire, something the South African protested vehemently. King then saved the next two match points to win the second set 7–6(2) and then the third set 6–3. King said in her post-match press conference, "I can't recall the previous time I have been so close to defeat and won. When I was down 4–5 and love–40, I told myself, 'You have been here 21 years, so use that experience and hang on.'" In the fourth round, King upset sixth-seeded Australian Wendy Turnbull in straight sets. King then upset third-seeded Tracy Austin in the quarterfinals 3–6, 6–4, 6–2 to become the oldest female semi-finalist at Wimbledon since Dorothea Douglass Lambert Chambers in 1920. This was King's first career victory over Austin after five defeats and reversed the result of their 1979 Wimbledon quarterfinal. King said in her post-match press conference, "Today, I looked at the scoreboard when I was 2–0 in the third set and the '2' seemed to be getting bigger and bigger. In 1979, when I was up 2–0 at the same stage, I was tired and didn't have anything left. But today I felt so much better and was great mentally." Two days later in the semi-finals, which was King's 250th career match at Wimbledon in singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles, the second-seeded Chris Evert defeated King on her fifth match point 7–6(4), 2–6, 6–3. King was down a set and 2–1 in the second set before winning five consecutive games to even the match. King explained that she actually lost the match in the first set by failing to convert break points at 15–40 in the second and fourth games. Having started the year in retirement, King finished 1982 ranked 14 in the world.

In 1983, she reached the semi-finals in her final appearance at Wimbledon, losing to Andrea Jaeger 6–1, 6–1 after beating Kathy Jordan in the quarterfinals, seventh-seeded Wendy Turnbull in the fourth round, and Rosemary Casals, her longtime doubles partner, in the third round. Jaeger claims that she was highly motivated to defeat King because King had defeated Turnbull, a favorite of Jaeger's, and because King refused a towel from an attendant just before her match with Jaeger, explaining, "I'm not going to sweat in this match."

King became the oldest WTA player to win a singles tournament when she won the Edgbaston Cup grass court tournament in Birmingham at 39 years, 7 months and 23 days after a straight-sets victory in the final against Alycia Moulton. Her tally of 20 Wimbledon titles remained when partnered with Steve Denton and the no.1 seeds in the mixed doubles, they lost 6–7(5–7), 7–6(7–5), 7–5 to John Lloyd & Wendy Turnbull in the final, King being the only player to drop her service in the final game. At her final appearance at the US Open later in 1983, King didn't play singles, but partnered Sharon Walsh in the women's doubles, reaching the semi-finals and Trey Waltke in the mixed doubles, losing in the second round. The final official singles match of King's career was a second round loss to Catherine Tanvier at the 1983 Australian Open.

1984 to present

King played doubles sporadically from 1984 through 1990. She and Vijay Amritraj were seeded sixth for the Wimbledon mixed doubles 1984, but they withdrew before the tournament began. She retired from competitive play in doubles in March 1990. In her last competitive doubles match, King and her partner, Jennifer Capriati, lost a second round match to Brenda Schultz-McCarthy and Andrea Temesvári 6–3, 6–2 at the Virginia Slims of Florida tournament.

King became the captain of the United States Fed Cup team and coach of its women's Olympic tennis squad. She guided the U.S. to the Fed Cup championship in 1996 and helped Lindsay Davenport, Gigi Fernández, and Mary Joe Fernández capture Olympic gold medals.

In 2002, King dismissed Capriati from the Fed Cup team, saying Capriati had violated rules that forbade bringing along and practicing with personal coaches. Opinion was sharply divided, with many supporting King's decision but many feeling the punishment was too harsh, especially in hindsight when Monica Seles and Lisa Raymond were defeated by lower-ranked Austrians Barbara Schett and Barbara Schwartz. The following year, Zina Garrison succeeded King as Fed Cup captain.

Activism within the tennis profession

Player compensation

Before the start of the open era in 1968, King earned US$100 a week as a playground instructor and student at California State University, Los Angeles when not playing in major tennis tournaments.

In 1967, King criticized the United States Lawn Tennis Association (USLTA) in a series of press conferences, denouncing what she called the USLTA's practice of "shamateurism", where top players were paid under the table to guarantee their entry into tournaments. King argued that this was corrupt and kept the game highly elitist. King quickly became a significant force in the opening of tennis to professionalism. King said this about the amateur game:

In America, tennis players are not people. If you are in tennis, you are a cross between a panhandler and a visiting in-law. You're not respected, you're tolerated. In England, you're respected as an artist. In Europe, you're a person of importance. Manuel Santana gets decorated by Franco. The Queen leads the applause. How many times have I been presented at the White House? You work all your life to win Wimbledon and Forest Hills and all the people say is, "That's nice. Now what are you going to do with your life?" They don't ask Mickey Mantle that. Stop 12 people on the street and ask them who Roy Emerson is and they're stuck for an answer, but they know the third-string right guard for the Rams. I'd like to see tennis get out of its "sissy" image and see some guy yell, "Hit it, ya bum" and see it be a game you don't have to have a lorgnette or a sash across your tuxedo to get in to watch.

Push for female equality

When the open era began, King campaigned for equal prize money in the men's and women's games. In 1971, her husband, Larry King created the idea to form a nine player women's group with the financial backing of World Tennis magazine founder Gladys Heldman and the sponsorship of Virginia Slims chairman Joe Cullman. King became the first woman athlete to earn over US$100,000 in prize money; however, inequalities continued. King won the US Open in 1972 but received US$15,000 less than the men's champion Ilie Năstase. She stated that she would not play the next year if the prize money was not equal. In 1973, the US Open became the first major tournament to offer equal prize money for men and women.

King led player efforts to support the first professional women's tennis tour in the 1970s called the Virginia Slims, founded by Gladys Heldman and funded by Joseph Cullman of Philip Morris. Once the tour took flight, King worked tirelessly to promote it even though many of the other top players were not supportive. "For three years we had two tours and because of their governments Navratilova and Olga Morozova had to play the other tour. Chris , Margaret , Virginia , they let us do the pioneering work and they weren't very nice to us. If you go back and look at the old quotes; they played for the love of the game, we played for the money. When we got backing and money, we were all playing together – I wonder why? I tried not to get upset with them. Forgiveness is important. Our job was to have one voice and win them over."

In 1973, King became the first president of the women's players union – the Women's Tennis Association. In 1974, she, with husband Larry King and Jim Jorgensen, founded womenSports magazine and started the Women's Sports Foundation. Also in 1974, World TeamTennis began, founded by Larry King, Dennis Murphy, Frank Barman and Jordan Kaiser. She became league commissioner in 1982 and major owner in 1984.

King is a member of the Board of Honorary Trustees for the Sports Museum of America, which opened in 2008. The museum is the home of the Billie Jean King International Women's Sports Center, a comprehensive women's sports hall of fame and exhibit.

Billie Jean King through her various efforts has been said to have started the second wave of feminism. Not just for women in sports, but for women everywhere, Kings triumphs have led to greater opportunities . For example, it is said that “In a single tennis match, Billie Jean King was able to do more for the cause of women than most feminists can achieve in a lifetime” (Paule-Koba). Kings win against Bobby Riggs, one of the greatest male tennis players of their time, was not just a win for herself, but a win for women everywhere. After Riggs sexist comments leading up to the match, King realized she had a lot more to win the match for then a trophy. “Billie Jean King was the rare athlete who brought together sport and feminism, and, in doing so, she put a human face on the ideals of liberal feminism” (Paule-Koba). Since her win against Riggs, King has started her own tour for women to create equal pay for them, influenced and aided the title IX legislation, and helped create the Women's sports foundation known as womenSports and World Team Tennis.

Other activities

King's husband Larry co-founded World Team Tennis in 1973 with Dennis Murphy, Jordan Kaiser, and Fred Barman and WTT began in 1974. The couple used their savings to put on a team tennis event at the Oakland Coliseum. King remained involved with World Team Tennis for decades, eventually sharing ownership with her ex-husband, her life partner Ilana Kloss and USTA. In 2017, King sold her majority ownership stake of the league to Mark Ein and Fred Luddy. WTT was based on her philosophy for gender equality and it had been running continuously for over 40 years.

In 1999, King was elected to serve on the board of directors of Philip Morris Incorporated, garnering some criticism from anti-tobacco groups. She no longer serves in that capacity.

As of 2012 King was involved in the Women's Sports Foundation and the Elton John AIDS Foundation. She also served on the President's Council for Fitness, Sports and Nutrition as a way to encourage young people to stay active.

In 2008, King published the book Pressure is a Privilege: Lessons I've Learned from Life and the Battle of the Sexes.

In December 2013, US President Barack Obama appointed King and openly gay ice hockey player Caitlin Cahow to represent the United States at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. This has been interpreted as a signal on gay rights, in the context of concerns and controversies at the 2014 Winter Olympics regarding LGBT rights in Russia. King was forced to drop out of the delegation due to her mother's ill health. Betty Moffitt, King's mother, died on February 7, 2014, the day of the 2014 Winter Olympics opening ceremony.

Billie Jean was selected to deliver the Northwestern University commencement address on June 16, 2017, in Evanston, Illinois.

She attended the 75th Golden Globe Awards in 2018 as a guest of Emma Stone.

King and Kloss became minority owners of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team in September 2018, and the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks basketball team. In October 2020, they became part of the ownership group of Angel City FC, a Los Angeles–based team set to start play in the National Women's Soccer League in 2022.

King is also an investor in Just Women's Sports, an American media platform dedicated to women's sports.

On June 29, 2023, the Mark Walter Group and BJK Enterprises purchased the intellectual property and other key elements of the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF), a professional women's hockey league in the United States and Canada. Headed by Mark Walter and King, respectively, both businesses had entered a partnership with the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) in May 2022, with the intent to create a new professional women's ice hockey league in North America. The buyout changed the landscape in North American women's professional hockey, as it resulted in a single league with stakeholders from both the PHF and PWHPA. The new league began on January 1, 2024, with the first game played between New York and Toronto in Toronto.

Also in 2023, King competed in season ten of The Masked Singer as "Royal Hen". She was the first of Group B to be eliminated on "A Celebration of Elton John".

Awards, honors, and tributes

Tributes from other players

Margaret Court, who won more Grand Slam titles than anyone, has said that King was "the greatest competitor I've ever known".

Chris Evert, winner of 18 Grand Slam singles titles, has said, "She's the wisest human being that I've ever met and has vision people can only dream about. Billie Jean King is my mentor and has given me advice about my tennis and my boyfriends. On dealing with my parents and even how to raise children. And she doesn't have any."

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 King. Navratilova said, "I would have to pick Billie Jean at her best. Consistently, Chris is hardest to beat but for one big occasion, one big match, one crucial point, yes, it would have to be Billie Jean." Casals said, "No matter how far down you got her, you never could be sure of beating her."

Awards and honors

• King was the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year in 1967.
• In 1972, King became the first female athlete ever to be named Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year.
• In 1975, Seventeen magazine found that King was the most admired woman in the world from a poll of its readers. Golda Meir, who had been Israel's prime minister until the previous year, finished second. In a May 19, 1975, Sports Illustrated article about King, Frank Deford noted that she had become something of a sex symbol.
• King was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987.
• Life magazine in 1990 named her one of the "100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century".
• King was the recipient of the 1999 Arthur Ashe Courage Award.
• In 1999 King was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame.
• In 2000, King received an award from GLAAD, an organization devoted to reducing discrimination against gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender people, for "furthering the visibility and inclusion of the community in her work".
• In 2003, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) presented her with its highest accolade, the Philippe Chatrier Award, for her contributions to tennis both on and off the court.
• In 2006, the Women's Sports Foundation began to sponsor the Billie Awards, which are named after and hosted by King.

• On August 28, 2006, the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park was rededicated as the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. John McEnroe, Venus Williams, Jimmy Connors, and Chris Evert were among the speakers during the rededication ceremony.
• In 2006, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife Maria Shriver inducted King into the California Hall of Fame located at The California Museum for History, Women, and the Arts.
• On November 20, 2007, King was presented with the 2007 Sunday Times Sports Women of the Year Lifetime Achievement award for her contribution to sport both on and off the court.
• She was honored by the Office of the Manhattan Borough President in March 2008 and was included in a map of historical sites related or dedicated to important women.
• On August 12, 2009, President Barack Obama awarded King the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her work advocating for the rights of women and the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. This made her the first female athlete to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
• She was inducted into the Southern California Tennis Hall of Fame on August 5, 2011.
• On August 2, 2013, King was among the first class of inductees into the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame.
• In 2014, she was named one of ESPNW's Impact 25.
• King was shown in Marie Claire magazine's "The 8 Greatest Moments for Women in Sports".
• King received the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award on December 16, 2018. It was presented to by long-time friend and fellow tennis player and broadcaster Sue Barker, making King only the second American (after Michael Phelps) and the first American woman to win the award.
• Cal State LA's more than 11 acres (4.5 ha) athletic facility is named the Billie Jean King Sports Complex. The sports complex—which was approved by the California State University Board of Trustees on September 21—features the Eagle's Nest Arena, the University Stadium, Jesse Owens Track and Field, Reeder Field (baseball), the swimming pool, and tennis and basketball courts.
• On September 21, 2019, her hometown of Long Beach, California held a grand opening of the Long Beach Public Library's new main library, named after King. The Billie Jean King Main Library is located in Downtown Long Beach, and has exhibited King's Presidential Medal of Freedom.
• The Fed Cup, the premier international team competition in women's tennis, was renamed the Billie Jean King Cup in September 2020 in her honor.
• 2020 and 2024 World Series champion as part owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers
• In 2021, King received the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award, in recognition of her excellence on the tennis court as well as her life's work in pursuit of gender and racial equality.
• In June 2022, King was awarded the French Legion of Honour by President Emmanuel Macron, on the 50th anniversary of her French Open victory.
• Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (sports entertainment)
• In 2024, King received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement, presented by Christiane Amanpour.
• King received a Congressional Gold Medal in September 2024 for her "courageous and groundbreaking leadership in advancing equal rights for women in athletics, education, and society."

Playing style and personality

King learned to play tennis on the public courts of Long Beach, California, and was coached by tennis teacher Clyde Walker. She furthered her tennis career at the Los Angeles Tennis Club.

She was an aggressive, hard-hitting net-rusher with excellent speed; Chris Evert, however, said about King, "Her weakness is her impatience."

Concerning her motivations in life and tennis, King said,

I'm a perfectionist much more than I'm a super competitor, and there's a big difference there.... I've been painted as a person who only competes. ... But most of all, I get off on hitting a shot correctly. ... Any woman who wants to achieve anything has to be aggressive and tough, but the press never sees us as multidimensional. They don't see the emotions, the downs....

In a 1984 interview, just after she had turned 40, King said,

Sometimes when I'm watching someone like Martina , I remember how nice it was to be No. 1. Believe me, it's the best time in your life. Don't let anyone ever tell you different. ... My only regret is that I had to do too much off the court. Deep down, I wonder how good I really could have been if I concentrated just on tennis.

Julie Heldman, who frequently played King but never felt close to her, said about King's personality,

One of the reasons I've never gotten close to Billie Jean is that I've never felt strong enough to survive against that overwhelming personality of hers. She talks about me being the smart one. Let me tell you, Billie Jean's the smartest one, the cleverest one you'll ever see. She was the one who was able to channel everything into winning, into being the most consummate tennis player.

Kristien Shaw, another frequent opponent of King, said,

For a time, I think I was as close to Billie Jean as anyone ever was. But as soon as I got to the point where I could read her too well, she tried to dissociate the relationship. She doesn't want to risk appearing weak in front of anybody. She told me once that if you want to be the best, you must never let anyone, anyone, know what you really feel. You see, she told me, they can't hurt you if they don't know.

Concerning the qualities of a champion tennis player, King said,

The difference between me at my peak and me in the last few years of my career is that when I was the champion I had the ultimate in confidence. When I decided, under pressure ... that I had to go with my very weakest shot – forehand down the line – I was positive that I could pull it off ... when it mattered the most. Even more than that; going into a match, I knew it was my weakest shot, and I knew in a tight spot my opponent was going to dare me to hit it, and I knew I could hit it those two or three or four times in a match when I absolutely had to. ... The cliché is to say that ... champions play the big points better. Yes, but that's only the half of it. The champions play their weaknesses better....

In popular culture

• King's friend Elton John wrote the song "Philadelphia Freedom", a nod to her World TeamTennis team, for King. The song was released New Year's Day 1975 and became a number one hit.
• Charles M. Schulz, creator of the Peanuts comic strip, was an admirer and close friend; Schulz referred to King several times in Peanuts and used the comic strip to support the women's sports movement after becoming friends with King.
• Actress Holly Hunter portrayed King in the 2001 ABC television film When Billie Beat Bobby. King played a judge on Law & Order in 2007, and appeared as herself on The Odd Couple in 1973, The L Word in 2006, Ugly Betty in May 2009, Fresh Off The Boat in 2016, and The Bold Type in 2020. King's name appears in the lyrics of the Le Tigre song "Hot Topic."
• Actress Emma Stone portrayed King in the 2017 biographical film Battle of the Sexes.
• The Ted Tinling designed dress King wore for the Battle of the Sexes match is part of a Smithsonian Museum collection.
• In 2023, King competed in the tenth season of The Masked Singer as "Royal Hen". She sang "Philadelphia Freedom" and "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" in an episode that was a tribute to Elton John where she was eliminated.

Personal life

Billie Jean and Larry King were engaged in fall of 1964 and married in Long Beach, California, on September 17, 1965. Billie Jean credited Larry with introducing her to feminism and for pushing her to pursue tennis as a career. Billie Jean later said she "was totally in love with Larry" when they married.

By 1968, King realized that she was attracted to women. In 1971, she began an affair with her secretary, Marilyn Barnett (born Marilyn Kathryn McRae on January 28, 1948). Barnett had been living rent-free in the Kings' Malibu house. In 1979, the Kings asked Barnett to leave their house, but she did not want to. Refusing to leave the house, Barnett threatened to leak records and receipts that she had kept over the years. These receipts included letters from Billie Jean to Marilyn, credit card receipts, and paid bills. After a suicide attempt where she jumped off the balcony of the house leaving her a paraplegic, Barnett sued the Kings in a May 1981 palimony lawsuit for half their income and the Malibu house where she had been staying. Billie Jean acknowledged the relationship between her and Marilyn shortly afterward, making Billie Jean the first prominent female professional athlete to come out. Feeling she could not admit to the extent of the relationship, Billie Jean publicly called it a fling and a mistake. The lawsuit caused Billie Jean to lose an estimated $2 million in endorsements and forced her to prolong her tennis career to pay attorneys. In December 1981, a court order stipulated that Barnett leave the house and that her threats to publish private correspondence between her and King in exchange for money came close to extortion. Barnett's palimony suit was thrown out of court in November 1982. But in a bizarre twist of fate, a few months later in March 1983, the house that had been contested was destroyed during a series of freak storms that lashed the southern California coastline.

Also in 1971, King had an abortion that was made public in a Ms. magazine article. Larry had revealed Billie Jean's abortion without consulting her.

Concerning the personal cost of concealing her sexuality for so many years, Billie Jean said:

I wanted to tell the truth but my parents were homophobic and I was in the closet. As well as that, I had people tell me that if I talked about what I was going through, it would be the end of the women's tour. I couldn't get a closet deep enough. One of my big goals was always to be honest with my parents and I couldn't be for a long time. I tried to bring up the subject but felt I couldn't. My mother would say, "We're not talking about things like that", and I was pretty easily stopped because I was reluctant anyway. I ended up with an eating disorder that came from trying to numb myself from my feelings. I needed to surrender far sooner than I did. At the age of 51, I was finally able to talk about it properly with my parents and no longer did I have to measure my words with them. That was a turning point for me as it meant I didn't have regrets anymore.

Billie Jean and Larry remained married through the palimony suit fallout. Their marriage ended in 1987 after Billie Jean fell in love with her doubles partner, Ilana Kloss. Billie Jean and Larry nevertheless remained close, and she is the godmother of Larry's son from his subsequent marriage.

On October 18, 2018, King and Kloss were married by former New York City Mayor David Dinkins in a secret ceremony. King and her wife Kloss have residences in New York City and Chicago. King is a vegetarian.

It was announced in March 2021 that King would be an advisor to First Women's Bank in Chicago.

Grand Slam statistics

Main article: Billie Jean King career statistics

Grand Slam single finals

18 finals (12 titles, 6 runners-up)

Result	Year	Tournament	Surface	Opponent	Score
Loss	1963	Wimbledon	Grass	Margaret Court	3–6, 4–6
Loss	1965	U.S. Championships	Grass	Margaret Court	6–8, 5–7
Win	1966	Wimbledon	Grass	Maria Bueno	6–3, 3–6, 6–1
Win	1967	Wimbledon (2)	Grass	Ann Haydon-Jones	6–3, 6–4
Win	1967	U.S. Championships	Grass	Ann Haydon-Jones	11–9, 6–4
Win	1968	Australian Championships	Grass	Margaret Court	6–1, 6–2
↓ Open Era ↓
Win	1968	Wimbledon (3)	Grass	Judy Tegart-Dalton	9–7, 7–5
Loss	1968	US Open	Grass	Virginia Wade	4–6, 2–6
Loss	1969	Australian Open	Grass	Margaret Court	4–6, 1–6
Loss	1969	Wimbledon	Grass	Ann Haydon-Jones	6–3, 3–6, 2–6
Loss	1970	Wimbledon	Grass	Margaret Court	12–14, 9–11
Win	1971	US Open (2)	Grass	Rosemary Casals	6–4, 7–6
Win	1972	French Open	Clay	Evonne Goolagong	6–3, 6–3
Win	1972	Wimbledon (4)	Grass	Evonne Goolagong	6–3, 6–3
Win	1972	US Open (3)	Grass	Kerry Melville Reid	6–3, 7–5
Win	1973	Wimbledon (5)	Grass	Chris Evert	6–0, 7–5
Win	1974	US Open (4)	Grass	Evonne Goolagong	3–6, 6–3, 7–5
Win	1975	Wimbledon (6)	Grass	Evonne Goolagong Cawley	6–0, 6–1

Grand Slam tournament timeline

Key

W

F

SF

QF

#R

RR

Q#

DNQ

A

NH

(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.

Tournament	'59	'60	'61	'62	'63	'64	'65	'66	'67	'68	'69	'70	'71	'72	'73	'74	'75	'76	'77	'78	'79	'80	'81	'82	'83	'84	SR	W–L
Australian Open	A	A	A	A	A	A	SF	A	A	W	F	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A/A	A	A	A	A	QF	2R	A	1 / 5	16–4
French Open	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	QF	SF	QF	QF	A	W	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	QF	A	3R	A	A	1 / 7	21–6
Wimbledon	A	A	2R	QF	F	SF	SF	W	W	W	F	F	SF	W	W	QF	W	A	QF	QF	QF	QF	A	SF	SF	A	6 / 21	95–15
US Open	1R	3R	2R	1R	4R	QF	F	2R	W	F	QF	A	W	W	3R	W	A	A	QF	A	SF	A	A	1R	A	A	4 / 18	58–14
SR	0 / 1	0 / 1	0 / 2	0 / 2	0 / 2	0 / 2	0 / 3	1 / 2	2 / 3	2 / 4	0 / 4	0 / 2	1 / 2	3 / 3	1 / 2	1 / 2	1 / 1	0 / 0	0 / 2	0 / 1	0 / 2	0 / 2	0 / 0	0 / 4	0 / 2	0 / 0	12 / 51	190–39

• Note: The Australian Open was held twice in 1977, in January and December.

Records

• Most singles matches played in a season (1971): 125.
• Most singles matches won in a season (1971): 112.
• Most doubles titles won in a season (1971): 21.
• Most singles and doubles titles won in a season (1971): 38.
• Most singles and doubles matches won in a season (1971): 192.
• Most doubles matches won in a season (1971): 80.
• Oldest singles title winner on the WTA Tour (Birmingham 1983): 39 years, 7 months.

Books

• King, Billie Jean; Brennan, Christine (2008). Pressure Is a Privilege: Lessons I've Learned from Life and the Battle of the Sexes. New York: LifeTime Media. ISBN 978-0-9816368-0-1. OCLC 1036819775.
• ——; Howard, Johnette; Vollers, Maryanne (2021). All In: An Autobiography. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 978-1-101-94733-3.

See also

• All-time tennis records – women's singles
• Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative
• Homosexuality in sports in the United States
• List of French Open mixed doubles champions
• List of French Open women's doubles champions
• List of French Open women's singles champions
• List of Grand Slam women's singles champions
• List of Open Era tennis records
• List of US Open mixed doubles champions
• List of US Open women's doubles champions
• List of US Open women's singles champions
• List of Wimbledon ladies' doubles champions
• List of Wimbledon ladies' singles champions
• List of Wimbledon mixed doubles champions
• Open Era tennis records – women's singles
• WTA Tour records

Explanatory notes

1. Five additional women have completed a career Grand Slam since King.
2. Martina Navratilova also has 20 career titles at Wimbledon.
3. 26–3 in singles and 26–1 in doubles
4. excluding two unfinished matches
5. 14–2 in singles and 8–2 in women's doubles

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Further reading

• Fein, Paul (2005). You Can Quote Me on That: Greatest Tennis Quips, Insights and Zingers. Washington, D.C.: Potomac Books. ISBN 1-57488-925-7.
• Jones, Ann, A Game of Love, 1971
• Overman, Steven J. and K. B. Sagert, Icons of Women's Sport. Greenwood Press, 2012, Vol. 1.
• Roberts, Selena (2005). A Necessary Spectacle: Billie Jean King, Bobby Riggs, and the Tennis Match That Leveled the Game. New York: Crown. ISBN 1-4000-5146-0.
• Ware, Susan (2011). Game, Set, Match: Billie Jean King and the Revolution in Women's Sports. University of North Carolina Press. Combines biography and history in a study of the tennis player, liberal feminism, and Title IX.

External links

• Official website
• Billie Jean King at the Women's Tennis Association
• Billie Jean King at the Billie Jean King Cup
• Billie Jean King at the International Tennis Hall of Fame
• Billie Jean King Collection at the New-York Historical Society
• Billie Jean King at IMDb

Articles and topics related to Billie Jean King

Billie Jean King in the Grand Slam tournaments v t e Women's tennis players who won two or more Grand Slam singles titles in one calendar year Four wins 1953: Maureen Connolly Brinker 1970: Margaret Court 1988: Steffi Graf Three wins 1928: Helen Wills Moody (FO&WI&US) 1929: Helen Wills Moody (FO&WI&US) 1962: Margaret Court (AO&FO&US) 1965: Margaret Court (AO&WI&US) 1969: Margaret Court (AO&FO&US) 1972: Billie Jean King (FO&WI&US) 1973: Margaret Court (AO&FO&US) 1983: Martina Navratilova (AO&WI&US) 1984: Martina Navratilova (FO&WI&US) 1989: Steffi Graf (AO&WI&US) 1991: Monica Seles (AO&FO&US) 1992: Monica Seles (AO&FO&US) 1993: Steffi Graf (FO&WI&US) 1995: Steffi Graf (FO&WI&US) 1996: Steffi Graf (FO&WI&US) 1997: Martina Hingis (AO&WI&US) 2002: Serena Williams (FO&WI&US) 2015: Serena Williams (AO&FO&WI) Two wins 1925: Suzanne Lenglen (FO&WI) 1927: Helen Wills Moody (WI&US) 1930: Helen Wills Moody (FO&WI) 1931: Cilly Aussem (FO&WI) 1932: Helen Wills Moody (FO&WI) 1939: Alice Marble (WI&US) 1946: Pauline Betz Addie (WI&US) 1949: Margaret Osborne duPont (FO&US) 1950: Louise Bough Clapp (AO&WI) 1952: Maureen Connolly Brinker (WI&US) 1954: Maureen Connolly Brinker (FO&WI) 1956: Shirley Fry Irvin (WI&US) 1957: Althea Gibson (WI&US) 1958: Althea Gibson (WI&US) 1959: Maria Bueno (WI&US) 1960: Darlene Hard (FO&US) 1963: Margaret Court (AO&WI) 1964: Margaret Court (AO&FO) 1964: Maria Bueno (WI&US) 1967: Billie Jean King (WI&US) 1968: Billie Jean King (AO&WI) 1971: Evonne Goolagong Cawley (FO&WI) 1974: Chris Evert (FO&WI) 1975: Chris Evert (FO&US) 1976: Chris Evert (WI&US) 1980: Chris Evert (FO&US) 1982: Martina Navratilova (FO&WI) 1982: Chris Evert (AO&US) 1985: Martina Navratilova (AO&WI) 1986: Martina Navratilova (WI&US) 1987: Martina Navratilova (WI&US) 1994: Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (FO&US) 2000: Venus Williams (WI&US) 2001: Jennifer Capriati (AO&FO) 2001: Venus Williams (WI&US) 2003: Serena Williams (AO&WI) 2003: Justine Henin (FO&US) 2006: Amélie Mauresmo (AO&WI) 2007: Justine Henin (FO&US) 2009: Serena Williams (AO&WI) 2010: Serena Williams (AO&WI) 2012: Serena Williams (WI&US) 2013: Serena Williams (FO&US) 2016: Angelique Kerber (AO&US) 2022: Iga Świątek (FO&US) 2024: Aryna Sabalenka (AO&US) AO=Australian Open, FO=French Open, WI=Wimbledon, US=US Open v t e Australian Open women's singles champions Amateur Era 1922: Margaret Molesworth 1923: Margaret Molesworth 1924: Sylvia Lance Harper 1925: Daphne Akhurst 1926: Daphne Akhurst 1927: Esna Boyd Robertson 1928: Daphne Akhurst 1929: Daphne Akhurst 1930: Daphne Akhurst 1931: Coral McInnes Buttsworth 1932: Coral McInnes Buttsworth 1933: Joan Hartigan 1934: Joan Hartigan 1935: Dorothy Round 1936: Joan Hartigan 1937: Nancye Wynne 1938: Dorothy Bundy Cheney 1939: Emily Hood Westacott 1940: Nancye Wynne 1946: Nancye Wynne Bolton 1947: Nancye Wynne Bolton 1948: Nancye Wynne Bolton 1949: Doris Hart 1950: Louise Brough 1951: Nancye Wynne Bolton 1952: Thelma Coyne Long 1953: Maureen Connolly 1954: Thelma Coyne Long 1955: Beryl Penrose 1956: Mary Carter Reitano 1957: Shirley Fry 1958: Angela Mortimer 1959: Mary Carter Reitano 1960: Margaret Smith Court 1961: Margaret Smith Court 1962: Margaret Smith Court 1963: Margaret Smith Court 1964: Margaret Smith Court 1965: Margaret Smith Court 1966: Margaret Smith Court 1967: Nancy Richey 1968: Billie Jean Moffitt King Open Era 1969: Margaret Court 1970: Margaret Court 1971: Margaret Court 1972: Virginia Wade 1973: Margaret Court 1974: Evonne Goolagong 1975: Evonne Goolagong 1976: Evonne Goolagong 1977 (Jan): Kerry Reid 1977 (Dec): Evonne Goolagong 1978: Chris O'Neil 1979: Barbara Jordan 1980: Hana Mandlíková 1981: Martina Navratilova 1982: Chris Evert 1983: Martina Navratilova 1984: Chris Evert 1985: Martina Navratilova 1987: Hana Mandlíková 1988: Steffi Graf 1989: Steffi Graf 1990: Steffi Graf 1991: Monica Seles 1992: Monica Seles 1993: Monica Seles 1994: Steffi Graf 1995: Mary Pierce 1996: Monica Seles 1997: Martina Hingis 1998: Martina Hingis 1999: Martina Hingis 2000: Lindsay Davenport 2001: Jennifer Capriati 2002: Jennifer Capriati 2003: Serena Williams 2004: Justine Henin 2005: Serena Williams 2006: Amélie Mauresmo 2007: Serena Williams 2008: Maria Sharapova 2009: Serena Williams 2010: Serena Williams 2011: Kim Clijsters 2012: Victoria Azarenka 2013: Victoria Azarenka 2014: Li Na 2015: Serena Williams 2016: Angelique Kerber 2017: Serena Williams 2018: Caroline Wozniacki 2019: Naomi Osaka 2020: Sofia Kenin 2021: Naomi Osaka 2022: Ashleigh Barty 2023: Aryna Sabalenka 2024: Aryna Sabalenka v t e French Open women's singles champions Amateur Era (national) 1897: Adine Masson 1898: Adine Masson 1899: Adine Masson 1900: Hélène Prévost 1901: Suzanne Girod 1902: Adine Masson 1903: Adine Masson 1904: Kate Gillou 1905: Kate Gillou 1906: Kate Gillou-Fenwick 1907: Comtesse de Kermel 1908: Kate Gillou-Fenwick 1909: Jeanne Matthey 1910: Jeanne Matthey 1911: Jeanne Matthey 1912: Jeanne Matthey 1913: Marguerite Broquedis 1914: Marguerite Broquedis 1915–1919: No competition (World War I) 1920: Suzanne Lenglen 1921: Suzanne Lenglen 1922: Suzanne Lenglen 1923: Suzanne Lenglen 1924: Julie Vlasto Amateur Era (international) 1925: Suzanne Lenglen 1926: Suzanne Lenglen 1927: Kea Bouman 1928: Helen Wills 1929: Helen Wills 1930: Helen Wills Moody 1931: Cilly Aussem 1932: Helen Wills Moody 1933: Margaret Scriven 1934: Margaret Scriven 1935: Hilde Krahwinkel Sperling 1936: Hilde Krahwinkel Sperling 1937: Hilde Krahwinkel Sperling 1938: Simonne Mathieu 1939: Simonne Mathieu 1940–1945: No competition (World War II) 1946: Margaret Osborne duPont 1947: Patricia Canning Todd 1948: Nelly Adamson Landry 1949: Margaret Osborne duPont 1950: Doris Hart 1951: Shirley Fry 1952: Doris Hart 1953: Maureen Connolly 1954: Maureen Connolly 1955: Angela Mortimer 1956: Althea Gibson 1957: Shirley Bloomer 1958: Zsuzsa Körmöczy 1959: Christine Truman 1960: Darlene Hard 1961: Ann Jones 1962: Margaret Smith 1963: Lesley Turner 1964: Margaret Smith 1965: Lesley Turner 1966: Ann Haydon-Jones 1967: Françoise Dürr Open Era 1968: Nancy Richey 1969: Margaret Court 1970: Margaret Court 1971: Evonne Goolagong 1972: Billie Jean King 1973: Margaret Court 1974: Chris Evert 1975: Chris Evert 1976: Sue Barker 1977: Mima Jaušovec 1978: Virginia Ruzici 1979: Chris Evert 1980: Chris Evert 1981: Hana Mandlíková 1982: Martina Navratilova 1983: Chris Evert 1984: Martina Navratilova 1985: Chris Evert 1986: Chris Evert 1987: Steffi Graf 1988: Steffi Graf 1989: Arantxa Sánchez 1990: Monica Seles 1991: Monica Seles 1992: Monica Seles 1993: Steffi Graf 1994: Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 1995: Steffi Graf 1996: Steffi Graf 1997: Iva Majoli 1998: Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 1999: Steffi Graf 2000: Mary Pierce 2001: Jennifer Capriati 2002: Serena Williams 2003: Justine Henin 2004: Anastasia Myskina 2005: Justine Henin 2006: Justine Henin 2007: Justine Henin 2008: Ana Ivanovic 2009: Svetlana Kuznetsova 2010: Francesca Schiavone 2011: Li Na 2012: Maria Sharapova 2013: Serena Williams 2014: Maria Sharapova 2015: Serena Williams 2016: Garbiñe Muguruza 2017: Jeļena Ostapenko 2018: Simona Halep 2019: Ashleigh Barty 2020: Iga Świątek 2021: Barbora Krejčíková 2022: Iga Świątek 2023: Iga Świątek 2024: Iga Świątek v t e Wimbledon women's singles champions Amateur Era 1884: Maud Watson 1885: Maud Watson 1886: Blanche Bingley 1887: Lottie Dod 1888: Lottie Dod 1889: Blanche Bingley Hillyard 1890: Lena Rice 1891: Lottie Dod 1892: Lottie Dod 1893: Lottie Dod 1894: Blanche Bingley Hillyard 1895: Charlotte Cooper 1896: Charlotte Cooper 1897: Blanche Bingley Hillyard 1898: Charlotte Cooper 1899: Blanche Bingley Hillyard 1900: Blanche Bingley Hillyard 1901: Charlotte Sterry 1902: Muriel Robb 1903: Dorothea Douglass 1904: Dorothea Douglass 1905: May Sutton 1906: Dorothea Lambert Chambers 1907: May Sutton 1908: Charlotte Sterry 1909: Dora Boothby 1910: Dorothea Lambert Chambers 1912: Dorethea Lambert Chambers 1913: Ethel Thomson Larcombe 1914: Dorothea Lambert Chambers 1915: Dorothea Lambert Chambers 1915–18: No competition (World War I) 1919: Suzanne Lenglen 1920: Suzanne Lenglen 1921: Suzanne Lenglen 1922: Suzanne Lenglen 1923: Suzanne Lenglen 1924: Kathleen McKane 1925: Suzanne Lenglen 1926: Kathleen McKane Godfree 1927: Helen Wills 1928: Helen Wills 1929: Helen Wills 1930: Helen Wills Moody 1931: Cilly Aussem 1932: Helen Wills Moody 1933: Helen Wills Moody 1934: Dorothy Round 1935: Helen Wills Moody 1936: Helen Jacobs 1937: Dorothy Round 1938: Helen Wills Moody 1939: Alice Marble 1940–45: No competition (World War II) 1946: Pauline Addie 1947: Margaret Osborne 1948: Louise Brough 1949: Louise Brough 1950: Louise Brough 1951: Doris Hart 1952: Maureen Connolly 1953: Maureen Connolly 1954: Maureen Connolly 1955: Louise Brough 1956: Shirley Fry 1957: Althea Gibson 1958: Althea Gibson 1959: Maria Bueno 1960: Maria Bueno 1961: Angela Mortimer 1962: Karen Hantze Susman 1963: Margaret Smith 1964: Maria Bueno 1965: Margaret Smith 1966: Billie Jean King 1967: Billie Jean King Open Era 1968: Billie Jean King 1969: Ann Haydon-Jones 1970: Margaret Court 1971: Evonne Goolagong 1972: Billie Jean King 1973: Billie Jean King 1974: Chris Evert 1975: Billie Jean King 1976: Chris Evert 1977: Virginia Wade 1978: Martina Navratilova 1979: Martina Navratilova 1980: Evonne Goolagong 1981: Chris Evert 1982: Martina Navratilova 1983: Martina Navratilova 1984: Martina Navratilova 1985: Martina Navratilova 1986: Martina Navratilova 1987: Martina Navratilova 1988: Steffi Graf 1989: Steffi Graf 1990: Martina Navratilova 1991: Steffi Graf 1992: Steffi Graf 1993: Steffi Graf 1994: Conchita Martínez 1995: Steffi Graf 1996: Steffi Graf 1997: Martina Hingis 1998: Jana Novotná 1999: Lindsay Davenport 2000: Venus Williams 2001: Venus Williams 2002: Serena Williams 2003: Serena Williams 2004: Maria Sharapova 2005: Venus Williams 2006: Amélie Mauresmo 2007: Venus Williams 2008: Venus Williams 2009: Serena Williams 2010: Serena Williams 2011: Petra Kvitová 2012: Serena Williams 2013: Marion Bartoli 2014: Petra Kvitová 2015: Serena Williams 2016: Serena Williams 2017: Garbiñe Muguruza 2018: Angelique Kerber 2019: Simona Halep 2020: No competition (COVID-19 pandemic) 2021: Ashleigh Barty 2022: Elena Rybakina 2023: Markéta Vondroušová 2024: Barbora Krejčíková v t e US Open women's singles champions Amateur Era 1887: Ellen Hansell 1888: Bertha Townsend 1889: Bertha Townsend 1890: Ellen Roosevelt 1891: Mabel Cahill 1892: Mabel Cahill 1893: Aline Terry 1894: Helen Hellwig 1895: Juliette Atkinson 1896: Elisabeth Moore 1897: Juliette Atkinson 1898: Juliette Atkinson 1899: Marion Jones 1900: Myrtle McAteer 1901: Elisabeth Moore 1902: Marion Jones 1903: Elisabeth Moore 1904: May Sutton Bundy 1905: Elisabeth Moore 1906: Helen Homans 1907: Evelyn Sears 1908: Maud Barger-Wallach 1909: Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman 1910: Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman 1911: Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman 1912: Mary Browne 1913: Mary Browne 1914: Mary Browne 1915: Molla Bjurstedt Mallory 1916: Molla Bjurstedt Mallory 1917: Molla Bjurstedt Mallory 1918: Molla Bjurstedt Mallory 1919: Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman 1920: Molla Bjurstedt Mallory 1921: Molla Bjurstedt Mallory 1922: Molla Bjurstedt Mallory 1923: Helen Wills Moody 1924: Helen Wills Moody 1925: Helen Wills Moody 1926: Molla Bjurstedt Mallory 1927: Helen Wills Moody 1928: Helen Wills Moody 1929: Helen Wills Moody 1930: Betty Nuthall 1931: Helen Wills Moody 1932: Helen Jacobs 1933: Helen Jacobs 1934: Helen Jacobs 1935: Helen Jacobs 1936: Alice Marble 1937: Anita Lizana 1938: Alice Marble 1939: Alice Marble 1940: Alice Marble 1941: Sarah Palfrey Cooke 1942: Pauline Betz 1943: Pauline Betz 1944: Pauline Betz 1945: Sarah Palfrey Cooke 1946: Pauline Betz 1947: Louise Brough 1948: Margaret Osborne duPont 1949: Margaret Osborne duPont 1950: Margaret Osborne duPont 1951: Maureen Connolly 1952: Maureen Connolly 1953: Maureen Connolly 1954: Doris Hart 1955: Doris Hart 1956: Shirley Fry 1957: Althea Gibson 1958: Althea Gibson 1959: Maria Bueno 1960: Darlene Hard 1961: Darlene Hard 1962: Margaret Smith Court 1963: Maria Bueno 1964: Maria Bueno 1965: Margaret Smith Court 1966: Maria Bueno 1967: Billie Jean Moffitt King Open Era 1968: Virginia Wade 1969: Margaret Court 1970: Margaret Court 1971: Billie Jean King 1972: Billie Jean King 1973: Margaret Court 1974: Billie Jean King 1975: Chris Evert 1976: Chris Evert 1977: Chris Evert 1978: Chris Evert 1979: Tracy Austin 1980: Chris Evert 1981: Tracy Austin 1982: Chris Evert 1983: Martina Navratilova 1984: Martina Navratilova 1985: Hana Mandlíková 1986: Martina Navratilova 1987: Martina Navratilova 1988: Steffi Graf 1989: Steffi Graf 1990: Gabriela Sabatini 1991: Monica Seles 1992: Monica Seles 1993: Steffi Graf 1994: Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 1995: Steffi Graf 1996: Steffi Graf 1997: Martina Hingis 1998: Lindsay Davenport 1999: Serena Williams 2000: Venus Williams 2001: Venus Williams 2002: Serena Williams 2003: Justine Henin 2004: Svetlana Kuznetsova 2005: Kim Clijsters 2006: Maria Sharapova 2007: Justine Henin 2008: Serena Williams 2009: Kim Clijsters 2010: Kim Clijsters 2011: Samantha Stosur 2012: Serena Williams 2013: Serena Williams 2014: Serena Williams 2015: Flavia Pennetta 2016: Angelique Kerber 2017: Sloane Stephens 2018: Naomi Osaka 2019: Bianca Andreescu 2020: Naomi Osaka 2021: Emma Raducanu 2022: Iga Świątek 2023: Coco Gauff 2024: Aryna Sabalenka v t e French Open women's doubles champions Amateur Era (national) 1907: Adine Masson / Yvonne de Pfeffel 1908: Kate Gillou-Fenwick / Cecile Matthey 1909: Jeanne Matthey / Daisy Speranza 1910: Jeanne Matthey / Daisy Speranza 1911: Jeanne Matthey / Daisy Speranza 1912: Jeanne Matthey / Daisy Speranza 1913: Blanche Amblard / Suzanne Amblard 1914: Blanche Amblard / Suzanne Amblard 1915–1919: No competition (World War I) 1920: Élisabeth d'Ayen / Suzanne Lenglen 1921: Suzanne Lenglen / Geramine Pigueron 1922: Suzanne Lenglen / Geramine Pigueron 1923: Suzanne Lenglen / Julie Vlasto 1924: Marguerite Broquedis / Yvonne Bourgeois Amateur Era (international) 1925: Suzanne Lenglen / Julie Vlasto 1926: Suzanne Lenglen / Julie Vlasto 1927: Irene Bowder Peacock / Bobbie Heine 1928: Phoebe Holcroft Watson / Eileen Bennett 1929: Lilí Álvarez / Kea Bouman 1930: Helen Wills Moody / Elizabeth Ryan 1931: Eileen Bennett Whittingstall / Betty Nuthall 1932: Helen Wills Moody / Elizabeth Ryan 1933: Simonne Mathieu / Elizabeth Ryan 1934: Simonne Mathieu / Elizabeth Ryan 1935: Margaret Scriven / Kay Stammers 1936: Simonne Mathieu / Billie Yorke 1937: Simonne Mathieu / Billie Yorke 1938: Simonne Mathieu / Billie Yorke 1939: Simonne Mathieu / Jadwiga Jędrzejowska 1940–1945: No competition (World War II) 1946: Louise Brough / Margaret Osborne 1947: Louise Brough / Margaret Osborne duPont 1948: Doris Hart / Patricia Canning Todd 1949: Louise Brough / Margaret Osborne duPont 1950: Doris Hart / Shirley Fry 1951: Doris Hart / Shirley Fry 1952: Doris Hart / Shirley Fry 1953: Doris Hart / Shirley Fry 1954: Maureen Connolly / Nell Hall Hopman 1955: Beverly Baker Fleitz / Darlene Hard 1956: Angela Buxton / Althea Gibson 1957: Shirley Bloomer / Darlene Hard 1958: Rosie Reyes / Yola Ramírez Ochoa 1959: Sandra Reynolds / Renée Schuurman 1960: Maria Bueno / Darlene Hard 1961: Sandra Reynolds / Renée Schuurman 1962: Sandra Reynolds Price / Renée Schuurman 1963: Ann Haydon-Jones / Renée Schuurman 1964: Margaret Smith / Lesley Turner 1965: Margaret Smith / Lesley Turner 1966: Margaret Smith / Judy Tegart 1967: Françoise Dürr / Gail Chanfreau Open Era 1968: Françoise Dürr / Ann Haydon-Jones 1969: Françoise Dürr / Ann Haydon-Jones 1970: Gail Chanfreau / Françoise Dürr 1971: Gail Chanfreau / Françoise Dürr 1972: Billie Jean King / Betty Stöve 1973: Margaret Court / Virginia Wade 1974: Chris Evert / Olga Morozova 1975: Chris Evert / Martina Navratilova 1976: Fiorella Bonicelli / Gail Chanfreau 1977: Regina Maršíková / Pam Teeguarden 1978: Mima Jaušovec / Virginia Ruzici 1979: Betty Stöve / Wendy Turnbull 1980: Kathy Jordan / Anne Smith 1981: Rosalyn Fairbank Nideffer / Tanya Harford 1982: Martina Navratilova / Anne Smith 1983: Rosalyn Fairbank Nideffer / Candy Reynolds 1984: Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver 1985: Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver 1986: Martina Navratilova / Andrea Temesvári 1987: Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver 1988: Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver 1989: Larisa Savchenko Neiland / Natalia Zvereva 1990: Jana Novotná / Helena Suková 1991: Gigi Fernández / Jana Novotná 1992: Gigi Fernández / Natalia Zvereva 1993: Gigi Fernández / Natalia Zvereva 1994: Gigi Fernández / Natalia Zvereva 1995: Gigi Fernández / Natalia Zvereva 1996: Lindsay Davenport / Mary Joe Fernández 1997: Gigi Fernández / Natalia Zvereva 1998: Martina Hingis / Jana Novotná 1999: Serena Williams / Venus Williams 2000: Martina Hingis / Mary Pierce 2001: Virginia Ruano Pascual / Paola Suárez 2002: Virginia Ruano Pascual / Paola Suárez 2003: Kim Clijsters / Ai Sugiyama 2004: Virginia Ruano Pascual / Paola Suárez 2005: Virginia Ruano Pascual / Paola Suárez 2006: Lisa Raymond / Samantha Stosur 2007: Alicia Molik / Mara Santangelo 2008: Anabel Medina Garrigues / Virginia Ruano Pascual 2009: Anabel Medina Garrigues / Virginia Ruano Pascual 2010: Serena Williams / Venus Williams 2011: Andrea Hlaváčková / Lucie Hradecká 2012: Sara Errani / Roberta Vinci 2013: Ekaterina Makarova / Elena Vesnina 2014: Hsieh Su-wei / Peng Shuai 2015: Bethanie Mattek-Sands / Lucie Šafářová 2016: Caroline Garcia / Kristina Mladenovic 2017: Bethanie Mattek-Sands / Lucie Šafářová 2018: Barbora Krejčíková / Kateřina Siniaková 2019: Tímea Babos / Kristina Mladenovic 2020: Tímea Babos / Kristina Mladenovic 2021: Barbora Krejčíková / Kateřina Siniaková 2022: Caroline Garcia / Kristina Mladenovic 2023: Hsieh Su-wei / Wang Xinyu 2024: Coco Gauff / Kateřina Siniaková v t e Wimbledon women's doubles champions Amateur Era 1913: Winifred McNair / Dora Boothby 1914: Agnes Morton / Elizabeth Ryan 1915–18: No competition (World War I) 1919: Suzanne Lenglen / Elizabeth Ryan 1920: Suzanne Lenglen / Elizabeth Ryan 1921: Suzanne Lenglen / Elizabeth Ryan 1922: Suzanne Lenglen / Elizabeth Ryan 1923: Suzanne Lenglen / Elizabeth Ryan 1924: Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman / Helen Wills 1925: Suzanne Lenglen / Elizabeth Ryan 1926: Mary Browne / Elizabeth Ryan 1927: Helen Wills / Elizabeth Ryan 1928: Peggy Saunders Michel / Phoebe Holcroft Watson 1929: Peggy Saunders Michel / Phoebe Holcroft Watson 1930: Helen Wills Moody / Elizabeth Ryan 1931: Phyllis Mudford / Dorothy Shepherd-Barron 1932: Doris Metaxa / Josane Sigart 1933: Simonne Mathieu / Elizabeth Ryan 1934: Simonne Mathieu / Elizabeth Ryan 1935: Freda James / Kay Stammers 1936: Freda James / Kay Stammers 1937: Simonne Mathieu / Billie Yorke 1938: Sarah Palfrey Cooke / Alice Marble 1939: Sarah Palfrey Cooke / Alice Marble 1940–45: No competition (World War II) 1946: Louise Brough / Margaret Osborne duPont 1947: Patricia Canning Todd / Doris Hart 1948: Louise Brough / Margaret Osborne duPont 1949: Louise Brough / Margaret Osborne duPont 1950: Louise Brough / Margaret Osborne duPont 1951: Doris Hart / Shirley Fry 1952: Doris Hart / Shirley Fry 1953: Doris Hart / Shirley Fry 1954: Louise Brough / Margaret Osborne duPont 1955: Angela Mortimer Barrett / Anne Shilcock 1956: Angela Buxton / Althea Gibson 1957: Althea Gibson / Darlene Hard 1958: Maria Bueno / Althea Gibson 1959: Jeanne Arth / Darlene Hard 1960: Maria Bueno / Darlene Hard 1961: Karen Hantze Susman / Billie Jean Moffitt 1962: Karen Hantze Susman / Billie Jean Moffitt 1963: Maria Bueno / Darlene Hard 1964: Margaret Court / Lesley Turner Bowrey 1965: Maria Bueno / Billie Jean Moffitt 1966: Maria Bueno / Nancy Richey 1967: Rosemary Casals / Billie Jean King Open Era 1968: Rosemary Casals / Billie Jean King 1969: Margaret Court / Judy Tegart-Dalton 1970: Rosemary Casals / Billie Jean King 1971: Rosemary Casals / Billie Jean King 1972: Billie Jean King / Betty Stöve 1973: Rosemary Casals / Billie Jean King 1974: Evonne Goolagong Cawley / Peggy Michel 1975: Ann Kiyomura / Kazuko Sawamatsu 1976: Chris Evert / Martina Navratilova 1977: Helen Gourlay Cawley / JoAnne Russell 1978: Kerry Melville Reid / Wendy Turnbull 1979: Billie Jean King / Martina Navratilova 1980: Kathy Jordan / Anne Smith 1981: Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver 1982: Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver 1983: Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver 1984: Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver 1985: Kathy Jordan / Elizabeth Sayers Smylie 1986: Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver 1987: Claudia Kohde-Kilsch / Helena Suková 1988: Steffi Graf / Gabriela Sabatini 1989: Jana Novotná / Helena Suková 1990: Jana Novotná / Helena Suková 1991: Larisa Savchenko Neiland / Natalia Zvereva 1992: Gigi Fernández / Natalia Zvereva 1993: Gigi Fernández / Natalia Zvereva 1994: Gigi Fernández / Natalia Zvereva 1995: Jana Novotná / Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 1996: Martina Hingis / Helena Suková 1997: Gigi Fernández / Natasha Zvereva 1998: Martina Hingis / Jana Novotná 1999: Lindsay Davenport / Corina Morariu 2000: Serena Williams / Venus Williams 2001: Lisa Raymond / Rennae Stubbs 2002: Serena Williams / Venus Williams 2003: Kim Clijsters / Ai Sugiyama 2004: Cara Black / Rennae Stubbs 2005: Cara Black / Liezel Huber 2006: Yan Zi / Zheng Jie 2007: Cara Black / Liezel Huber 2008: Serena Williams / Venus Williams 2009: Serena Williams / Venus Williams 2010: Vania King / Yaroslava Shvedova 2011: Květa Peschke / Katarina Srebotnik 2012: Serena Williams / Venus Williams 2013: Hsieh Su-wei / Peng Shuai 2014: Sara Errani / Roberta Vinci 2015: Martina Hingis / Sania Mirza 2016: Serena Williams / Venus Williams 2017: Ekaterina Makarova / Elena Vesnina 2018: Barbora Krejčíková / Kateřina Siniaková 2019: Hsieh Su-wei / Barbora Strýcová 2020 No competition (COVID-19 pandemic) 2021: Hsieh Su-wei / Elise Mertens 2022: Barbora Krejčíková / Kateřina Siniaková 2023: Hsieh Su-wei / Barbora Strýcová 2024: Kateřina Siniaková / Taylor Townsend v t e US Open women's doubles champions Amateur Era 1889: Bertha Townsend / Margarette Ballard 1890: Ellen Roosevelt / Grace Roosevelt 1891: Mabel Cahill / Emma Leavitt-Morgan 1892: Mabel Cahill / Adeline McKinlay 1893: Aline Terry / Harriet Butler 1894: Helen Hellwig / Juliette Atkinson 1895: Helen Hellwig / Juliette Atkinson 1896: Elisabeth Moore / Juliette Atkinson 1897: Juliette Atkinson / Kathleen Atkinson 1898: Juliette Atkinson / Kathleen Atkinson 1899: Jane Craven / Myrtle McAteer 1900: Edith Parker / Hallie Champlin 1901: Juliette Atkinson / Myrtle McAteer 1902: Juliette Atkinson / Marion Jones 1903: Elisabeth Moore / Carrie Neely 1904: May Sutton / Miriam Hall 1905: Helen Homans / Carrie Neely 1906: Ann Burdette Coe / Ethel Bliss Platt 1907: Marie Wimer / Carrie Neely 1908: Evelyn Sears / Margaret Curtis 1909: Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman / Edith Rotch 1910: Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman / Edith Rotch 1911: Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman / Eleonora Sears 1912: Dorothy Green / Mary K. Browne 1913: Mary K. Browne / Louise Riddell Williams 1914: Mary K. Browne / Louise Riddell Williams 1915: Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman / Eleonora Sears 1916: Molla Bjurstedt / Eleonora Sears 1917: Molla Bjurstedt / Eleonora Sears 1918: Marion Zinderstein / Eleanor Goss 1919: Marion Zinderstein / Eleanor Goss 1920: Marion Zinderstein / Eleanor Goss 1921: Mary K. Browne / Louise Riddell Williams 1922: Marion Zinderstein Jessup / Helen Wills Moody 1923: Kitty McKane Godfree / Phyllis Howkins Covell 1924: Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman / Helen Wills Moody 1925: Mary K. Browne / Helen Wills Moody 1926: Elizabeth Ryan / Eleanor Goss 1927: Kitty McKane Godfree / Ermyntrude Harvey 1928: Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman / Helen Wills Moody 1929: Phoebe Holcroft Watson / Peggy Michell 1930: Betty Nuthall / Sarah Palfrey Cooke 1931: Betty Nuthall / Eileen Bennett Whittingstall 1932: Helen Jacobs / Sarah Palfrey Cooke 1933: Betty Nuthall / Freda James 1934: Helen Jacobs / Sarah Palfrey Cooke 1935: Helen Jacobs / Sarah Palfrey Cooke 1936: Marjorie Gladman Van Ryn / Carolin Babcock Stark 1937: Sarah Palfrey Cooke / Alice Marble 1938: Sarah Palfrey Cooke / Alice Marble 1939: Sarah Palfrey Cooke / Alice Marble 1940: Sarah Palfrey Cooke / Alice Marble 1941: Sarah Palfrey Cooke / Margaret Osborne duPont 1942: Louise Brough / Margaret Osborne duPont 1943: Louise Brough / Margaret Osborne duPont 1944: Louise Brough / Margaret Osborne duPont 1945: Louise Brough / Margaret Osborne duPont 1946: Louise Brough / Margaret Osborne duPont 1947: Louise Brough / Margaret Osborne duPont 1948: Louise Brough / Margaret Osborne duPont 1949: Louise Brough / Margaret Osborne duPont 1950: Louise Brough / Margaret Osborne duPont 1951: Doris Hart / Shirley Fry 1952: Doris Hart / Shirley Fry 1953: Doris Hart / Shirley Fry 1954: Doris Hart / Shirley Fry 1955: Louise Brough / Margaret Osborne duPont 1956: Louise Brough / Margaret Osborne duPont 1957: Louise Brough / Margaret Osborne duPont 1958: Jeanne Arth / Darlene Hard 1959: Jeanne Arth / Darlene Hard 1960: Maria Bueno / Darlene Hard 1961: Darlene Hard / Lesley Turner Bowrey 1962: Maria Bueno / Darlene Hard 1963: Robyn Ebbern / Margaret Smith 1964: Billie Jean King / Karen Hantze Susman 1965: Carole Caldwell Graebner / Nancy Richey 1966: Maria Bueno / Nancy Richey 1967: Rosemary Casals / Billie Jean King Open Era 1968: Maria Bueno / Margaret Court 1969: Françoise Dürr / Darlene Hard 1970: Margaret Court / Judy Tegart Dalton 1971: Rosemary Casals / Judy Tegart Dalton 1972: Françoise Dürr / Betty Stöve 1973: Margaret Court / Virginia Wade 1974: Rosemary Casals / Billie Jean King 1975: Margaret Court / Virginia Wade 1976: Delina Boshoff / Ilana Kloss 1977: Martina Navratilova / Betty Stöve 1978: Billie Jean King / Martina Navratilova 1979: Betty Stöve / Wendy Turnbull 1980: Billie Jean King / Martina Navratilova 1981: Kathy Jordan / Anne Smith 1982: Rosemary Casals / Wendy Turnbull 1983: Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver 1984: Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver 1985: Claudia Kohde-Kilsch / Helena Suková 1986: Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver 1987: Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver 1988: Gigi Fernández / Robin White 1989: Hana Mandlíková / Martina Navratilova 1990: Gigi Fernández / Martina Navratilova 1991: Pam Shriver / Natalia Zvereva 1992: Gigi Fernández / Natalia Zvereva 1993: Arantxa Sánchez Vicario / Helena Suková 1994: Jana Novotná / Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 1995: Gigi Fernández / Natalia Zvereva 1996: Gigi Fernández / Natalia Zvereva 1997: Lindsay Davenport / Jana Novotná 1998: Martina Hingis / Jana Novotná 1999: Serena Williams / Venus Williams 2000: Julie Halard-Decugis / Ai Sugiyama 2001: Lisa Raymond / Rennae Stubbs 2002: Virginia Ruano Pascual / Paola Suárez (2003) Virginia Ruano Pascual / Paola Suárez 2004: Virginia Ruano Pascual / Paola Suárez 2005: Lisa Raymond / Samantha Stosur 2006: Nathalie Dechy / Vera Zvonareva 2007: Nathalie Dechy / Dinara Safina 2008: Cara Black / Liezel Huber 2009: Serena Williams / Venus Williams 2010: Vania King / Yaroslava Shvedova 2011: Liezel Huber / Lisa Raymond 2012: Sara Errani / Roberta Vinci 2013: Andrea Hlaváčková / Lucie Hradecká 2014: Ekaterina Makarova / Elena Vesnina 2015: Martina Hingis / Sania Mirza 2016: Bethanie Mattek-Sands / Lucie Šafářová 2017: Chan Yung-jan / Martina Hingis 2018: Ashleigh Barty / CoCo Vandeweghe 2019: Elise Mertens / Aryna Sabalenka 2020: Laura Siegemund / Vera Zvonareva 2021: Samantha Stosur / Zhang Shuai 2022: Barbora Krejčíková / Kateřina Siniaková 2023: Gabriela Dabrowski / Erin Routliffe 2024: Lyudmyla Kichenok / Jeļena Ostapenko v t e Australian Open mixed doubles champions Amateur Era 1922: Esna Boyd Robertson / Jack Hawkes 1923: Sylvia Lance Harper / Horace Rice 1924: Daphne Akhurst Cozens / Jim Willard 1925: Daphne Akhurst Cozens / Jim Willard 1926: Esna Boyd Robertson / Jack Hawkes 1927: Esna Boyd Robertson / Jack Hawkes 1928: Daphne Akhurst Cozens / Jean Borotra 1929: Daphne Akhurst Cozens / Edgar Moon 1930: Nell Hall Hopman / Harry Hopman 1931: Marjorie Cox Crawford / Jack Crawford 1932: Marjorie Cox Crawford / Jack Crawford 1933: Marjorie Cox Crawford / Jack Crawford 1934: Joan Hartigan Bathurst / Edgar Moon 1935: Louise Bickerton / Christian Boussus 1936: Nell Hall Hopman / Harry Hopman 1937: Nell Hall Hopman / Harry Hopman 1938: Margaret Wilson / John Bromwich 1939: Nell Hall Hopman / Harry Hopman 1940: Nancye Wynne Bolton / Colin Long 1946: Nancye Wynne Bolton / Colin Long 1947: Nancye Wynne Bolton / Colin Long 1948: Nancye Wynne Bolton / Colin Long 1949: Doris Hart / Frank Sedgman 1950: Doris Hart / Frank Sedgman 1951: Thelma Coyne Long / George Worthington 1952: Thelma Coyne Long / George Worthington 1953: Julia Sampson Hayward / Rex Hartwig 1954: Thelma Coyne Long / Rex Hartwig 1955: Thelma Coyne Long / George Worthington 1956: Beryl Penrose / Neale Fraser 1957: Fay Muller / Mal Anderson 1958: Mary Bevis Hawton / Bob Howe 1959: Sandra Reynolds Price / Bob Mark 1960: Jan Lehane O'Neill / Trevor Fancutt 1961: Jan Lehane O'Neill / Bob Hewitt 1962: Lesley Turner Bowrey / Fred Stolle 1963: Margaret Smith Court / Ken Fletcher 1964: Margaret Smith Court / Ken Fletcher 1965: Robyn Ebbern / Owen Davidson & Margaret Smith Court / John Newcombe 1966: Judy Tegart-Dalton / Tony Roche 1967: Lesley Turner Bowrey / Owen Davidson 1968: Billie Jean King / Dick Crealy Open Era 1969: Margaret Court / Marty Riessen & Ann Haydon-Jones / Fred Stolle 1987: Zina Garrison / Sherwood Stewart 1988: Jana Novotná / Jim Pugh 1989: Jana Novotná / Jim Pugh 1990: Natalia Zvereva / Jim Pugh 1991: Jo Durie / Jeremy Bates 1992: Nicole Provis / Mark Woodforde 1993: Arantxa Sánchez Vicario / Todd Woodbridge 1994: Larisa Savchenko Neiland / Andrei Olhovskiy 1995: Natalia Zvereva / Rick Leach 1996: Larisa Savchenko Neiland / Mark Woodforde 1997: Manon Bollegraf / Rick Leach 1998: Venus Williams / Justin Gimelstob 1999: Mariaan de Swardt / David Adams 2000: Rennae Stubbs / Jared Palmer 2001: Corina Morariu / Ellis Ferreira 2002: Daniela Hantuchová / Kevin Ullyett 2003: Martina Navratilova / Leander Paes 2004: Elena Bovina / Nenad Zimonjić 2005: Samantha Stosur / Scott Draper 2006: Martina Hingis / Mahesh Bhupathi 2007: Elena Likhovtseva / Daniel Nestor 2008: Sun Tiantian / Nenad Zimonjić 2009: Sania Mirza / Mahesh Bhupathi 2010: Cara Black / Leander Paes 2011: Katarina Srebotnik / Daniel Nestor 2012: Bethanie Mattek-Sands / Horia Tecău 2013: Jarmila Gajdošová / Matthew Ebden 2014: Kristina Mladenovic / Daniel Nestor 2015: Martina Hingis / Leander Paes 2016: Elena Vesnina / Bruno Soares 2017: Abigail Spears / Juan Sebastián Cabal 2018: Gabriela Dabrowski / Mate Pavić 2019: Barbora Krejčíková / Rajeev Ram 2020: Barbora Krejčíková / Nikola Mektić 2021: Barbora Krejčíková / Rajeev Ram 2022: Kristina Mladenovic / Ivan Dodig 2023: Luisa Stefani / Rafael Matos 2024: Hsieh Su-wei / Jan Zieliński v t e French Open mixed doubles champions Amateur Era (national) 1902: Hélène Prévost / Réginald Forbes 1903: Hélène Prévost / Réginald Forbes 1904: Kate Gillou / Max Decugis 1905: Yvonne de Pfeffel / Max Decugis 1906: Yvonne de Pfeffel / Max Decugis 1907: A. Péan / Robert Wallet 1908: Kate Gillou / Max Decugis 1909: Jeanne Matthey / Max Decugis 1910: Marguerite Mény / Édouard Mény de Marangue 1911: Marguerite Broquedis / André Gobert 1912: Daisy Speranza / William Laurentz 1913: Daisy Speranza / William Laurentz 1914: Suzanne Lenglen / Max Decugis 1915–1919: No competition (World War I) 1920: Suzanne Lenglen / Max Decugis 1921: Suzanne Lenglen / Jacques Brugnon 1922: Suzanne Lenglen / Jacques Brugnon 1923: Suzanne Lenglen / Jacques Brugnon 1924: Marguerite Broquedis / Jean Borotra Amateur Era (international) 1925: Suzanne Lenglen / Jacques Brugnon 1926: Suzanne Lenglen / Jacques Brugnon 1927: Marguerite Broquedis Bordes / Jean Borotra 1928: Eileen Bennett / Henri Cochet 1929: Eileen Bennett / Henri Cochet 1930: Cilly Aussem / Bill Tilden 1931: Betty Nuthall / Pat Spence 1932: Betty Nuthall / Fred Perry 1933: Margaret Scriven / Jack Crawford 1934: Colette Rosambert / Jean Borotra 1935: Lolette Payot / Marcel Bernard 1936: Billie Yorke / Marcel Bernard 1937: Simonne Mathieu / Yvon Petra 1938: Simonne Mathieu / Dragutin Mitić 1939: Sarah Palfrey Fabyan / Elwood Cooke 1940–1945: No competition (World War II) 1946: Pauline Betz / Budge Patty 1947: Sheila Piercey / Eric Sturgess 1948: Patricia Canning Todd / Jaroslav Drobný 1949: Sheila Piercey / Eric Sturgess 1950: Barbara Scofield / Enrique Morea 1951: Doris Hart / Frank Sedgman 1952: Doris Hart / Frank Sedgman 1953: Doris Hart / Vic Seixas 1954: Maureen Connolly / Lew Hoad 1955: Darlene Hard / Gordon Forbes 1956: Thelma Coyne Long / Luis Ayala 1957: Věra Pužejová / Jiří Javorský 1958: Shirley Bloomer / Nicola Pietrangeli 1959: Yola Ramírez Ochoa / William Knight 1960: Maria Bueno / Robert Howe 1961: Darlene Hard / Rod Laver 1962: Renée Schuurman / Robert Howe 1963: Margaret Smith / Ken Fletcher 1964: Margaret Smith / Ken Fletcher 1965: Margaret Smith / Ken Fletcher 1966: Annette Van Zyl / Frew McMillan 1967: Billie Jean King / Owen Davidson Open Era 1968: Françoise Dürr / Jean-Claude Barclay 1969: Margaret Court / Marty Riessen 1970: Billie Jean King / Bob Hewitt 1971: Françoise Dürr / Jean-Claude Barclay 1972: Evonne Goolagong Cawley / Kim Warwick 1973: Françoise Dürr / Jean-Claude Barclay 1974: Martina Navrátilová / Iván Molina 1975: Fiorella Bonicelli / Thomas Koch 1976: Ilana Kloss / Kim Warwick 1977: Mary Carillo / John McEnroe 1978: Renáta Tomanová / Pavel Složil 1979: Wendy Turnbull / Bob Hewitt 1980: Anne Smith / Billy Martin 1981: Andrea Jaeger / Jimmy Arias 1982: Wendy Turnbull / John Lloyd 1983: Barbara Jordan / Eliot Teltscher 1984: Anne Smith / Dick Stockton 1985: Martina Navrátilová / Heinz Günthardt 1986: Kathy Jordan / Ken Flach 1987: Pam Shriver / Emilio Sánchez Vicario 1988: Lori McNeil / Jorge Lozano 1989: Manon Bollegraf / Tom Nijssen 1990: Arantxa Sánchez Vicario / Jorge Lozano 1991: Helena Suková / Cyril Suk 1992: Arantxa Sánchez Vicario / Mark Woodforde 1993: Eugenia Maniokova / Andrei Olhovskiy 1994: Kristie Boogert / Menno Oosting 1995: Larisa Neiland / Todd Woodbridge 1996: Patricia Tarabini / Javier Frana 1997: Rika Hiraki / Mahesh Bhupathi 1998: Venus Williams / Justin Gimelstob 1999: Katarina Srebotnik / Piet Norval 2000: Mariaan de Swardt / David Adams 2001: Virginia Ruano Pascual / Tomas Carbonell 2002: Cara Black / Wayne Black 2003: Lisa Raymond / Mike Bryan 2004: Tatiana Golovin / Richard Gasquet 2005: Daniela Hantuchová / Fabrice Santoro 2006: Katarina Srebotnik / Nenad Zimonjić 2007: Nathalie Dechy / Andy Ram 2008: Victoria Azarenka / Bob Bryan 2009: Liezel Huber / Bob Bryan 2010: Katarina Srebotnik / Nenad Zimonjić 2011: Casey Dellacqua / Scott Lipsky 2012: Sania Mirza / Mahesh Bhupathi 2013: Lucie Hradecká / František Čermák 2014: Anna-Lena Grönefeld / Jean-Julien Rojer 2015: Bethanie Mattek-Sands / Mike Bryan 2016: Martina Hingis / Leander Paes 2017: Gabriela Dabrowski / Rohan Bopanna 2018: Latisha Chan / Ivan Dodig 2019: Latisha Chan / Ivan Dodig 2020: No competition (COVID-19 pandemic) 2021: Desirae Krawczyk / Joe Salisbury 2022: Ena Shibahara / Wesley Koolhof 2023: Miyu Kato / Tim Pütz 2024: Laura Siegemund / Édouard Roger-Vasselin v t e Wimbledon mixed doubles champions Pre Open Era 1913: Hope Crisp / Agnes Tuckey 1914: James Parke / Ethel Thomson Larcombe 1915–18: No competition (World War I) 1919: Randolph Lycett / Elizabeth Ryan 1920: Gerald Patterson / Suzanne Lenglen 1921: Randolph Lycett / Elizabeth Ryan 1922: Pat O'Hara Wood / Suzanne Lenglen 1923: Randolph Lycett / Elizabeth Ryan 1924: John Gilbert / Kathleen McKane Godfree 1925: Jean Borotra / Suzanne Lenglen 1926: Leslie Godfree / Kathleen McKane Godfree 1927: Francis Hunter / Elizabeth Ryan 1928: Patrick Spence / Elizabeth Ryan 1929: Frank Hunter / Helen Wills 1930: Jack Crawford / Elizabeth Ryan 1931: George Lott / Anna McCune Harper 1932: Enrique Maier / Elizabeth Ryan 1933: Gottfried von Cramm / Hilde Krahwinkel Sperling 1934: Ryuki Miki / Dorothy Round Little 1935: Fred Perry / Dorothy Round Little 1936: Fred Perry / Dorothy Round Little 1937: Don Budge / Alice Marble 1938: Don Budge / Alice Marble 1939: Bobby Riggs / Alice Marble 1940–45: No competition (World War II) 1946: Tom Brown / Louise Brough Clapp 1947: John Bromwich / Louise Brough Clapp 1948: John Bromwich / Louise Brough Clapp 1949: Eric Sturgess / Sheila Piercey Summers 1950: Eric Sturgess / Louise Brough Clapp 1951: Frank Sedgman / Doris Hart 1952: Frank Sedgman / Doris Hart 1953: Vic Seixas / Doris Hart 1954: Vic Seixas / Doris Hart 1955: Vic Seixas / Doris Hart 1956: Vic Seixas / Shirley Fry Irvin 1957: Mervyn Rose / Darlene Hard 1958: Robert Howe / Lorraine Coghlan Robinson 1959: Rod Laver / Darlene Hard 1960: Rod Laver / Darlene Hard 1961: Fred Stolle / Lesley Turner Bowrey 1962: Neale Fraser / Margaret Osborne duPont 1963: Ken Fletcher / Margaret Smith 1964: Fred Stolle / Lesley Turner Bowrey 1965: Ken Fletcher / Margaret Smith 1966: Ken Fletcher / Margaret Smith 1967: Owen Davidson / Billie Jean King Open Era 1968: Ken Fletcher / Margaret Court 1969: Fred Stolle / Ann Haydon-Jones 1970: Ilie Năstase / Rosemary Casals 1971: Owen Davidson / Billie Jean King 1972: Ilie Năstase / Rosemary Casals 1973: Owen Davidson / Billie Jean King 1974: Owen Davidson / Billie Jean King 1975: Marty Riessen / Margaret Court 1976: Tony Roche / Françoise Dürr 1977: Bob Hewitt / Greer Stevens 1978: Frew McMillan / Betty Stöve 1979: Bob Hewitt / Greer Stevens 1980: John Austin / Tracy Austin 1981: Frew McMillan / Betty Stöve 1982: Kevin Curren / Anne Smith 1983: John Lloyd / Wendy Turnbull 1984: John Lloyd / Wendy Turnbull 1985: Paul McNamee / Martina Navratilova 1986: Ken Flach / Kathy Jordan 1987: Jeremy Bates / Jo Durie 1988: Sherwood Stewart / Zina Garrison 1989: Jim Pugh / Jana Novotná 1990: Rick Leach / Zina Garrison 1991: John Fitzgerald / Elizabeth Sayers Smylie 1992: Cyril Suk / Larisa Savchenko Neiland 1993: Mark Woodforde / Martina Navratilova 1994: Todd Woodbridge / Helena Suková 1995: Jonathan Stark / Martina Navratilova 1996: Cyril Suk / Helena Suková 1997: Cyril Suk / Helena Suková 1998: Max Mirnyi / Serena Williams 1999: Leander Paes / Lisa Raymond 2000: Donald Johnson / Kimberly Po 2001: Leoš Friedl / Daniela Hantuchová 2002: Mahesh Bhupathi / Elena Likhovtseva 2003: Leander Paes / Martina Navratilova 2004: Wayne Black / Cara Black 2005: Mahesh Bhupathi / Mary Pierce 2006: Andy Ram / Vera Zvonareva 2007: Jamie Murray / Jelena Janković 2008: Bob Bryan / Samantha Stosur 2009: Mark Knowles / Anna-Lena Grönefeld 2010: Leander Paes / Cara Black 2011: Jürgen Melzer / Iveta Benešová 2012: Mike Bryan / Lisa Raymond 2013: Daniel Nestor / Kristina Mladenovic 2014: Nenad Zimonjić / Samantha Stosur 2015: Leander Paes / Martina Hingis 2016: Henri Kontinen / Heather Watson 2017: Jamie Murray / Martina Hingis 2018: Alexander Peya / Nicole Melichar 2019: Ivan Dodig / Latisha Chan 2020: No competition (COVID-19 pandemic) 2021: Neal Skupski / Desirae Krawczyk 2022: Neal Skupski / Desirae Krawczyk 2023: Mate Pavić / Lyudmyla Kichenok 2024: Jan Zieliński / Hsieh Su-wei v t e US Open mixed doubles champions Amateur Era 1892: Mabel Cahill / Clarence Hobart 1893: Ellen Roosevelt / Clarence Hobart 1894: Juliette Atkinson / Edwin Fischer 1895: Juliette Atkinson / Edwin Fischer 1896: Juliette Atkinson / Edwin Fischer 1897: Laura Henson / D. L. Magruder 1898: Carrie Neely / Edwin Fischer 1899: Elizabeth Rastall / Albert L. Hoskins 1900: Margaret Hunnewell / Alfred Codman 1901: Marion Jones / Raymond Little 1902: Elisabeth Moore / Wylie Grant 1903: Helen Chapman / Harry F. Allen 1904: Elisabeth Moore / Wylie Grant 1905: Augusta Schultz Hobart / Clarence Hobart 1906: Sarah Coffin / Edward Dewhurst 1907: May Sayers / Wallace F. Johnson 1908: Nathaniel Niles / Edith Rotch 1909: Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman / Wallace F. Johnson 1910: Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman / Joseph R. Carpenter Jr. 1911: Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman / Wallace F. Johnson 1912: Mary K. Browne / R. Norris Williams 1913: Mary K. Browne / Bill Tilden 1914: Mary K. Browne / Bill Tilden 1915: Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman / Harry C. Johnson 1916: Eleonora Sears / Willis E. Davis 1917: Molla Bjurstedt Mallory / Irving Wright 1918: Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman / Irving Wright 1919: Marion Zinderstein / Vincent Richards 1920: Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman / Wallace F. Johnson 1921: Mary K. Browne / Bill Johnston 1922: Molla Bjurstedt Mallory / Bill Tilden 1923: Molla Bjurstedt Mallory / Bill Tilden 1924: Helen Wills / Vincent Richards 1925: Kitty McKane Godfree / John B. Hawkes 1926: Elizabeth Ryan / Jean Borotra 1927: Eileen Bennett Whittingstall / Henri Cochet 1928: Helen Wills / John B. Hawkes 1929: Betty Nuthall Shoemaker / George Lott 1930: Edith Cross / Wilmer Allison 1931: Betty Nuthall Shoemaker / George Lott 1932: Sarah Palfrey Cooke / Fred Perry 1933: Elizabeth Ryan / Ellsworth Vines 1934: Helen Jacobs / George Lott 1935: Sarah Palfrey Cooke / Enrique Maier 1936: Alice Marble / Gene Mako 1937: Sarah Palfrey Cooke / Don Budge 1938: Alice Marble / Don Budge 1939: Alice Marble / Harry Hopman 1940: Alice Marble / Bobby Riggs 1941: Sarah Palfrey Cooke / Jack Kramer 1942: Louise Brough / Ted Schroeder 1943: Margaret Osborne duPont / Bill Talbert 1944: Margaret Osborne duPont / Bill Talbert 1945: Margaret Osborne duPont / Bill Talbert 1946: Margaret Osborne duPont / Bill Talbert 1947: Louise Brough / John Bromwich 1948: Louise Brough / Tom Brown 1949: Louise Brough / Eric Sturgess 1950: Margaret Osborne duPont / Ken McGregor 1951: Doris Hart / Frank Sedgman 1952: Doris Hart / Frank Sedgman 1953: Doris Hart / Vic Seixas 1954: Doris Hart / Vic Seixas 1955: Doris Hart / Vic Seixas 1956: Margaret Osborne duPont / Ken Rosewall 1957: Althea Gibson / Kurt Nielsen 1958: Margaret Osborne duPont / Neale Fraser 1959: Margaret Osborne duPont / Neale Fraser 1960: Margaret Osborne duPont / Neale Fraser 1961: Margaret Court / Bob Mark 1962: Margaret Court / Fred Stolle 1963: Margaret Court / Ken Fletcher 1964: Margaret Court / John Newcombe 1965: Margaret Court / Fred Stolle 1966: Donna Floyd Fales / Owen Davidson 1967: Billie Jean King / Owen Davidson Open Era 1968: Mary-Ann Eisel / Peter Curtis 1969: Margaret Court / Marty Riessen 1970: Margaret Court / Marty Riessen 1971: Billie Jean King / Owen Davidson 1972: Margaret Court / Marty Riessen 1973: Billie Jean King / Owen Davidson 1974: Pam Teeguarden / Geoff Masters 1975: Rosemary Casals / Dick Stockton 1976: Billie Jean King / Phil Dent 1977: Betty Stöve / Frew McMillan 1978: Betty Stöve / Frew McMillan 1979: Greer Stevens / Bob Hewitt 1980: Wendy Turnbull / Marty Riessen 1981: Anne Smith / Kevin Curren 1982: Anne Smith / Kevin Curren 1983: Elizabeth Sayers Smylie / John Fitzgerald 1984: Manuela Maleeva / Tom Gullikson 1985: Martina Navratilova / Heinz Günthardt 1986: Raffaella Reggi / Sergio Casal 1987: Martina Navratilova / Emilio Sánchez Vicario 1988: Jana Novotná / Jim Pugh 1989: Robin White / Shelby Cannon 1990: Elizabeth Sayers Smylie / Todd Woodbridge 1991: Manon Bollegraf / Tom Nijssen 1992: Nicole Provis / Mark Woodforde 1993: Helena Suková / Todd Woodbridge 1994: Elna Reinach / Patrick Galbraith 1995: Meredith McGrath / Matt Lucena 1996: Lisa Raymond / Patrick Galbraith 1997: Manon Bollegraf / Rick Leach 1998: Serena Williams / Max Mirnyi 1999: Ai Sugiyama / Mahesh Bhupathi 2000: Arantxa Sánchez Vicario / Jared Palmer 2001: Rennae Stubbs / Todd Woodbridge 2002: Lisa Raymond / Mike Bryan 2003: Katarina Srebotnik / Bob Bryan 2004: Vera Zvonareva / Bob Bryan 2005: Daniela Hantuchová / Mahesh Bhupathi 2006: Martina Navratilova / Bob Bryan 2007: Victoria Azarenka / Max Mirnyi 2008: Cara Black / Leander Paes 2009: Carly Gullickson / Travis Parrott 2010: Liezel Huber / Bob Bryan 2011: Melanie Oudin / Jack Sock 2012: Ekaterina Makarova / Bruno Soares 2013: Andrea Hlaváčková / Max Mirnyi 2014: Sania Mirza / Bruno Soares 2015: Martina Hingis / Leander Paes 2016: Laura Siegemund / Mate Pavić 2017: Martina Hingis / Jamie Murray 2018: Bethanie Mattek-Sands / Jamie Murray 2019: Bethanie Mattek-Sands / Jamie Murray 2020: No competition (COVID-19 pandemic) 2021: Desirae Krawczyk / Joe Salisbury 2022: Storm Sanders / John Peers 2023: Anna Danilina / Harri Heliövaara 2024: Sara Errani / Andrea Vavassori v t e Grand Slam achievements Grand Slam Men's singles 1938: Don Budge 1962: Rod Laver 1969: Rod Laver Women's singles 1953: Maureen Connolly 1970: Margaret Court 1988: Steffi Graf Men's doubles 1951: Ken McGregor / Frank Sedgman Women's doubles 1960: Maria Bueno 1984: Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver 1998: Martina Hingis Mixed doubles 1963: Margaret Court / Ken Fletcher 1965: Margaret Court 1967: Owen Davidson Non-calendar year Grand Slam Men's singles 2015–16: Novak Djokovic Women's singles 1983–84: Martina Navratilova 1993–94: Steffi Graf 2002–03: Serena Williams 2014–15: Serena Williams Men's doubles 2012–13: Bob Bryan / Mike Bryan Women's doubles 1949–50: Louise Brough 1986–87: Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver 1992–93: Gigi Fernández / Natasha Zvereva 1996–97: Natasha Zvereva 2009–10: Serena Williams / Venus Williams Mixed doubles 1967–68 Billie Jean King Career Grand Slam Men's singles Fred Perry Don Budge Rod Laver (2) Roy Emerson (2) Andre Agassi Roger Federer Rafael Nadal (2) Novak Djokovic (3) Women's singles Maureen Connolly Doris Hart Shirley Fry Irvin Margaret Court (3) Billie Jean King Chris Evert (2) Martina Navratilova (2) Steffi Graf (4) Serena Williams (3) Maria Sharapova Men's doubles Adrian Quist Frank Sedgman (2) Ken McGregor Lew Hoad / Ken Rosewall (2) Neale Fraser (2) Roy Emerson (3) John Newcombe (3) / Tony Roche Bob Hewitt John Fitzgerald Anders Järryd Jacco Eltingh / Paul Haarhuis Mark Woodforde Todd Woodbridge Jonas Björkman Bob Bryan (2) / Mike Bryan (2) Daniel Nestor Leander Paes Pierre-Hugues Herbert / Nicolas Mahut Mate Pavić Women's doubles Louise Brough Clapp Doris Hart Shirley Fry Irvin Maria Bueno Lesley Turner Bowrey Margaret Court (2) Judy Tegart-Dalton Kathy Jordan / Anne Smith / Martina Navratilova (7) Pam Shriver (4) Helena Suková Gigi Fernández (2) / Natasha Zvereva (3) Jana Novotná (2) Martina Hingis (2) Serena Williams (2) / Venus Williams (2) Lisa Raymond Sara Errani / Roberta Vinci Barbora Krejčíková / Kateřina Siniaková Mixed doubles Jean Borotra Doris Hart (2) / Frank Sedgman (2) Margaret Court (4) Ken Fletcher Owen Davidson Billie Jean King Marty Riessen Bob Hewitt Mark Woodforde Todd Woodbridge Martina Navratilova Daniela Hantuchová Mahesh Bhupathi (2) Cara Black Leander Paes Martina Hingis v t e WTA Year-end championships – doubles winners 1973: Rosemary Casals / Margaret Court 1974: Rosemary Casals / Billie Jean King 1975: Margaret Court / Virginia Wade 1976: Billie Jean King / Betty Stöve 1977: Martina Navratilova / Betty Stöve 1978: Billie Jean King / Martina Navratilova 1979: Françoise Dürr / Betty Stöve 1980: Billie Jean King / Martina Navratilova 1981: Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver 1982: Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver 1983: Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver 1984: Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver 1985: Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver 1986 (Mar): Hana Mandlíková / Wendy Turnbull 1986 (Nov): Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver 1987: Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver 1988: Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver 1989: Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver 1990: Kathy Jordan / Elizabeth Smylie 1991: Martina Navratilova / Pam Shriver 1992: Arantxa Sánchez Vicario / Helena Suková 1993: Gigi Fernández / Natalia Zvereva 1994: Gigi Fernández / Natasha Zvereva 1995: Jana Novotná / Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 1996: Lindsay Davenport / Mary Joe Fernández 1997: Lindsay Davenport / Jana Novotná 1998: Lindsay Davenport / Natasha Zvereva 1999: Martina Hingis / Anna Kournikova 2000: Martina Hingis / Anna Kournikova 2001: Lisa Raymond / Rennae Stubbs 2002: Elena Dementieva / Janette Husárová 2003: Virginia Ruano Pascual / Paola Suárez 2004: Nadia Petrova / Meghann Shaughnessy 2005: Lisa Raymond / Samantha Stosur 2006: Lisa Raymond / Samantha Stosur 2007: Cara Black / Liezel Huber 2008: Cara Black / Liezel Huber 2009: Nuria Llagostera Vives / María José Martínez Sánchez 2010: Gisela Dulko / Flavia Pennetta 2011: Liezel Huber / Lisa Raymond 2012: Maria Kirilenko / Nadia Petrova 2013: Hsieh Su-wei / Peng Shuai 2014: Cara Black / Sania Mirza 2015: Martina Hingis / Sania Mirza 2016: Ekaterina Makarova / Elena Vesnina 2017: Tímea Babos / Andrea Hlaváčková 2018: Tímea Babos / Kristina Mladenovic 2019: Tímea Babos / Kristina Mladenovic 2020: no competition 2021: Barbora Krejčíková / Kateřina Siniaková 2022: Veronika Kudermetova / Elise Mertens 2023: Laura Siegemund / Vera Zvonareva 2024: Gabriela Dabrowski / Erin Routliffe v t e Women's Sports Foundation Founders Billie Jean King Jim Jorgensen Larry King Awards Sportswoman of the Year Billie Awards Billie Jean King Contribution Award Flo Hyman Award Related articles Title IX Timeline of women's sports in the United States womenSports v t e Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year 1954: Roger Bannister 1955: Johnny Podres 1956: Bobby Morrow 1957: Stan Musial 1958: Rafer Johnson 1959: Ingemar Johansson 1960: Arnold Palmer 1961: Jerry Lucas 1962: Terry Baker 1963: Pete Rozelle 1964: Ken Venturi 1965: Sandy Koufax 1966: Jim Ryun 1967: Carl Yastrzemski 1968: Bill Russell 1969: Tom Seaver 1970: Bobby Orr 1971: Lee Trevino 1972: Billie Jean King & John Wooden 1973: Jackie Stewart 1974: Muhammad Ali 1975: Pete Rose 1976: Chris Evert 1977: Steve Cauthen 1978: Jack Nicklaus 1979: Terry Bradshaw & Willie Stargell 1980: U.S. Olympic Hockey Team 1981: Sugar Ray Leonard 1982: Wayne Gretzky 1983: Mary Decker 1984: Edwin Moses & Mary Lou Retton 1985: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1986: Joe Paterno 1987: Bob Bourne, Judi Brown King, Kipchoge Keino, Dale Murphy, Chip Rives, Patty Sheehan, Rory Sparrow, & Reggie Williams 1988: Orel Hershiser 1989: Greg LeMond 1990: Joe Montana 1991: Michael Jordan 1992: Arthur Ashe 1993: Don Shula 1994: Bonnie Blair & Johann Olav Koss 1995: Cal Ripken Jr. 1996: Tiger Woods 1997: Dean Smith 1998: Mark McGwire & Sammy Sosa 1999: U.S. Women's Soccer Team 2000: Tiger Woods 2001: Curt Schilling & Randy Johnson 2002: Lance Armstrong 2003: David Robinson & Tim Duncan 2004: Boston Red Sox 2005: Tom Brady 2006: Dwyane Wade 2007: Brett Favre 2008: Michael Phelps 2009: Derek Jeter 2010: Drew Brees 2011: Mike Krzyzewski & Pat Summitt 2012: LeBron James 2013: Peyton Manning 2014: Madison Bumgarner 2015: Serena Williams 2016: LeBron James 2017: Jose Altuve & J. J. Watt 2018: Golden State Warriors 2019: Megan Rapinoe 2020: Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, LeBron James, Patrick Mahomes, Naomi Osaka, & Breanna Stewart 2021: Tom Brady 2022: Stephen Curry 2023: Deion Sanders 2024: Simone Biles v t e Time Persons of the Year 1927–1950 Charles Lindbergh (1927) Walter Chrysler (1928) Owen D. Young (1929) Mohandas Gandhi (1930) Pierre Laval (1931) Franklin D. Roosevelt (1932) Hugh S. Johnson (1933) Franklin D. Roosevelt (1934) Haile Selassie (1935) Wallis Simpson (1936) Chiang Kai-shek / Soong Mei-ling (1937) Adolf Hitler (1938) Joseph Stalin (1939) Winston Churchill (1940) Franklin D. Roosevelt (1941) Joseph Stalin (1942) George Marshall (1943) Dwight D. Eisenhower (1944) Harry S. Truman (1945) James F. Byrnes (1946) George Marshall (1947) Harry S. Truman (1948) Winston Churchill (1949) The American Fighting-Man (1950) 1951–1975 Mohammed Mosaddeq (1951) Elizabeth II (1952) Konrad Adenauer (1953) John Foster Dulles (1954) Harlow Curtice (1955) Hungarian Freedom Fighters (1956) Nikita Khrushchev (1957) Charles de Gaulle (1958) Dwight D. Eisenhower (1959) U.S. Scientists: George Beadle / Charles Draper / John Enders / Donald A. Glaser / Joshua Lederberg / Willard Libby / Linus Pauling / Edward Purcell / Isidor Rabi / Emilio Segrè / William Shockley / Edward Teller / Charles Townes / James Van Allen / Robert Woodward (1960) John F. Kennedy (1961) Pope John XXIII (1962) Martin Luther King Jr. (1963) Lyndon B. Johnson (1964) William Westmoreland (1965) The Generation Twenty-Five and Under (1966) Lyndon B. Johnson (1967) The Apollo 8 Astronauts: William Anders / Frank Borman / Jim Lovell (1968) The Middle Americans (1969) Willy Brandt (1970) Richard Nixon (1971) Henry Kissinger / Richard Nixon (1972) John Sirica (1973) King Faisal (1974) American Women: Susan Brownmiller / Kathleen Byerly / Alison Cheek / Jill Conway / Betty Ford / Ella Grasso / Carla Hills / Barbara Jordan / Billie Jean King / Susie Sharp / Carol Sutton / Addie Wyatt (1975) 1976–2000 Jimmy Carter (1976) Anwar Sadat (1977) Deng Xiaoping (1978) Ayatollah Khomeini (1979) Ronald Reagan (1980) Lech Wałęsa (1981) The Computer (1982) Ronald Reagan / Yuri Andropov (1983) Peter Ueberroth (1984) Deng Xiaoping (1985) Corazon Aquino (1986) Mikhail Gorbachev (1987) The Endangered Earth (1988) Mikhail Gorbachev (1989) George H. W. Bush (1990) Ted Turner (1991) Bill Clinton (1992) The Peacemakers: Yasser Arafat / F. W. de Klerk / Nelson Mandela / Yitzhak Rabin (1993) Pope John Paul II (1994) Newt Gingrich (1995) David Ho (1996) Andrew Grove (1997) Bill Clinton / Ken Starr (1998) Jeff Bezos (1999) George W. Bush (2000) 2001–present Rudolph Giuliani (2001) The Whistleblowers: Cynthia Cooper / Coleen Rowley / Sherron Watkins (2002) The American Soldier (2003) George W. Bush (2004) The Good Samaritans: Bono / Bill Gates / Melinda Gates (2005) You (2006) Vladimir Putin (2007) Barack Obama (2008) Ben Bernanke (2009) Mark Zuckerberg (2010) The Protester (2011) Barack Obama (2012) Pope Francis (2013) Ebola Fighters: Dr. Jerry Brown / Dr. Kent Brantly / Ella Watson-Stryker / Foday Gollah / Salome Karwah (2014) Angela Merkel (2015) Donald Trump (2016) The Silence Breakers (2017) The Guardians: Jamal Khashoggi / Maria Ressa / Wa Lone / Kyaw Soe Oo / Staff of The Capital (2018) Greta Thunberg (2019) Joe Biden / Kamala Harris (2020) Elon Musk (2021) Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Spirit of Ukraine (2022) Taylor Swift (2023) Donald Trump (2024) v t e Inductees to the National Women's Hall of Fame 1970–1979 1973 Jane Addams Marian Anderson Susan B. Anthony Clara Barton Mary McLeod Bethune Elizabeth Blackwell Pearl S. Buck Rachel Carson Mary Cassatt Emily Dickinson Amelia Earhart Alice Hamilton Helen Hayes Helen Keller Eleanor Roosevelt Florence Sabin Margaret Chase Smith Elizabeth Cady Stanton Helen Brooke Taussig Harriet Tubman 1976 Abigail Adams Margaret Mead Mildred "Babe" Didrikson Zaharias 1979 Dorothea Dix Juliette Gordon Low Alice Paul Elizabeth Bayley Seton 1980–1989 1981 Margaret Sanger Sojourner Truth 1982 Carrie Chapman Catt Frances Perkins 1983 Belva Lockwood Lucretia Mott 1984 Mary "Mother" Harris Jones Bessie Smith 1986 Barbara McClintock Lucy Stone Harriet Beecher Stowe 1988 Gwendolyn Brooks Willa Cather Sally Ride Mary Risteau Ida B. Wells-Barnett 1990–1999 1990 Margaret Bourke-White Barbara Jordan Billie Jean King Florence B. Seibert 1991 Gertrude Belle Elion 1993 Ethel Percy Andrus Antoinette Blackwell Emily Blackwell Shirley Chisholm Jacqueline Cochran Ruth Colvin Marian Wright Edelman Alice Evans Betty Friedan Ella Grasso Martha Wright Griffiths Fannie Lou Hamer Dorothy Height Dolores Huerta Mary Putnam Jacobi Mae Jemison Mary Lyon Mary Mahoney Wilma Mankiller Constance Baker Motley Georgia O'Keeffe Annie Oakley Rosa Parks Esther Peterson Jeannette Rankin Ellen Swallow Richards Elaine Roulet Katherine Siva Saubel Gloria Steinem Helen Stephens Lillian Wald Madam C. J. Walker Faye Wattleton Rosalyn S. Yalow Gloria Yerkovich 1994 Bella Abzug Ella Baker Myra Bradwell Annie Jump Cannon Jane Cunningham Croly Catherine East Geraldine Ferraro Charlotte Perkins Gilman Grace Hopper Helen LaKelly Hunt Zora Neale Hurston Anne Hutchinson Frances Wisebart Jacobs Susette La Flesche Louise McManus Maria Mitchell Antonia Novello Linda Richards Wilma Rudolph Betty Bone Schiess Muriel Siebert Nettie Stevens Oprah Winfrey Sarah Winnemucca Fanny Wright 1995 Virginia Apgar Ann Bancroft Amelia Bloomer Mary Breckinridge Eileen Collins Elizabeth Hanford Dole Anne Dallas Dudley Mary Baker Eddy Ella Fitzgerald Margaret Fuller Matilda Joslyn Gage Lillian Moller Gilbreth Nannerl O. Keohane Maggie Kuhn Sandra Day O'Connor Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin Pat Schroeder Hannah Greenebaum Solomon 1996 Louisa May Alcott Charlotte Anne Bunch Frances Xavier Cabrini Mary A. Hallaren Oveta Culp Hobby Wilhelmina Cole Holladay Anne Morrow Lindbergh Maria Goeppert Mayer Ernestine Louise Potowski Rose Maria Tallchief Edith Wharton 1998 Madeleine Albright Maya Angelou Nellie Bly Lydia Moss Bradley Mary Steichen Calderone Mary Ann Shadd Cary Joan Ganz Cooney Gerty Cori Sarah Grimké Julia Ward Howe Shirley Ann Jackson Shannon Lucid Katharine Dexter McCormick Rozanne L. Ridgway Edith Nourse Rogers Felice Schwartz Eunice Kennedy Shriver Beverly Sills Florence Wald Angelina Grimké Weld Chien-Shiung Wu 2000–2009 2000 Faye Glenn Abdellah Emma Smith DeVoe Marjory Stoneman Douglas Mary Dyer Sylvia A. Earle Crystal Eastman Jeanne Holm Leontine T. Kelly Frances Oldham Kelsey Kate Mullany Janet Reno Anna Howard Shaw Sophia Smith Ida Tarbell Wilma L. Vaught Mary Edwards Walker Annie Dodge Wauneka Eudora Welty Frances E. Willard 2001 Dorothy H. Andersen Lucille Ball Rosalynn Carter Lydia Maria Child Bessie Coleman Dorothy Day Marian de Forest Althea Gibson Beatrice A. Hicks Barbara Holdridge Harriet Williams Russell Strong Emily Howell Warner Victoria Woodhull 2002 Paulina Kellogg Wright Davis Ruth Bader Ginsburg Katharine Graham Bertha Holt Mary Engle Pennington Mercy Otis Warren 2003 Linda G. Alvarado Donna de Varona Gertrude Ederle Martha Matilda Harper Patricia Roberts Harris Stephanie L. Kwolek Dorothea Lange Mildred Robbins Leet Patsy Takemoto Mink Sacagawea Anne Sullivan Sheila E. Widnall 2005 Florence E. Allen Ruth Fulton Benedict Betty Bumpers Hillary Clinton Rita Rossi Colwell Mother Marianne Cope Maya Y. Lin Patricia A. Locke Blanche Stuart Scott Mary Burnett Talbert 2007 Eleanor K. Baum Julia Child Martha Coffin Pelham Wright Swanee Hunt Winona LaDuke Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Judith L. Pipher Catherine Filene Shouse Henrietta Szold 2009 Louise Bourgeois Mildred Cohn Karen DeCrow Susan Kelly-Dreiss Allie B. Latimer Emma Lazarus Ruth Patrick Rebecca Talbot Perkins Susan Solomon Kate Stoneman 2010–2019 2011 St. Katharine Drexel Dorothy Harrison Eustis Loretta C. Ford Abby Kelley Foster Helen Murray Free Billie Holiday Coretta Scott King Lilly Ledbetter Barbara A. Mikulski Donna E. Shalala Kathrine Switzer 2013 Betty Ford Ina May Gaskin Julie Krone Kate Millett Nancy Pelosi Mary Joseph Rogers Bernice Sandler Anna Schwartz Emma Willard 2015 Tenley Albright Nancy Brinker Martha Graham Marcia Greenberger Barbara Iglewski Jean Kilbourne Carlotta Walls LaNier Philippa Marrack Mary Harriman Rumsey Eleanor Smeal 2017 Matilda Cuomo Temple Grandin Lorraine Hansberry Victoria Jackson Sherry Lansing Clare Boothe Luce Aimee Mullins Carol Mutter Janet Rowley Alice Waters 2019 Gloria Allred Angela Davis Sarah Deer Jane Fonda Nicole Malachowski Rose O'Neill Louise Slaughter Sonia Sotomayor Laurie Spiegel Flossie Wong-Staal 2020–2029 2020 Aretha Franklin Barbara Hillary Barbara Rose Johns Henrietta Lacks Toni Morrison Mary Church Terrell 2022 Octavia E. Butler Judy Chicago Rebecca S. Halstead Mia Hamm Joy Harjo Emily Howland Katherine Johnson Indra Nooyi Michelle Obama 2024 Patricia Bath Ruby Bridges Elouise P. Cobell Kimberlé Crenshaw Peggy McIntosh Judith Plaskow Loretta Ross Sandy Stone Anna Wessels Williams Serena Williams v t e Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year 1931: Helene Madison 1932: Babe Didrikson Zaharias 1933: Helen Jacobs 1934: Virginia Van Wie 1935: Helen Wills 1936: Helen Stephens 1937: Katherine Rawls 1938: Patty Berg 1939: Alice Marble 1940: Alice Marble 1941: Betty Hicks 1942: Gloria Callen 1943: Patty Berg 1944: Ann Curtis 1945: Babe Didrikson Zaharias 1946: Babe Didrikson Zaharias 1947: Babe Didrikson Zaharias 1948: Fanny Blankers-Koen 1949: Marlene Hagge 1950: Babe Didrikson Zaharias 1951: Maureen Connolly 1952: Maureen Connolly 1953: Maureen Connolly 1954: Babe Didrikson Zaharias 1955: Patty Berg 1956: Pat McCormick 1957: Althea Gibson 1958: Althea Gibson 1959: Maria Bueno 1960: Wilma Rudolph 1961: Wilma Rudolph 1962: Dawn Fraser 1963: Mickey Wright 1964: Mickey Wright 1965: Kathy Whitworth 1966: Kathy Whitworth 1967: Billie Jean King 1968: Peggy Fleming 1969: Debbie Meyer 1970: Chi Cheng 1971: Evonne Goolagong 1972: Olga Korbut 1973: Billie Jean King 1974: Chris Evert 1975: Chris Evert 1976: Nadia Comăneci 1977: Chris Evert 1978: Nancy Lopez 1979: Tracy Austin 1980: Chris Evert 1981: Tracy Austin 1982: Mary Decker 1983: Martina Navratilova 1984: Mary Lou Retton 1985: Nancy Lopez 1986: Martina Navratilova 1987: Jackie Joyner-Kersee 1988: Florence Griffith Joyner 1989: Steffi Graf 1990: Beth Daniel 1991: Monica Seles 1992: Monica Seles 1993: Sheryl Swoopes 1994: Bonnie Blair 1995: Rebecca Lobo 1996: Amy Van Dyken 1997: Martina Hingis 1998: Pak Se-ri 1999: United States women's national soccer team 2000: Marion Jones 2001: Jennifer Capriati 2002: Serena Williams 2003: Annika Sörenstam 2004: Annika Sörenstam 2005: Annika Sörenstam 2006: Lorena Ochoa 2007: Lorena Ochoa 2008: Candace Parker 2009: Serena Williams 2010: Lindsey Vonn 2011: Abby Wambach 2012: Gabby Douglas 2013: Serena Williams 2014: Mo'ne Davis 2015: Serena Williams 2016: Simone Biles 2017: Katie Ledecky 2018: Serena Williams 2019: Simone Biles 2020: Naomi Osaka 2021: Candace Parker 2022: Katie Ledecky 2023: Simone Biles v t e Arthur Ashe Courage Award winners Named after Arthur Ashe 1993: Valvano 1994: Palermo 1995: Cosell 1996: Claiborne 1997: Ali 1998: D. Smith 1999: King 2000: Sanders 2001: Freeman 2002: Flight 93 passengers Beamer Bingham Burnett Glick 2003: P. Tillman & K. Tillman 2004: Weah 2005: MacLaren & Yeboah 2006: Ahmad & Kohestani 2007: Cullen & Ringland 2008: Carlos & T. Smith 2009: Mandela 2010: Thomas 2011: Bozella 2012: Summitt 2013: Roberts 2014: Sam 2015: Jenner 2016: Dobson 2017: Shriver 2018: USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal survivors; ibnlt: Biles Dantzscher Denhollander Douglas Maroney Nichols Raisman Wieber 2019: Russell 2020: Love 2021: Moore 2022: Klitschko 2023: USWNST 2024: Gleason v t e Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame 1990–1999 1991 Ortez Alderson Jon-Henri Damski James W. Flint Gay Chicago Renee C. Hanover Howard Brown Health Center Judith S. Johns Carol A. Johnson William B. Kelley Marie J. Kuda Chuck Renslow Adrienne J. Smith Max C. Smith Richard B. Turner 1992 Gary Chichester Ann Christophersen Thom Dombkowski Henry Gerber Richard Lee Gray Vernita Gray Peg Grey Pearl M. Hart Horizons Community Services Harley McMillen Scott McPherson Metropolitan Sports Association Dom Orejudos Mary D. Powers Daniel Sotomayor Valerie Taylor 1993 Ad Hoc Committee of Proud Black Lesbians and Gays Robert Sloane Basker E. Kitch Childs Jerrold Cohen Robert T. Ford Richard Garrin Jeff Graubart-Cervone Joel Hall Nancy Lanoue Sid L. Mohn Mountain Moving Coffeehouse Kathy Osterman Richard W. Pfeiffer Linda S. Rodgers Ron Sable Bruce C. Scott Marge Summit Joanne E. Trapani Al Wardell 1994 Robert J. Adams Tracy Baim George S. Buse James A. Bussen Lori Cannon John Chester Chicago House and Social Service Agency Samuel F. Davis Jr. Adrienne J. Goodman Earnest E. Hite Jr. Bruce Koff Ellis B. Levin Lionheart Gay Theatre Company Open Hand Chicago Gregory A. Sprague Elizabeth E. Tocci Steven F. Wakefield 1995 Caryn Berman Samson Chan T. Chris Cothran Sarah Craig Frontrunners Frontwalkers Chicago Jean V. Hardisty Nick Kelly Dawn Clark Netsch José Pena Queer Nation Chicago David B. Sindt Armando L. Smith James Monroe Smith (lawyer) Tom Tunney Yvonne Zipter 1996 Jacqueline Anderson Bailiwick Repertory's Pride Series Jack Delaney Gerber/Hart Library and Archives Arlene Halko Greg Harris Frankie Knuckles Tony Midnite Mary Morten Ifti Nasim Charlotte Newfeld Norm Sloan Tiffani St. Cloud 1997 Toni Armstrong Jr. Miguel Ayala Roger Chaffin James C. Darby Dignity Chicago Ida Greathouse John Hammell Rick Karlin Corinne J. Kawecki Larry McKeon David G. Ostrow Mary Ann Smith 1998 Carrie Barnett Thomas Chiola Laurie J. Dittman Jeannette Howard Foster Jorjet Harper Arthur L. Johnston Ira H. Jones Clifford P. Kelley Dorothy Klefstad LesBiGay Radio Renae Ogletree Dean Robert Ogren Victor A. Salvo Jr. Modesto "Tico" Valle Luule Vess 1999 Ava Allen John J. Balester David Brian Bell Randy Duncan Rick Garcia Lorraine Hansberry Derrick Allen Hicks Billie Jean King Lesbian Community Cancer Project Adrene Perom Norman L. Sandfield Gregg Shapiro Jesse White Phill Wilson 2000–2009 2000 ACT UP/Chicago Association of Latin Men for Action Lorrainne Sade Baskerville Henry Blake Fuller Chicago Chapter of GLSEN Phil A. Hannema Sarah Hoagland Nancy J. Katz Danny Kopelson Patricia S. McCombs Helen Shiller Rene A. Van Hulle Jr. Israel Wright 2001 Lora Branch Robert Castillo Chicago Gay Men's Chorus Keith Elliott Sara Feigenholtz Frank Goley and Robert Maddox Chuck Hyde Antonio David Jimenez Michael A. Leppen Ellen A. Meyers Kathryn Munzer Studs Terkel 2002 Affinity Community Services Evette Cardona C. C. Carter Jim Gates (Chicago businessman) Louis I. Lang Mattachine Midwest NAMES Project Chicago Chapter Charles Edward Nelson II Mona Noriega Christina Smith Lauren Sugerman 2003 Angel Abcede About Face Theatre AIDS Legal Council of Chicago Buddies' Restaurant and Bar Tania Callaway Armand R. Cerbone Chicago Black Lesbians and Gays R. Sue Connolly Bon Foster The Graham Family Tonda L. Hughes Patricia M. Logue John Pennycuff Laurence E. Spang Sheron Denise Webb Albert N. Williams 2004 Roger Brown Christopher Clason Charles E. Clifton Frank Galati Ralph Paul Gernhardt Suzanne Marie Kraus Lincoln Park Lagooners Mulryan and York, Attorneys at Law PFLAG/Chicago Julio Rodriguez Nan Schaffer Terri Worman 2005 Alexandra Scott Billings Megan Carney Aldo Castillo John D'Emilio Equality Illinois Merry Mary Mike McHale Jim Pickett Juan Reed Carol Ronen C. Michael Savage Catherine Sikora Lawrence E. Sloan Test Positive Aware Network 2006 Margaret C. Anderson and Jane Heap Congregation Or Chadash Jacques Cristion Richard M. Daley Marigold Bowl Jill M. Metz Charles R. Middleton Edward Negron Laird Petersen Sidetrack Star Gaze Richard M. Uyvari 2007 American Veterans for Equal Rights David Blatt and David Moore Carol Moseley Braun Robbin Burr Chicago Games, Inc. Tarrina Dikes Martin Gapshis Jeffrey E. McCour Carlos T. Mock Chilli Pepper A Real Read Karen C. Sendziak Patrick Sheahan Harold Washington Vera Washington 2008 Jane Addams Suzanne Arnold Artemis Singers Kevin G. Boyer Michal Brody Sam Coady Gregory R. Dell Katherine (Kit) Duffy Eddie Dugan Murray Edelman Wanda Lust Joe La Pat Jesus Salgueiro and Art Smith Guy Warner 2009 AIDS Foundation of Chicago Paula Basta Lou Conte Lori A. Cooper Marcia J. Lipetz Amy Maggio Joey McDonald Mike Quigley Frank M. Robinson Jane M. Hussein Saks Zaida Sanabia Patrick Sinozich Marilyn Urso 2010–2019 2010 Claudia Allen American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois Asians & Friends – Chicago Chicago History Museum Dan Di Leo Scot Free Bob Gammie International Mr. Leather E. Patrick Johnson David Ernesto Munar Achy Obejas Paul G. Oostenbrug Jose R. Rios Stan Sloan Mark E. Wojcik 2011 Paul Adams Greg Cameron Antonia Flores Grant Lynn Ford Robert Garofalo Good Shepherd Parish Metropolitan Community Church Ted Grady Marcia Hill Tony Jackson Jenner & Block LLP Lakeside Pride Music Ensembles The Night Ministry Brett Shingledecker Jon Simmons 2012 Lois L. Bates Chi-Town Squares Chicago Black Gay Men's Caucus St. Sukie de la Croix Sanford E. Gaylord William W. Greaves Keith R. Green Mark Ishaug David Orr Proud to Run, Chicago Bill Pry Chuck Rodocker Heather C. Sawyer Laura S. Washington Honey West 2013 Gaylon Alcaraz James L. Alexander James L. Bennett Jorge Cestou Rocco J. Claps Rudolph Johnson Jr. Lambda Legal - Midwest Regional Office Lee A. Newell II Paté Andrew Patner POW-WOW Laura Ricketts Neil Steinberg Burr Tillstrom Brenda Webb David Zak 2014 Gerald Arpino Jennifer Brier Kelly Cassidy Terry Cosgrove Christina Kahrl Edward Mogul Lisa Marie Pickens Debra Shore Ross A. Slotten, M.D. Bennet Williams Out & Proud in Chicago Silk Road Rising Lucretia Clay-Ward Heather A. Steans Clarence N. Wood 2015 Jean Albright Fred Eychaner Emmanuel Garcia Stanley Jencyzk Lesbian and Gay Police Association Gay Officers Action League Phoenix Matthews Gail Morse Michael O'Connor Jan Schakowsky Barbara Smith Camilla B. Taylor Lauren Verdich 2016 Yvonne Welbon Martxa Vidal Norma Seledon Patrick Quinn Thomas Klein John Marshall Law School Kim L. Hunt Patrick Dennis David Lee Csicsko David Cerda Román Buenrostro Ronald E. Bogan Big Chicks Tom Bachtell Amigas Latinas Robert Allerton 2017 Keith Butler Kathy Caldwell Ketty Teanga Greer Lankton Mark Nagel Glen Pietrandoni Dulce Quintero Timothy Stewart-Winter Alicia T. Vega Lavender Woman Leather Archives and Museums People Like Us Bookstore Alphawood Foundation Ralla Klepak 2020–2029 2020 Jay Paul Deratany Denise Foy Dalila Fridi Joel Drake Johnson Stephen Kulieke Matt Stuczynski Michelle Zacarias Judy Baar Topinka Brenetta Howell Barrett National Museum of Mexican Art The Legacy Project The Windy City Times Women & Children First Bookstore Terry Lynn Gaskins Raymond Crossman Ronald J. Ehemann John Ademola Adewoye Caprice Carthans 2021 Ginni Clemmens Lisa Isadora Cruz Lana Hostetler Thomas Hunt (activist) Wayne Johnson (graphic designer) Otis Mack PrideChicago Ralphi Rosario Betty Lark Ross Urban Pride Kirk Williamson 2022 Maya Green Zahara Monique Bassett Matthew Harvat Paul Highfield Thomas (T.L.) 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Ford Award winners 2004: Hesburgh 2005: Friday 2006: Bayh & Wooden 2007: Grant 2008: Frank 2009: King 2010: Brand 2011: revoked* 2012: Summitt 2013: Lopiano 2014: Andrews 2015: Harrison 2016: Rice 2017: Hill 2018: Roberts 2019: Joyner-Kersee 2020: Vitale 2021: Robinson 2022: Meyers 2023: Nantz *Note: The 2011 Gerald R. Ford Award was originally awarded to Joe Paterno, but the NCAA later revoked the award after the Penn State child sex abuse scandal. v t e BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award 1996: Frank Bruno 1997: Seve Ballesteros 1998: No award 1999: No award 2000: No award 2001: Alex Ferguson 2002: George Best 2003: Martina Navratilova 2004: Ian Botham 2005: Pelé 2006: Björn Borg 2007: Bobby Robson 2008: Bobby Charlton 2009: Seve Ballesteros 2010: David Beckham 2011: Steve Redgrave 2012: Sebastian Coe 2013: No award 2014: Chris Hoy 2015: Tony McCoy 2016: Michael Phelps 2017: Jessica Ennis-Hill 2018: Billie Jean King 2019: Tanni Grey-Thompson 2020: No award 2021: Simone Biles 2022: Usain Bolt 2023: Kenny Dalglish v t e Members of the International Tennis Hall of Fame Men Master players Manuel Alonso Areizaga James Anderson Mal Anderson Bunny Austin Wilfred Baddeley Jean Borotra John Bromwich Norman Brookes Jacques Brugnon Clarence Clark Henri Cochet Ashley Cooper Jim Courier Jack Crawford Owen Davidson Sven Davidson Jaroslav Drobný Neale Fraser Chuck Garland Andrés Gimeno Arthur Gore Bryan Grant Lew Hoad Harry Hopman Frederick Hovey Karel Koželuh René Lacoste Herbert Lawford Gene Mako Ken McGregor Robert Lindley Murray Hans Nüsslein Alex Olmedo Manuel Orantes Gerald Patterson Theodore Pell Fred Perry Adrian Quist Ernest Renshaw William Renshaw Mervyn Rose Frank Sedgman Pancho Segura Gottfried von Cramm Anthony Wilding Players Fred Alexander Wilmer Allison Karl Behr Don Budge Oliver Campbell Malcolm Greene Chace Joseph Clark William Clothier Dwight F. Davis John Doeg Laurence Doherty Reginald Doherty James Dwight Bob Falkenburg Pancho Gonzales Harold Hackett Joe Hunt Francis Hunter Bill Johnston Jack Kramer William Larned Art Larsen George Lott Maurice McLoughlin Frank Parker Vincent Richards Bobby Riggs Ted Schroeder Richard Sears Frank Shields Henry Slocum Bill Talbert Bill Tilden John Van Ryn Ellsworth Vines Holcombe Ward Watson Washburn Malcolm Whitman R. Norris Williams Sidney Wood Robert Wrenn Beals Wright Recent players Andre Agassi Arthur Ashe Boris Becker Björn Borg Michael Chang Jimmy Connors Rick Draney Stefan Edberg Roy Emerson David Hall Lleyton Hewitt Yevgeny Kafelnikov Jan Kodeš Gustavo Kuerten Goran Ivanišević Rod Laver Ivan Lendl John McEnroe Chuck McKinley Frew McMillan Don McNeill Gardnar Mulloy Ilie Năstase John Newcombe Yannick Noah Rafael Osuna Leander Paes Budge Patty Nicola Pietrangeli Pat Rafter Dennis Ralston Tony Roche Andy Roddick Ken Rosewall Marat Safin Pete Sampras Manuel Santana Dick Savitt Vic Seixas Stan Smith Randy Snow Michael Stich Fred Stolle Tony Trabert Guillermo Vilas Mats Wilander Todd Woodbridge Mark Woodforde Court tennis players Pierre Etchebaster Tom Pettitt Women Master players Daphne Akhurst Blanche Bingley Dorothy Bundy Cheney Charlotte Cooper Thelma Coyne Long Françoise Dürr Marion Jones Farquhar Hilde Krahwinkel Sperling Suzanne Lenglen Simonne Mathieu Kathleen McKane Godfree Elisabeth Moore Angela Mortimer Betty Nuthall Nancy Richey Ellen Roosevelt Dorothy Round Elizabeth Ryan Margaret Scriven Eleonora Sears Bertha Townsend Lesley Turner Bowrey Marie Wagner Nancye Wynne Bolton Players Juliette Atkinson Maud Barger-Wallach Pauline Betz Molla Bjurstedt Mallory Louise Brough Mary Browne Mabel Cahill Maureen Connolly Lottie Dod Dorothea Douglass Lambert Chambers Shirley Fry Althea Gibson Ellen Hansell Darlene Hard Doris Hart Ann Haydon Jones Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman Helen Hull Jacobs Alice Marble Sarah Palfrey Cooke Helen Wills Recent players Tracy Austin Maria Bueno Jennifer Capriati Rosemary Casals Kim Clijsters Lindsay Davenport Chris Evert Gigi Fernández Evonne Goolagong Cawley Steffi Graf Justine Henin Martina Hingis Billie Jean King Monique Kalkman-Van Den Bosch Li Na Hana Mandlíková Conchita Martínez Amélie Mauresmo Martina Navratilova Jana Novotná Margaret Osborne duPont Mary Pierce Gabriela Sabatini Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Monica Seles Pam Shriver Margaret Smith Court Helena Suková May Sutton Chantal Vandierendonck Esther Vergeer Virginia Wade Natasha Zvereva Contributors Russ Adams George Adee Lawrence Baker John Barrett Nick Bollettieri Vic Braden Jane Brown Grimes Butch Buchholz Philippe Chatrier Gianni Clerici Bud Collins Joseph Cullman Allison Danzig Mike Davies Herman David Donald Dell Cliff Drysdale Steve Flink David Gray Clarence Griffin Gustaf V Derek Hardwick Gladys Heldman William Hester Lamar Hunt Nancy Jeffett Robert Walter Johnson Perry T. Jones Robert J. Kelleher Peachy Kellmeyer Al Laney Alastair Martin Dan Maskell William McChesney Martin Mark McCormack Julian Myrick Arthur Nielsen Original 9 Mary Ewing Outerbridge Brad Parks Charlie Pasarell Gene Scott Lance Tingay Ted Tinling Ion Țiriac Brian Tobin Jimmy Van Alen Dennis Van der Meer Walter Clopton Wingfield v t e Angel City Football Club Founded 2020 Based in Los Angeles, California Club History Stadiums BMO Stadium Ownership group Majority Owners Willow Bay Bob Iger Founding members Natalie Portman Kara Nortman Julie Uhrman Alexis Ohanian Serena Williams Uzo Aduba Jessica Chastain America Ferrera Jennifer Garner Eva Longoria Casey Neistat Lilly Singh Julie Foudy Mia Hamm Rachel Van Hollebeke Shannon Boxx Amanda Cromwell Lorrie Fair Ronnie Fair Joy Fawcett Angela Hucles Shannon MacMillan Tisha Venturini Saskia Webber Lauren Holiday Abby Wambach Other members Becky G Sophia Bush James Corden Deirdre DeLany Cobi Jones Ryan Kalil Billie Jean King Ilana Kloss Candace Parker P. K. Subban Lindsey Vonn Key personnel President Julie Uhrman Interim General manager Matt Wade Interim head coach Eleri Earnshaw Rivalries La Chanclasico (San Diego) Retired numbers 22 National Women's Soccer League Seasons (4) 2022 2023 2024 2025 Media Angel City v t e Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award 2000: Pelé 2001: Steve Redgrave 2002: Peter Blake 2003: Gary Player 2004: Arne Næss Jr. 2005: No award 2006: Johan Cruyff 2007: Franz Beckenbauer 2008: Sergey Bubka 2009: No award 2010: Nawal El Moutawakel 2011: Zinedine Zidane 2012: Bobby Charlton 2013: Sebastian Coe 2014: No award 2015: No award 2016: Niki Lauda 2017: No award 2018: Edwin Moses 2019: Arsène Wenger 2020: Dirk Nowitzki 2021: Billie Jean King 2022: Tom Brady 2023: No award 2024: No award

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