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Billie Jean King

22 November 1943 – present

Billie Jean King is an American former world number one tennis player who won 39 Grand Slam titles across singles, doubles and mixed doubles. She was among the founders of the Women's Tennis Association in 1973 and campaigned for equal prize money in tennis. She defeated Bobby Riggs in the widely watched 1973 exhibition match known as the Battle of the Sexes and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009.

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Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Billie Jean King.

Life events

Born in Long Beach, California
22 November 1943

Born Billie Jean Moffitt into a sporting family; her brother Randy Moffitt became a professional baseball pitcher.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Won the Wimbledon women's doubles title with Karen Hantze
1961

At seventeen she became part of the youngest pair at that time to win the Wimbledon doubles title.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Married Larry King
1965 – 1987

She married a fellow student from California State University, Los Angeles; the marriage ended in divorce in 1987.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Relationship ✓
Won her first Wimbledon singles title
1966

She went on to win the Wimbledon singles championship six times.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
One of the Original 9 who founded a separate women's tour
September 1970

Nine players signed symbolic one-dollar contracts with the promoter Gladys Heldman to launch the Virginia Slims circuit.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Won three of the four Grand Slam singles titles in a single year
1972

She took the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open titles and was named Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Founded the Women's Tennis Association and became its first president
June 1973

The association was formed at a meeting of players in London shortly before Wimbledon.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Defeated Bobby Riggs in the Battle of the Sexes match
20 September 1973

She won the exhibition match in straight sets at the Houston Astrodome before a large television audience.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Publicly identified as gay following a lawsuit
1981

A palimony suit brought by Marilyn Barnett led her to acknowledge their relationship at a press conference.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Personal ✓
Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom
2009

The medal was presented by President Barack Obama.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓