Billie Jean King recounts her struggle with prize money becoming first to win $100K in a year, compares it to Gauff, Raducanu, and Swiatek now making the Top-10 of richest female athletes

Billie Jean King's comments were on the backdrop of Forbes 'Highest-Paid Female Atheletes in 2022' list.

Billie Jean King recounts her struggle with prize money becoming first to win $100K in a year, compares it to Gauff, Raducanu, and Swiatek now making the Top-10 of richest female athletes

L-R: Billie Jean King, Coco Gauff, Emma Raducanu, Iga Swiatek (Images via Ohama World-Herald/ WTA/ Tennis365)

Fifty years ago, on the 20th day of September 1973, the World witnessed a watershed moment in the history of sports when Billie Jean King beat former Men’s World No.1, Bobby Riggs, in their historic tennis match. Their clash, which became one of the most viewed live events on live TV, garnered the attention of an estimated 90 million people across the World.

With her remarkable win over Riggs, King became the first woman in sports history to make $100,000 in prize money and set the wheel in motion for a new era of gender equity in the sports industry. In a post on the social media platform X, the former World No.1, recounted her days of struggle over half a century ago.

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“52 years ago today, I won $4K in a tournament, & became the first woman athlete to earn $100K in prize money in a single year,” King stated in a post on her social media handle. “Today, 7 of the top 10 highest paid women athletes are all tennis players (Forbes),” King further added, referring to the list Forbes published last year featuring the names of the highest-paid women in 2022. “We have come so far, but the work must go on.”

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In December last year, Forbes released a list of the highest-paid female athletes in 2022. It is worth noting that tennis professionals from the Women’s Tennis Association(WTA) acquired seven places in the top 10. Tennis remained the sport with the narrowest pay gap as tennis players accounted for 12 of 2022’s 25 highest-paid female athletes.

Japanese tennis player, Naomi Osaka dominated the list as the highest-paid female athlete for the third year straight. She was followed by 23-time Grand Slam winner, Serena Williams. Emma Raducanu, Iga Swiatek, Venus Williams, and teen tennis sensation Coco Gauff took up the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th places on the list, respectively. American second seed, Jessica Pegula, also made an appearance at the 9th place on the list released by Forbes.

Taking a look at tennis, 50 years following Billie Jean King’s historic win

Last year in December, Forbes released a list of the Highest-Paid Female Athletes in the year 2022. It is, however, worth noting that all these players made a majority of their fortune from brand endorsements off the field. Pay-gap in the sports industry remains a big issue.

Billie Jean King recognized the significance of her 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Bobby Riggs 50 years ago. She utilized her platform to fight for gender equality. Her efforts were not in vain as, in 1973, the US Open became the first Major to offer equal prize money to both men and women. The Australian Open was the next Grand Slam to offer equal prize money. Wimbledon and Roland Garros followed suit 6 years later in 2007.

Billie Jean King, Bobby Riggs
Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs (Image: The Guardian)

However, Grand Slam events remain some of the few events offering equal pay. Although some events account for equal pay for both men and women, most tennis events don’t. The WTA has, however, as part of a proposal earlier this year, stated that it will ensure all tournaments at the 500 and 1000 level that feature both men and women will pay them equally by 2027.

However, equality is about more than just finances. As USTA CEO, Lew Sherr pointed out, “When you look at how we schedule matches, we’re conscious of who’s playing in prime time, who’s on Arthur Ashe.” Coco Gauff’s coach, Brad Gilbert had also expressed his dissatisfaction with the non-uniform points system in WTA as compared to the ATP in August, earlier this year.

“Wonder why @atptour 250 is 250to winner 500is 500 1000 is1000 very simple, on @WTA a250 is280 to winner a 500 is 470 to winner Coco last week and a1000 is 900 to winner hmm,” he wrote, taking a dig at the WTA.

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