Billie Jean King
Peak ranking
13 (Jan 9, 1984)
Elo peak
2402 (99.6%ile)
Career record
684–160 (81.0%)
Career titles
72
Prize money
$1,966,487
News:
Larry King, ex-husband of tennis great, dies at 81... (ESPN Tennis, 15d ago)
'Never too late': Billie Jean King, 82, graduates (ESPN Tennis, 26d ago, 3 sources)
May 1, 1981: The day Billie Jean King publicly came out as gay (Tennis Majors, 43d ago)
1973 Battle of the Sexes was about social change - King (BBC Sport Tennis, 185d ago, 2 sources)
Women's tennis going in right direction - King (BBC Sport Tennis, 185d ago)
Recent WTA Matches full match log →
| Date | Tournament | Category | Round | Surface | Opponent | Score | Result | H2H | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 5, 1983* | Australian Open | Grand Slam | R32 | Grass | Catherine Tanvier | 6-7 6-4 4-6 | L | H2H | Match data |
| Dec 3, 1983* | Australian Open | Grand Slam | R64 | Grass | Laura Bernstein | 6-2 6-2 | W | H2H | Match data |
| Jul 3, 1983* | Wimbledon | Grand Slam | SF | Grass | Andrea Jaeger | 1-6 1-6 | L | H2H | Match data |
| Jul 1, 1983* | Wimbledon | Grand Slam | QF | Grass | Kathy Jordan | 7-5 6-4 | W | H2H | Match data |
| Jun 29, 1983* | Wimbledon | Grand Slam | R16 | Grass | Wendy Turnbull | 7-5 6-3 | W | H2H | Match data |
Rivals full rivalries list →
| Opponent | W | L | M | Last Played | H2H |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rosie Casals | 34 | 6 | 40 | Jun 26, 1983 | H2H |
| Virginia Wade | 21 | 8 | 29 | Mar 13, 1981 | H2H |
| Francoise Durr | 22 | 7 | 29 | Oct 27, 1977 | H2H |
| Kerry Reid | 20 | 8 | 28 | Jun 22, 1979 | H2H |
| Nancy Richey | 17 | 9 | 26 | Apr 1, 1977 | H2H |
Titles (72)
Career Results
| Season | Age | W | L | M | Win % | Start Rank | End Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 24 | 40 | 5 | 45 | 88.9% | — | — |
| 1969 | 25 | 58 | 14 | 72 | 80.6% | — | — |
| 1970 | 26 | 47 | 11 | 58 | 81.0% | — | — |
| 1971 | 27 | 114 | 15 | 129 | 88.4% | — | — |
| 1972 | 28 | 89 | 15 | 104 | 85.6% | — | — |
| 1973 | 29 | 56 | 12 | 68 | 82.4% | — | — |
| 1974 | 30 | 54 | 8 | 62 | 87.1% | — | — |
| 1975 | 31 | 23 | 3 | 26 | 88.5% | — | — |
| 1976 | 32 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 50.0% | — | — |
| 1977 | 33 | 46 | 6 | 52 | 88.5% | — | — |
| 1978 | 34 | 28 | 12 | 40 | 70.0% | — | — |
| 1979 | 35 | 36 | 13 | 49 | 73.5% | — | — |
| 1980 | 36 | 39 | 15 | 54 | 72.2% | — | — |
| 1981 | 37 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 44.4% | — | — |
| 1982 | 38 | 26 | 19 | 45 | 57.8% | — | — |
| 1983 | 39 | 22 | 5 | 27 | 81.5% | — | — |
| Career | 684 | 160 | 844 | 81.0% | — | — |
Career Results by Surface
| Season | Age | Hard | Clay | Grass | Carpet | Total | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | M | Win % | W | L | M | Win % | W | L | M | Win % | W | L | M | Win % | W | L | M | Win % | ||
| 1968 | 24 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 80.0% | 4 | 1 | 5 | 80.0% | 26 | 2 | 28 | 92.9% | 6 | 1 | 7 | 85.7% | 40 | 5 | 45 | 88.9% |
| 1969 | 25 | 17 | 1 | 18 | 94.4% | 9 | 5 | 14 | 64.3% | 26 | 7 | 33 | 78.8% | 6 | 1 | 7 | 85.7% | 58 | 14 | 72 | 80.6% |
| 1970 | 26 | 13 | 2 | 15 | 86.7% | 18 | 5 | 23 | 78.3% | 8 | 1 | 9 | 88.9% | 8 | 3 | 11 | 72.7% | 47 | 11 | 58 | 81.0% |
| 1971 | 27 | 16 | 3 | 19 | 84.2% | 29 | 5 | 34 | 85.3% | 28 | 5 | 33 | 84.8% | 41 | 2 | 43 | 95.3% | 114 | 15 | 129 | 88.4% |
| 1972 | 28 | 20 | 3 | 23 | 87.0% | 32 | 6 | 38 | 84.2% | 22 | 1 | 23 | 95.7% | 15 | 5 | 20 | 75.0% | 89 | 15 | 104 | 85.6% |
| 1973 | 29 | 14 | 3 | 17 | 82.4% | 8 | 3 | 11 | 72.7% | 12 | 1 | 13 | 92.3% | 22 | 5 | 27 | 81.5% | 56 | 12 | 68 | 82.4% |
| 1974 | 30 | 12 | 3 | 15 | 80.0% | 4 | 1 | 5 | 80.0% | 9 | 1 | 10 | 90.0% | 29 | 3 | 32 | 90.6% | 54 | 8 | 62 | 87.1% |
| 1975 | 31 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 77.8% | — | — | — | — | 11 | 1 | 12 | 91.7% | 5 | 0 | 5 | 100.0% | 23 | 3 | 26 | 88.5% |
| 1976 | 32 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 50.0% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 4 | 50.0% |
| 1977 | 33 | 20 | 0 | 20 | 100.0% | 8 | 3 | 11 | 72.7% | 6 | 2 | 8 | 75.0% | 12 | 1 | 13 | 92.3% | 46 | 6 | 52 | 88.5% |
| 1978 | 34 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 66.7% | — | — | — | — | 8 | 2 | 10 | 80.0% | 16 | 8 | 24 | 66.7% | 28 | 12 | 40 | 70.0% |
| 1979 | 35 | 17 | 3 | 20 | 85.0% | — | — | — | — | 12 | 5 | 17 | 70.6% | 7 | 5 | 12 | 58.3% | 36 | 13 | 49 | 73.5% |
| 1980 | 36 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 83.3% | 3 | 2 | 5 | 60.0% | 3 | 1 | 4 | 75.0% | 28 | 11 | 39 | 71.8% | 39 | 15 | 54 | 72.2% |
| 1981 | 37 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.0% | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.0% | 4 | 3 | 7 | 57.1% | 4 | 5 | 9 | 44.4% |
| 1982 | 38 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.0% | 4 | 4 | 8 | 50.0% | 13 | 4 | 17 | 76.5% | 9 | 9 | 18 | 50.0% | 26 | 19 | 45 | 57.8% |
| 1983 | 39 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 50.0% | 16 | 2 | 18 | 88.9% | 5 | 2 | 7 | 71.4% | 22 | 5 | 27 | 81.5% |
| Career | — | 151 | 28 | 179 | 84.4% | 120 | 37 | 157 | 76.4% | 200 | 36 | 236 | 84.7% | 213 | 59 | 272 | 78.3% | 684 | 160 | 844 | 81.0% |
Advanced Stats
| Season | Age | ELO | ELO % | Hard % | Clay % | Grass % | Set Win % | Set Margin | SoS % | Deep Run % | Dec. Set W% | TB W | TB L | TB W% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 24 | 1823 | 99 | 97 | 91 | 99 | 87.2% | +2.92 | 82 | 82 | 75 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1969 | 25 | 2044 | 100 | 99 | 93 | 99 | 75.5% | +2.31 | 89 | 95 | 71 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1970 | 26 | 2172 | 100 | 100 | 97 | 99 | 75.0% | +2.30 | 92 | 94 | 69 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1971 | 27 | 2293 | 100 | 100 | 99 | 99 | 84.6% | +2.69 | 92 | 94 | 83 | 16 | 4 | 80 |
| 1972 | 28 | 2341 | 100 | 100 | 99 | 100 | 82.1% | +2.50 | 95 | 92 | 81 | 8 | 7 | 53 |
| 1973 | 29 | 2294 | 100 | 100 | 99 | 100 | 83.5% | +2.59 | 95 | 78 | 57 | 9 | 5 | 64 |
| 1974 | 30 | 2300 | 100 | 100 | 99 | 100 | 81.8% | +2.67 | 96 | 100 | 83 | 3 | 2 | 60 |
| 1975 | 31 | 2370 | 100 | 99 | — | 100 | 85.7% | +2.90 | 98 | 100 | 50 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1976 | 32 | 2317 | 99 | 99 | — | — | 50.0% | -0.13 | 91 | 50 | — | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1977 | 33 | 2387 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 100 | 76.0% | +1.82 | 94 | 92 | 94 | 5 | 0 | 100 |
| 1978 | 34 | 2302 | 99 | 98 | — | 100 | 75.0% | +2.02 | 100 | 70 | 25 | 3 | 2 | 60 |
| 1979 | 35 | 2164 | 99 | 98 | — | 98 | 73.2% | +1.65 | 91 | 60 | 50 | 9 | 4 | 69 |
| 1980 | 36 | 2122 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 70.2% | +1.21 | 99 | 65 | 60 | 11 | 4 | 73 |
| 1981 | 37 | 2019 | 99 | 98 | — | — | 44.4% | -0.67 | 92 | 40 | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1982 | 38 | 1933 | 98 | 95 | 98 | 98 | 57.1% | +0.40 | 96 | 35 | 57 | 7 | 5 | 58 |
| 1983 | 39 | 2052 | 98 | 95 | — | 99 | 79.3% | +2.02 | 93 | 86 | 50 | 0 | 2 | — |
| Career | 2187 | 99 | 99 | 98 | 99 | 77.8% | +2.04 | 93 | 80 | 68 | 74 | 36 | 67 |
Tournament Results by Category
Results show best round reached per tournament per season.
Grand Slams
| Season | Age | AO | RG | W | USO | AUS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 24 | — | SF | W | F | W |
| 1969 | 25 | F | QF | F | QF | — |
| 1970 | 26 | — | QF | F | — | — |
| 1971 | 27 | — | — | SF | W | — |
| 1972 | 28 | — | W | W | W | — |
| 1973 | 29 | — | — | W | R16 | — |
| 1974 | 30 | — | — | QF | W | — |
| 1975 | 31 | — | — | W | — | — |
| 1977 | 33 | — | — | QF | QF | — |
| 1978 | 34 | — | — | QF | — | — |
| 1979 | 35 | — | — | QF | SF | — |
| 1980 | 36 | — | QF | QF | — | — |
| 1982 | 38 | QF | R32 | SF | R128 | — |
| 1983 | 39 | R32 | — | SF | — | — |
WTA 1000
WTA 500
| Season | Age | SDG | SPB | BER | LOS | SYD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 24 | — | — | — | R32 | — |
| 1969 | 25 | — | — | — | W | SF |
| 1970 | 26 | — | — | SF | — | W |
| 1971 | 27 | W | SF | — | F | — |
| 1972 | 28 | — | SF | — | — | — |
| 1974 | 30 | — | — | — | SF | — |
| 1978 | 34 | — | — | — | R32 | — |
| 1979 | 35 | — | — | — | — | R16 |
| 1981 | 37 | — | — | — | QF | — |
| 1982 | 38 | — | — | R32 | SF | R64 |
WTA 250
| Season | Age | ATL | AUC | BUE | DAL | EAS | GST | HAM | HOU | KIT | MC | MEL | NAP | NWP | QUE | STO | TKY | WAS | AKR | ALB | BEC | BIR | BOC | BOS | BOU | BRI | BRI | CHA | CHA | CHI | CHI | CHR | COL | DEN | DET | DUB | DUR | FIL | FOR | FOR | FUL | HIL | HOB | JAC | JER | JOH | KAN | LAS | LON | LON | LOU | MAH | MIL | MIN | MIS | MOB | NAS | NEW | NOT | NOT | OAK | OKL | OLD | ORL | PAL | PER | PER | PHI | PHO | QUI | RIC | ROC | SAL | SAN | SAN | SAN | SAO | SAR | SUR | TUC | VEN | WEM | WES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | R32 | — | — | W | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SF | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W | — | — | — | — | — | — | W | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1969 | 25 | — | SF | SF | — | — | QF | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | R16 | — | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W | W | — | — | — | — | — | QF | — | — | W | — | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | F | — |
| 1970 | 26 | — | — | — | F | — | — | — | QF | — | SF | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | QF | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | R16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | F | — | — | W | — | — | — | SF | — | — | — | — | — | — | W | — |
| 1971 | 27 | — | SF | — | — | — | — | W | W | W | — | — | W | SF | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W | — | — | — | — | W | F | — | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | F | — | R16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | F | — | W | W | — | W | — | — | — | — | F | — | — | — | W | — | — | — | — | — | SF | W | — | — | W | — | — | W | R16 | — | — | — | — | SF | W | W |
| 1972 | 28 | — | — | — | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W | F | — | — | — | R16 | — | F | — | — | SF | — | — | — | W | W | — | — | — | — | SF | F | — | — | — | — | — | F | — | — | — | F | — | — | — | — | — | SF | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | RR | — | QF | — | — | — | — | — | — | W | — | W | — | — | — | W | SF | — | — | — | W | — | — | — |
| 1973 | 29 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SF | — | — | — | W | — | — | — | W | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | F | — | — | — | W | SF | — | — | — | — | — | — | SF | — | QF | R16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W | F | — | W | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W | F | — | — | — | — | R16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1974 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W | W | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SF | — | — | — | — | W | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | F | — | — | W | — | — | — | — | — | SF | — | — | — | F | SF | — | — | — | — | — | W | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1975 | 31 | — | — | — | — | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SF | — | — | — | — | — | — | F | — | — | W | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1976 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | R16 | — | — | — | QF | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1977 | 33 | SF | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | W | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | R16 | — | F | — | — | — | W | — | — | — | — | W | — | W | W | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1978 | 34 | — | — | — | — | SF | — | — | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | R32 | — | — | — | — | — | SF | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SF | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1979 | 35 | R16 | — | — | — | R16 | — | — | — | — | — | QF | — | — | — | W | W | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SF | — | — | — | — | SF | — | — | — | — | — | — | R16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | R16 | — | QF | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | R32 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1980 | 36 | R16 | — | — | R32 | — | — | — | W | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W | — | — | — | — | — | — | SF | — | — | — | — | — | SF | — | — | — | — | W | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | R32 | R32 | — | — | — | — | — | SF | — | — | — | — | — | — | QF | — | — | R32 | — | — | — | — | — | — | R32 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1981 | 37 | — | — | — | QF | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | R32 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | R32 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | R32 | — | — | — | — |
| 1982 | 38 | — | — | — | R64 | R32 | — | — | R16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | R16 | — | — | — | — | W | — | QF | — | — | — | — | — | R16 | — | — | — | — | R32 | — | — | — | — | — | — | R64 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | R32 | — | — | — | — | — | SF | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1983 | 39 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W | W | — | SF | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | QF | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
WTA Finals
Data coverage note: WTA ranking data is unavailable before 1983 from any current source. Weeks at #1, year-end finishes, and peak ranking for this player's early career may be incomplete or absent.
WTA Ranking History full ranking history →
Career high
13
Career-high date
Jan 9, 1984
First top 100
Jan 9, 1984
First top 50
Jan 9, 1984
First top 20
Jan 9, 1984
First top 10
—
Ranking History Matrix
| Season | Age | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 40 | 13 | 13 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Similar Players
Other WTA players ranked by a composite similarity score over country, era, and peak rank.
| Player | Country | Peak Rank | Peak Elo | Grand Slams | Titles | M | W | L | Win % | Active Years | Match Log |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dianne Fromholtz | AUS | 19 | 2,167 | 0 | 22 | 748 | 466 | 282 | 62.3% | 1971-1990 | Match log |
| Virginia Ruzici | ROU | 16 | 2,121 | 1 | 20 | 732 | 458 | 274 | 62.6% | 1972-1987 | Match log |
| Mima Jausovec | SLO | 23 | 2,088 | 1 | 7 | 585 | 339 | 246 | 57.9% | 1972-1988 | Match log |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How old is Billie Jean King?
- Billie Jean King is 82 years old, born on November 22, 1943.
- How tall is Billie Jean King?
- Billie Jean King is 164 cm / 5'5".
- Does Billie Jean King use a one-handed or two-handed backhand?
- Billie Jean King uses a one-handed backhand.
- Is Billie Jean King left-handed or right-handed?
- Billie Jean King plays right-handed.
- How many Grand Slams has Billie Jean King won?
- Billie Jean King has won 9 Grand Slam titles. The most recent was Wimbledon in 1975.
- How many WTA 1000 titles has Billie Jean King won?
- Billie Jean King has won 1 WTA 1000 title. The most recent was Rome in 1970.
- How many WTA titles has Billie Jean King won?
- Billie Jean King has won 72 WTA singles titles across all categories. The most recent other title was Birmingham in 1983.
- What is Billie Jean King's highest WTA ranking?
- Billie Jean King's career-high WTA singles ranking is world No. 13, first achieved on January 9, 1984.
- What is Billie Jean King's career win-loss record?
- Billie Jean King has a career WTA singles record of 684 wins and 160 losses (81.0%).
- How much career prize money has Billie Jean King earned?
- Billie Jean King has earned at least $1,966,487 in career prize money from professional tennis.
- When did Billie Jean King play professional tennis?
- Billie Jean King turned professional in 1968 and was active through 1983.
- What is Billie Jean King's best surface?
- Billie Jean King's best surface is grass court with a 84.7% win rate (200W-36L).
- Who is Billie Jean King's biggest rival?
- Billie Jean King's most frequent opponent is Rosie Casals, with a head-to-head record of 34–6 across 40 meetings.