Billie Jean King, 2023
Former world No. 1 tennis player
48 x 60 inches
Oil on canvas
“Natural talent only determines the limits of your athletic potential. It’s dedication and a willingness to discipline your life that makes you great.”
—Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King won 39 major titles: 12 in singles, 16 in women's doubles, and 11 in mixed doubles and is regarded by many as one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Among her many accolades and achievements, in 1972, she was the first woman, to appear alongside John Wooden on the cover of Sports Illustrated for the Sportsman of the Year award. In 1973, at age 29, she won the "Battle of the Sexes" tennis match against the 55-year-old Bobby Riggs. 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. Billie Jean King was the first prominent female professional athlete to come out as gay and has raised large sums to fight AIDS, contributed funds to combat homophobia in schools, and supported efforts to stem gay and lesbian teenage suicide rates. She and her wife Ilana Kloss have been in a relationship for over 40 years.