All In
Page 49
Ilana and I were privileged to be part of the founding board of the Elton John AIDS Foundation and we remain proud of the millions of dollars that have been raised through our WTT Smash Hits events to help organizations that fight AIDS and HIV.
As Ilana and I look to our immediate future, I am thankful for the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Los Angeles Sparks, the Angel City FC, the Philadelphia Freedoms, the global Billie Jean King Cup, and all of the people who work so hard to continue to build these legacies.
This book was completed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you to those who have been on the front lines and risked so much to save so many. Your extraordinary sacrifice and dedication will never be forgotten.
It is no exaggeration to say that nearly everything important in my life has flowed from my involvement in tennis. The pure joy I felt when I first began hitting the ball at age eleven is the same joy I experience hitting the ball today. It’s a love that will never be extinguished. When I came of age, the entire world—not just sports—was a far different place. It’s amazing what can happen when we refuse to accept limits and set out to summon our best selves by pursuing what we dream about, and love.
You never do anything alone, and that is especially true for me in recognizing, acknowledging, and thanking all of those who have graced my life journey, and everyone who contributed or agreed to be interviewed for this book. Space doesn’t permit me to mention everyone by name, but please know that without you, this life of mine would be incomplete, and would feel far less rich. You have played a major role in my happiness, my success, and my achievements.
We are not done yet.
Appendix I
Billie Jean (Moffitt) King
Born:
November 22, 1943, Long Beach, California.
Height:
5′5″
Weight:
140 pounds
Playing style:
Righthanded, one–handed backhand.
Education:
California State University, Los Angeles
Status:
Turned pro 1968.
Career Singles Titles:
126 (42 amateur, 84 professional, including 9 National Tennis League events)
Career Finals:
166
Won–lost:
126–40
International Tennis Hall of Fame Induction:
1987
Career earnings:
$2,012,193*
Top Ranking:
Year–End World No. 1 in 1966, 1967, 1968, 1971† 1972, 1973, 1974†
* NOTE: There are no reliable comprehensive records that capture King’s total prize money, especially between 1968 and 1970, the early years of pro tennis. During those years, King played some tour events and Grand Slam majors, but was also one of the first four women who competed on George MacCall’s National Tennis League tour, a barnstorming pro troupe that had its own schedule of events. The Women’s Tennis Association lists King’s career earnings as $1,966,487, but that total is incomplete and understated.
† Source information: There was no consensus world ranking authority for women’s tennis until the WTA rankings began in 1975. Before that, leading media outlets compiled their own world rankings list. King was the consensus World No. 1 in 1966, 1967, and 1968 according to World Tennis magazine, Lance Tingay of the London Daily Telegraph and Boston sports writer Bud Collins. Only Collins ranked King No. 1 in 1971 (the year King skipped two majors to play the first all–women’s pro tour she helped created) and again in 1974. Evonne Goolagong topped the World Tennis and Tingay rankings in 1971 and Chris Evert was their world No. 1 in 1974.
I. Grand Slams
Singles Finals: 18 (12 titles)
Open Era (8 titles)
grand slam tournament singles timeline*
* Key: (W) Won; (A) absent; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (Q) quarterfinalist;
(#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round robin; W–L (Won–Lost)
Grand Slam Doubles Finals: 29 (16 titles)
Open Era (18 Finals, 10 Titles)
Grand Slam Mixed Doubles finals: 18 (11 titles)
Open Era (7 Titles)
II. Career Singles*
Finals
Titles:
126 (42 amateur, 84 professional)
Finals:
166†
* Key: F (finalist), W (Winner)
† Note: Total includes King’s 9–3 record in National Tennis League title matches, which are listed in separate table below.)
* This victory was King’s first major (“Grand Slam”) singles title
* This was King’s last tournament as an amateur. She and three other women—Rosie Casals, Ann Haydon Jones, and Françoise Durr—joined George MacCall’s National Tennis League in 1968, a barnstorming pro tour that lasted two years.
Open Era
* King and her fellow members of the Original 9—Rosie Casals, Nancy Richey, Julie Heldman, Valerie Ziegenfuss, Kristy Pigeon, Peaches Bartkowicz, Judy Dalton and Kerry Melville—were the founding players of the first all–women’s pro tennis tour, which began its first full season in 1971 at the British Motor Cars event. World Tennis publisher Gladys Heldman established and ran the breakaway tour from its start in Houston in 1970 and landed the circuit sponsorship from Virginia Slims, and others.
* King at this 1971 tournament became the first woman pro athlete in any sport to win $100,000 USD in a calendar year. She repeated the feat in 1972.
* King’s win at Roland-Garros in 1972 gave her a career sweep of all four Grand Slam singles titles.
† Unfinished (rain)
National Tennis League Finals
Billie Jean King, Rosie Casals, Ann Jones and Françoise Dürr turned pro in April of 1968 to comprise the women’s division of the National Tennis League tour. Before the tour folded in March 1970, a handful of other women players—including Althea Gibson—made occasional appearances at NTL events.
FINALS: 13 (9 Wins)
Appendix II
Billie Jean (Moffitt) King International Team Play
Billie Jean King represented the United States in international team competition as a player or captain starting with the Wightman Cup in 1961 and ending at the 2000 Olympic Summer Games, a span of thirty-nine years. The Federation Cup—now the largest annual women’s sporting event in the world with more than 110 participating nations—was renamed the Billie Jean King Cup in 2020 by the International Tennis Federation.
Federation Cup
as player
Years played
9 (1963–67, 1976–79)
Ties played:
36
Singles win–loss:
26–3
Doubles win–loss:
26–1
Total win–loss:
52–4
Titles won:
7 (1963, 1966–67, 1976–79)
as captain
Years captained:
9 (1965*, 1976*, 1995–96, 1998–2003)
Titles won:
4 (1976*, 1996, 1999–2000)
Ties captained:
27
Ties won-loss record:
22–5
* served as player-captain
Year-by-Year Results
as player
Fed Cup 1963—The Queen’s Club, London, Great Britain (wood, indoors)
First round: USA d. Italy 3–0
R1 HARD, Darlene d. PERICOLI, Lea, 6–4, 2–6, 6–2
R2 MOFFITT, Billie Jean d. LAZZARINO, Sylvana, 6–8, 6–1, 6–2
R3 CALDWELL, Carole/HARD, Darlene d. LAZZARINO, Sylvana/PERICOLI, Lea, 6–4, 6–1
Quarterfinal: USA d. Netherlands 3–0
R1 HARD, Darlene d. DE JONG, Eva, 6–2, 6–2
R2 MOFFITT, Billie Jean d. RIDDERHOF, Jenny, 6–2, 6–2
R3 CALDWELL, Carole/MOFFITT, Billie Jean d. DE JONG, Eva/RIDDERHOF, Jenny, 6–0, 6–3
Semifinal: USA d. Great Britain 3–0
R1 HARD, Darlene d. JONES, Ann, 6–2, 6–4
R2 MOFFITT, Billie Jean d. TRUMAN, Christine, 6–3, 3–6, 6–4
R3 CALDWELL, Carole/HARD, Darlene d. JONES, Ann/TRUMAN, Christine, 2–6, 9–7 6–3
Final: USA d. Australia 2–1
R1 HARD, Darlene l. SMITH, Margaret, 3–6, 0–6
R2 MOFFITT, Billie Jean d. TURNER, Lesley, 5–7, 6–0, 6–3
R3 HARD, Darlene/MOFFITT, Billie Jean d. SMITH, Margaret/TURNER, Lesley, 6–3, 11–13, 6–3
Fed Cup 1964—Germantown Cricket Club, Philadelphia, PA, USA (grass, outdoor)
Second round: USA d. Ireland 3–0
R1 MOFFITT, Billie Jean d. HOULIHAN, Geraldine, 6–2, 6–2
R2 RICHEY, Nancy d. O’NEILL, Eleanor, 6–3, 6–2
R3 MOFFITT, Billie Jean/SUSMAN, Karen d. HOULIHAN, Geraldine/O’NEILL, Eleanor, 6–1, 6–2
Quarterfinal: USA d. Argentina 3–0
R1 MOFFITT, Billie Jean, d. BAYLON, Norma, 12–10, 9–7
R2 RICHEY, Nancy d. BOCIO, Ana-Maria, 6–3 6–2
R3 MOFFITT, Billie Jean/SUSMAN, Karen d. BAYLON, Norma/BOCIO, Ana–Maria, 6–4, 6–1
Semifinal: USA d. Great Britain 3–0
R1 MOFFITT, Billie Jean, d. JONES, Ann, 6–4, 6–3
R2 RICHEY, Nancy, d. CATT, Deidre, 6–4, 6–3
R3 MOFFITT, Billie Jean/SUSMAN, Karen d. CATT, Deidre/JONES, Ann, 6–1 6–3
Final: Australia d. USA 2–1
R1 MOFFITT, Billie Jean, l. SMITH, Margaret, 2–6, 3–6
R2 RICHEY, Nancy l. TURNER, Lesley, 5–7 1–6
R3 MOFFITT, Billie Jean/SUSMAN, Karen d. SMITH, Margaret/TURNER, Lesley, 4–6, 7–5, 6–1
Fed Cup 1965: Kooyong Club, Melbourne, Australia (grass, outdoor)
Quarterfinal: USA d. Italy 3–0
R1 MOFFITT, Billie Jean d. PERICOLI, Lea, 6–3, 6–1
R2 GRAEBNER, Carole d. GORDIGIANI, Francesca, 6–1, 6–0
R3 GRAEBNER, Carole/MOFFITT, Billie Jean d. GORDIGIANI, Francesca/PERICOLI, Lea, 6–0, 6–2
Semifinal: USA d. Great Britain 3–0
R1 GRAEBNER, Carole d. TRUMAN, Christine, 6–3, 6–2
R2 MOFFITT, Billie Jean d. JONES, Ann, 6–2, 6–4
R3 GRAEBNER, Carole/MOFFITT, Billie Jean d. JONES, Ann/TRUMAN, Christine, ???–6 8–6 6–4
Final: Australia d. USA 2–1
R1 GRAEBNER, Carole (USA) l. TURNER, Lesley, 3–6, 6–2, 3–6
R2 MOFFITT, Billie Jean (USA) l. SMITH, Margaret, 4–6, 6–8
R3 GRAEBNER, Carole/MOFFITT, Billie Jean d. SMITH, Margaret/TEGART, Judy, 7–5, 4–6, 6–4
Fed Cup 1966: Turin Press Sporting Club, Turin, Italy (clay, outdoor)
Second round: USA d. Sweden 3–0
R1 KING, Billie Jean d. SANDBERG, Christina, 6–2, 6–3
R2 HELDMAN, Julie d. LUNDQUIST, Eva, 6–4, 6–0
R3 GRAEBNER, Carole/KING, Billie Jean d. LOFDAHL, Ingrid/LUNDQUIST, Eva, 6–3, 6–1
Quarterfinal: USA d. France 2–1
R1 HELDMAN, Julie d. LIEFFRIG, Janine, 6–0 6–4
R2 KING, Billie Jean d. DURR, Francoise, 5–7 6–2 6–3
R3 GRAEBNER, Carole/KING, Billie Jean l. DURR, Francoise/LIEFFRIG, Janine, 2–6, 6–2, 3–6
Semifinal: USA d. Great Britain 2–1
R1 HELDMAN, Julie d. SHAW, Winnie, 6–4, 5–7, 6–3
R2 KING, Billie Jean l. JONES, Ann, 1–6, 4–6
R3 GRAEBNER, Carole/KING, Billie Jean d. JONES, Ann/STARKIE, Elizabeth, 4–6, 6–3, 6–0
Final: USA d. West Germany 3–0
R1 HELDMAN, Julie d. NIESSEN, Helga, 4–6, 7–5, 6–1
R2 KING, Billie Jean d. BUDING, Edda, 6–3, 3–6, 6-l
R3 GRAEBNER, Carole/KING, Billie Jean d. BUDING, Edda/HOSL, Helga 6–4, 6–2
Fed Cup 1967: Blau–Weiss T.C., Berlin, West Germany (clay, outdoor)
Second round: USA d. Rhodesia 3–0
R1 KING, Billie Jean d. WALKDEN, Patricia, 6–3, 2–6, 6–3
R2 CASALS, Rosie d. MORRIS, Fiona, 6–3, 6–4
R3 CASALS, Rosie/KING, Billie Jean d. MORRIS, Fiona/WALKDEN, Patricia, 6–3, 6–0
Quarterfinal: USA d. South Africa 3–0
R1 CASALS, Rosie d. SWAN, Glenda, 6-l, 6–4
R2 KING, Billie Jean d. VAN ZYL, Annette, 6–2, 6–4
R3 CASALS, Rosie/KING, Billie Jean d. SWAN, Glenda/VAN ZYL, Annette, 7–5, 6–4
Semifinal: USA d. West Germany 3–0
R1 CASALS, Rosie d. HOSL, Helga, 6–2, 7–5
R2 KING, Billie Jean d. NIESSEN, Helga, 6–1, 7–5
R3 CASALS, Rosie/KING, Billie Jean d. BUDING, Edda/HOSL, Helga, 6–4, 2–6, 8–6
Final: USA d. Great Britain 2–0
R1 CASALS, Rosie d. WADE, Virginia 9–7, 8–6
R2 KING, Billie Jean d. JONES, Ann, 6–3, 6–4
R3 CASALS, Rosie/KING, Billie Jean U JONES, Ann/WADE, Virginia, 6–8, 9–7*
* Match not finished
Fed Cup 1976: Spectrum Stadium, Philadelphia, PA, USA (carpet, indoor)
First round: USA d. Israel 3–0
R1 CASALS, Rosie d. ZUBARY, Hagit, 6–1, 6–0
R2 KING, Billie Jean d. PELED, Paulina, 6–1 6–0
R3 CASALS, Rosie/KING, Billie Jean d. PELED, Paulina/ZUBARY, Hagit, 6–3 6–1
Second round: USA d. Yugoslavia 3–0
R1 CASALS, Rosie d. ALAVANTIC, Dora, 6–1, 6–1
R2 KING, Billie Jean d. JAUSOVEC, Mima 6–0, 7–6
R3 CASALS, Rosie/KING, Billie Jean d. ALAVANTIC, Dora/JAUSOVEC, Mima, 6–0, 6–0
Quarterfinals: USA d. Switzerland 3–0
R1 CASALS, Rosie d. SIMMEN, Monica, 6–1, 6–1
R2 KING, Billie Jean d. DELHEES, Petra, 6–2, 6–1
R3 CASALS, Rosie/KING, Billie Jean d. EICHENBERGER, Susi/SIMMEN, Monica, 6–0, 6–1
Semifinals: USA d. Netherlands 3–0
R1 CASALS, Rosie d. VESSIES, Elly, 6–1, 6–2
R2 KING, Billie Jean d. STOVE, Betty, 6–2, 6–3
R3 CASALS, Rosie/KING, Billie Jean d. STOVE, Betty/ZWAAN, Tine, 6–1, 6–4
Final: USA d. Australia 2–1
R1 CASALS, Rosie l. REID, Kerry, 6–1, 3–6, 5–7
R2 KING, Billie Jean d. CAWLEY, Evonne, 7–6(4), 6–4
R3 CASALS, Rosie/KING, Billie Jean d. CAWLEY, Evonne/REID, Kerry, 7–5, 6–3
Fed Cup 1977: Devonshire Park, Eastbourne, Great Britain (grass, outdoor)
First round: USA d. Austria 3–0
R1 EVERT, Chris d. BERNEGGER, Sabine, 6–0, 6–0
R2 KING, Billie Jean d. WIMMER, Helena, 6–2, 6–2
R3 CASALS, Rosie/EVERT, Chri
s d. BERNEGGER, Sabine/WIMMER, Helena, 6–0, 6–1
Second round: USA d. Switzerland 3–0
R1 EVERT, Chris d. RUEGG, Anne-Marie, 6–3, 6–0
R2 KING, Billie Jean d. JOLISSAINT, Christiane, 6–0, 6–3
R3 CASALS, Rosie/EVERT, Chris d. DELHEES, Petra/SIMMEN, Monica, 6–0 7–5
Quarterfinal: USA d. France 3–0
R1 KING, Billie Jean d. THIBAULT, Frederique 6–0 6–0
R2 EVERT, Chris d. DURR, Francoise 6–1 6–3
R3 CASALS, Rosie/EVERT, Chris d. DURR, Francoise/BENEDETTI, Gail, 6–3, 7–5
Semifinal: USA d. South Africa 3–0
R1 KING, Billie Jean d. STEVENS, Greer, 6–2, 6–0
R2 EVERT, Chris d. CUYPERS, Brigette, 6–1, 6–1
R3 CASALS, Rosie/EVERT, Chris d. BOSHOFF, Linky/KLOSS, Ilana, 6–0, 3–6, 9–7
Final: USA d. Australia 2–1
R1 KING, Billie Jean d. FROMHOLTZ, Dianne, 6-l, 2–6, 6–2
R2 EVERT, Chris d. REID, Kerry 7–5, 6–3
R3 CASALS, Rosie/EVERT, Chris l. REID, Kerry/TURNBULL, Wendy, 3–6, 3–6