Billie Jean King Set to Graduate at 82, Celebrating a Legacy Beyond Tennis
A New Chapter for Billie Jean King
After a remarkable 47 years since her last Grand Slam victory in 1979, Billie Jean King, now at the age of 82, is on the verge of earning a graduate degree, adding another accolade to her impressive career. King, who was a dominant force in tennis during the 1960s and 70s, amassed a total of 39 Grand Slam titles, which include 12 singles, 16 doubles, and 11 mixed doubles championships. She ranks third in the all-time list for Grand Slam victories, alongside the legendary Serena Williams.
Last year, King returned to California State University, Los Angeles, to finish her bachelor's degree in history, a pursuit she had paused in 1964 to dedicate herself to tennis. Nearly six decades later, she is poised to graduate. Expressing her joy, King remarked on the positive reactions she has received regarding her academic achievement. "Graduating is just thrilling. Really," she shared with USA Today’s Studio IX. "I’m excited because of how connected people feel to this news across all age groups."
During her first year in college, King and her partner, Karen Hantze, made history by becoming the youngest duo to win the Wimbledon doubles title, with King being just 17 years old. This record stood until 1996 when it was broken by Martina Hingis and Helena Suková. King’s first major singles title came in 1966 at Wimbledon, and she successfully defended her title the following year while also clinching the US Open. The year 1969 marked her peak, as she triumphed in the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. By the time she retired in 1990, King had added four more titles at both Wimbledon and the US Open to her collection, along with 11 Wimbledon doubles titles, four US Open doubles titles, and one Australian Open doubles title.
King expressed that her upcoming graduation is as significant to her as her 39 Grand Slam titles, noting, "I’m the first one in my immediate family to graduate college, which is important to me."
More Than Just a Champion: A Pioneer for Equality
King's impact on tennis extends far beyond her impressive title count. In 1973, she established the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) to advocate for equality in sports. That same year, she championed equal pay for male and female athletes, leading the U.S. Open to become the first Grand Slam event to offer equal prize money. Additionally, her victory over Bobby Riggs in the iconic Battle of the Sexes exhibition match is regarded as a landmark moment for gender equality in sports.