Tennis Legend Billie Jean King Models Path to Reconciliation

When Billie Jean King faced Bobby Riggs in 1973's "Battle of the Sexes," 50 million viewers watched what felt like more than a tennis match. A loss could set back women's sports for decades, while a win might inspire women everywhere to stand up against workplace discrimination and inequality.

King won that historic match, but her greatest victory came years later. The man who'd declared "women belong in the bedroom and the kitchen" eventually became her friend, playing a 20th anniversary rematch in 1993 to raise money for AIDS education. Before Riggs died, they exchanged "I love yous."

That reconciliation wasn't a one-time miracle. King, now 82 and still breaking boundaries, built similar bridges with other former opponents like Jack Kramer, who fought against equal pay for women, and Arthur Ashe, who downplayed women's tennis despite his pioneering work against racism.

Her journey started young. At 13, she noticed every player at a tennis tournament wore white and every player was white. That observation shaped her definition of feminism: "equal rights and equal opportunities for everyone."

King fought uphill battles throughout the 1950s and 60s. Despite winning Wimbledon at 17 and ranking in the top five nationally, she was denied a college scholarship in 1961 while lower-ranked men received them. Women could be fired for becoming pregnant, and professional tennis didn't officially exist.

Instead of focusing solely on winning titles, she prioritized changing the system. Life magazine later named her one of the "100 most important Americans" of the 20th century, and she went on to found the Women's Tennis Association and win 39 major championship titles.

Why This Inspires

King's story offers something our divided world needs: proof that reconciliation works. She didn't ignore her opponents' past statements or pretend their opposition didn't hurt, but she also didn't define them solely by their worst moments.

When Ashe contracted AIDS through a blood transfusion and faced unwanted media scrutiny, King became his confidante. She acknowledged people's capacity to grow, change, and embrace more inclusive visions.

Her faith drives this approach. "If God gave me this gift, I was going to do everything in my power to make this world a better place," she says in the HBO documentary about her life.

ESPN's upcoming 30 for 30 documentary and a new theatrical production called Billie Jean will introduce her legacy to new generations. Her witness shows that fighting for justice and extending grace to opponents aren't contradictory goals.

King proves that building a better future for everyone means leaving room for reconciliation, even with those who once stood firmly against you.