To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Battle of the Sexes tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, the International Tennis Hall of Fame will host a viewing of the event telecast. The footage has been donated to the Hall of Fame for a one-time showing.
The telecast will be shown Sunday, July 14, at the Casino Theatre at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island. King is scheduled to introduce the footage and then discuss key moments in the match and the impact of the event.
The Battle of the Sexes was held in 1973 in response to former-No. 1 tennis player Riggs’ belief that “there was no way a female player, even one of the world’s best, could defeat a man on the tennis court,” according to a statement from the Hall of Fame. King defeated Riggs in straight sets (6-4, 6-3, 6-3).
“The Battle of the Sexes was an incredible platform to make progress in gender equality. I am grateful that tennis afforded me this opportunity, and I look forward to commemorating the match anniversary with this very special event at the Hall of Fame,” said King in the statement.