‘I’m going to tell the truth. Screw this!’ Billie Jean King at 82 on coming out, tearing up tennis – and her one big regret
Billie Jean King, now 82, remains a force in tennis and social reform, reflecting on a life defined by athletic supremacy, gender equity, and a hard-won truth about her sexuality. The portrait centers on her 1970s activism—founding the first major women’s pro tour and championing equal prize money—alongside the 1973 Battle of the Sexes, a watershed moment she describes as pivotal yet emotionally turbulent. The new Give Me the Ball! documentary foregrounds her private struggles, including her abortion and her public outing, which cost endorsements but helped catalyze a broader movement for LGBTQ+ rights. Beyond tennis, she remains acutely engaged in politics, feminism, and minority rights, while continuing personal projects and the drive to mentor the next generation. She grieves not having children but channels energy into foundations and a lifelong commitment to learning and governance of her legacy.
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Billie Jean King grew up in Long Beach, California, drawn to sport early and inspired by mentors who encouraged her to pursue tennis, soon becoming a top player who would win 39 Grand Slam titles and 20 Wimbledon championships. The interview highlights her relentless curiosity and willingness to keep learning, including returning to complete a history degree in her 80s.
The documentary Give Me the Ball! spotlights the ‘original 9’ and King’s role in launching the first major women’s pro tour in 1970, including symbolic $1 contracts to protest prize-money inequality and to push for professional opportunities for women.
A focal point is 1973, when King defeated Bobby Riggs in the Battle of the Sexes, which she calls a turning point for women’s tennis, even as she touches on the emotional upheaval it caused in her personal life and career.
King’s decision to publicly reveal her relationship with Marilyn Barnett in 1981 followed legal threats; she explains that she chose truth over sponsorship pressures, noting that endorsements disappeared overnight but that the move ultimately advanced openness and the sport’s future prospects.
Her marriage to Larry King and later life with Ilana Kloss are described as a blend of personal fulfillment and advocacy, including a 2018 ceremony and King’s commitment to securing equal rights, while acknowledging regrets about not having children.
The piece also covers King’s activism for minority rights, openness to LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports, and nuanced views on engaging with Saudi Arabia in global tennis, highlighting the tension between principle and pragmatic engagement.
Health, body image, and personal struggle with binge-eating are addressed, with King discussing GLP-1 weight-loss measures and a broader critique of societal pressures on women to look a certain way, alongside her belief in pursuing health and authenticity.