Photo of Billie Jean King, professional tennis player

Billie Jean King

Age 82 164 cm / 5'5" Plays: Right-Handed, One-Handed Backhand Pro 1968–1983
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

Recent WTA Matches full match log →

DateTournamentCategoryRoundSurfaceOpponentScoreResultH2HMatch
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 →

OpponentWLMLast PlayedH2H
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)

SeasonAgeTitlesGSWTA 1000500250WTA FinalsTournaments
196824 6 2 4 Boston , Hobart , Perth , Salem , Australian Championships , Wimbledon
196925 5 1 4 Dublin , Durban , Johannesburg , Stockholm 2 , Los Angeles
197026 5 1 1 3 Durban , Richmond , Wembley , Sydney , Rome
197127 17 1 1 15 Boston , Chattanooga , Hamburg , Houston , Indianapolis , Kitzbuhel , Long Beach , Louisville , Milwaukee , Oklahoma City , Phoenix , Rochester , San Francisco , Wembley , West Kirby , San Diego , US Open
197228 10 3 7 Bristol , Charlotte , Indianapolis Indoors , Phoenix , Richmond , San Francisco , Tucson , Roland Garros , US Open , Wimbledon
197329 7 1 6 Denver , Indianapolis , Mobile , Nottingham , Phoenix , Tokyo Sillook , Wimbledon
197430 6 1 5 Akron , Detroit , New York , San Francisco , Washington , US Open
197531 2 1 1 Sarasota , Wimbledon
197733 6 6 London , Phoenix , Port Washington , San Antonio , San Juan , Sao Paulo
197935 2 2 Stockholm , Tokyo Sillook
198036 3 3 Detroit , Houston , Tokyo Sillook
198238 1 1 Birmingham
198339 2 2 Beckenham , Birmingham
Total 72 9 1 3 59

Career Results

SeasonAgeWLMWin %Start RankEnd Rank
1968244054588.9%
19692558147280.6%
19702647115881.0%
1971271141512988.4%
197228891510485.6%
19732956126882.4%
1974305486287.1%
1975312332688.5%
19763222450.0%
1977334665288.5%
19783428124070.0%
19793536134973.5%
19803639155472.2%
19813745944.4%
19823826194557.8%
1983392252781.5%
Career68416084481.0%

Career Results by Surface

SeasonAge HardClayGrassCarpetTotal
WLMWin %WLMWin %WLMWin %WLMWin % WLMWin %
196824 41580.0%41580.0%2622892.9%61785.7% 4054588.9%
196925 1711894.4%951464.3%2673378.8%61785.7% 58147280.6%
197026 1321586.7%1852378.3%81988.9%831172.7% 47115881.0%
197127 1631984.2%2953485.3%2853384.8%4124395.3% 1141512988.4%
197228 2032387.0%3263884.2%2212395.7%1552075.0% 891510485.6%
197329 1431782.4%831172.7%1211392.3%2252781.5% 56126882.4%
197430 1231580.0%41580.0%911090.0%2933290.6% 5486287.1%
197531 72977.8%1111291.7%505100.0% 2332688.5%
197632 22450.0% 22450.0%
197733 20020100.0%831172.7%62875.0%1211392.3% 4665288.5%
197834 42666.7%821080.0%1682466.7% 28124070.0%
197935 1732085.0%1251770.6%751258.3% 36134973.5%
198036 51683.3%32560.0%31475.0%28113971.8% 39155472.2%
198137 0110.0%0110.0%43757.1% 45944.4%
198238 0220.0%44850.0%1341776.5%991850.0% 26194557.8%
198339 11250.0%1621888.9%52771.4% 2252781.5%
Career1512817984.4%1203715776.4%2003623684.7%2135927278.3%68416084481.0%

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

SeasonAge AORGWUSOAUS
196824 SFWFW
196925 FQFFQF
197026 QFF
197127 SFW
197228 WWW
197329 WR16
197430 QFW
197531 W
197733 QFQF
197834 QF
197935 QFSF
198036 QFQF
198238 QFR32SFR128
198339 R32SF

WTA 1000

SeasonAge CINMIAROMMON
196925 QF
197026 W
197329 R16
198036 SF
198238 SFR32

WTA 500

SeasonAge SDGSPBBERLOSSYD
196824 R32
196925 WSF
197026 SFW
197127 WSFF
197228 SF
197430 SF
197834 R32
197935 R16
198137 QF
198238 R32SFR64

WTA 250

SeasonAge ATLAUCBUEDALEASGSTHAMHOUKITMCMELNAPNWPQUESTOTKYWASAKRALBBECBIRBOCBOSBOUBRIBRICHACHACHICHICHRCOLDENDETDUBDURFILFORFORFULHILHOBJACJERJOHKANLASLONLONLOUMAHMILMINMISMOBNASNEWNOTNOTOAKOKLOLDORLPALPERPERPHIPHOQUIRICROCSALSANSANSANSAOSARSURTUCVENWEMWES
196824 R32WWSFWW
196925 SFSFQFWR16FWWQFWFF
197026 FQFSFQFWFR16FWSFW
197127 SFWWWWSFFWWFFFR16FWWWFWSFWWWR16SFWW
197228 FWFR16FSFWWSFFFFSFRRQFWWWSFW
197329 SFWWFWSFSFQFR16WFWWFR16
197430 WWSFWFWSFFSFW
197531 FSFFW
197632 R16QF
197733 SFWFWR16FWWWW
197834 SFFR32SFSFFF
197935 R16R16QFWWSFSFR16R16QFR32
198036 R16R32WWSFSFWR32R32SFQFR32R32
198137 QFR32R32R32
198238 R64R32R16R16WQFR16R32R64R32SF
198339 WWSFQF

WTA Finals

SeasonAge WTA
197834 RR
198036 SF
198339 SF

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

SeasonAgeJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
198440131322

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.