While the "Battle of the Sexes" match against Bobby Riggs remains a defining moment of Billie Jean King's career, her 1973 season was rich with other significant achievements, challenges, and contributions to women's tennis. That year, King navigated a demanding schedule, faced formidable rivals, and continued her advocacy for the women's tour, all while preparing for and ultimately winning the highly publicized intergender match. Her performance
throughout 1973 solidified her status as a dominant force in the sport and a leading voice for equality.
An Inconsistent Start and a Major Victory
Billie Jean King's 1973 season began with some inconsistency. She missed the first three Virginia Slims tournaments in January due to a wrist injury. Upon her return, she lost in the third round of the Virginia Slims of Miami tournament. However, King quickly found her form, winning the Virginia Slims of Indianapolis tournament. This victory was particularly notable as she defeated Margaret Court in the semifinals with a score of 6–7, 7–6, 6–3, and then Rosemary Casals in the final. The semifinal win against Court was significant, as it ended Court's impressive 12-tournament and 59-match winning streaks. King saved at least three match points when she was down 5–4 (40–0) in the second set of that crucial match, demonstrating her resilience and competitive spirit.Following her success in Indianapolis, King experienced a period of mixed results, failing to win five subsequent tournaments, including events in Detroit, Boston, Chicago, Jacksonville, and the inaugural Family Circle Cup in Hilton Head, South Carolina. During this stretch, she lost to Margaret Court in two of those tournaments, highlighting the intense rivalry between the two top players of the era. Despite these fluctuations, King's ability to break Court's winning streak underscored her capacity to perform at the highest level against the sport's best.
Wimbledon Triumph and the Triple Crown
After deciding not to defend her French Open singles title in 1973, Billie Jean King focused her efforts elsewhere and went on to win four consecutive tournaments. The pinnacle of this run was her fifth Wimbledon singles title. Her path to victory at Wimbledon included defeating Kerry Melville Reid in the quarterfinals and Evonne Goolagong in a challenging semifinal match, where King secured the win on her eighth match point. In the final, King delivered a dominant performance against Chris Evert, winning with a score that included a 6–0 first set where Evert managed to win only nine points.King's Wimbledon success in 1973 was even more remarkable because she achieved the Triple Crown. This feat involved winning the singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles titles in the same year, making her the first and only player to accomplish this in the Open Era at Wimbledon. This achievement showcased her all-around skill and dominance across different formats of the game, further cementing her legacy as one of tennis's greats. Notably, King did not face Margaret Court in any of these preceding tournaments leading up to or during Wimbledon.
The Battle of the Sexes and Season's End
The rivalry between King and Court resumed after Wimbledon, with Court winning their match in the final of the Virginia Slims of Nashville tournament. This marked Court's third victory in four matches against King in 1973 and was their last-ever singles match, with Court holding a 21-13 lead in their 34 career encounters. Three weeks later, at the US Open, King retired from her fourth-round match against Julie Heldman due to illness and the oppressive heat and humidity, reportedly telling Heldman, "If you want the match that badly, you can have it!"The "Battle of the Sexes" against Bobby Riggs took place in the middle of the Virginia Slims of Houston tournament. King played her first and second-round matches three days before facing Riggs, defeated Riggs, and then won her quarterfinal match the day after the Riggs match. However, she lost the following day to Rosemary Casals in the semifinals, stating, "I had nothing left to give." Despite the physical and emotional toll of the Riggs match, King concluded her 1973 season strongly, winning tournaments in Phoenix, Hawaii, and Tokyo, and finishing as the runner-up in Baltimore. Her 1973 season was a testament to her enduring talent, competitive drive, and her unwavering commitment to elevating women's tennis.
