Court, Margaret Smith
Court, Margaret Smith,
1942–, Australian tennis player. Playing tennis from age eight, she rose to prominence in the early 1960s. Ranked first in world standings six times beginning in 1962, she retired in 1966, but returned to the game in 1968, and in 1970 became the second woman (Maureen ConnollyConnolly, Maureen,1934–69, American tennis player, b. San Diego, Calif. She became, at 16, the youngest player to win the U.S. national singles. She successfully defended the U.S.
..... Click the link for more information. was the first) to win the grand slam. In 1973 she lost a nationally televised match to Bobby RiggsRiggs, Bobby
(Robert Larimore Riggs), 1918–95, U.S. tennis player, b. Los Angeles. Playing tennis from the age of 11, Riggs won several tournaments in the 1930s and helped the U.S. team win the Davis Cup in 1938.
..... Click the link for more information. , setting the stage for Riggs's match with Billie Jean KingKing, Billie Jean,
1943–, American tennis player, b. Long Beach, Calif., as Billie Jean Moffitt. King won 67 tournament titles and 20 Wimbledon titles, including singles in 1966–68, 1972–73, and 1975. She was the U.S.
..... Click the link for more information. , which gave women's tennis greater prominence. She won her 11th Australian and fifth French and U.S. singles championships that year, which with her three Wimbeldon wins gave her a record 24 singles wins in grand slam events.