Billie Jean King

Billie Jean King, born November 22, 1943, is an American former world No. 1 tennis player. Known as BJK, she won a total of 39 Grand Slam titles, including 12 in singles, 16 in women's doubles, and 11 in mixed doubles. King was a key member of the victorious United States team in seven Federation Cups and nine Wightman Cups. She served as the U.S. captain in the Federation Cup for three years. King is a renowned advocate of gender equality and has been a pioneer for equality and social justice throughout her career. She famously won the 'Battle of the Sexes' match in 1973 against Bobby Riggs and founded the Women's Tennis Association and the Women's Sports Foundation. In addition, King played a significant role in securing sponsorship for women's tennis in the 1970s and served on the board of Philip Morris, the parent company of Virginia Slims, in the 2000s. Inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, King is widely recognized as one of the greatest tennis players of all time.