Billie Jean King: The 'Battle of the Sexes' in 2025 will not be like the iconic match of 1973, the tennis legend has stated. King, who famously defeated Bobby Riggs in that historic match, believes it is "not the same" as her legendary victory.
The upcoming match between Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios was touted to be a similar clash of the titans, with many expecting a thrilling contest on court. However, according to King, this year's match falls short in terms of its historical significance.
King stated that her 1973 victory was "about social change" - it marked a significant moment for women's rights and challenged societal norms by showing the capabilities of female athletes. In contrast, she believes the upcoming 'Battle of the Sexes' does not have the same level of social commentary.
"I think we've made tremendous progress in that regard," King said in an interview. "I think this is more about entertainment than it is about pushing the boundaries of what women can do and making a statement."
King's comments highlight the changing landscape of tennis, with many modern-day players focusing on their athletic prowess rather than using the sport as a platform for social change.
While some may view King's assertion as dismissive of the current generation of female athletes, she believes that her own experience paved the way for future generations to follow in her footsteps.
The upcoming match between Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios was touted to be a similar clash of the titans, with many expecting a thrilling contest on court. However, according to King, this year's match falls short in terms of its historical significance.
King stated that her 1973 victory was "about social change" - it marked a significant moment for women's rights and challenged societal norms by showing the capabilities of female athletes. In contrast, she believes the upcoming 'Battle of the Sexes' does not have the same level of social commentary.
"I think we've made tremendous progress in that regard," King said in an interview. "I think this is more about entertainment than it is about pushing the boundaries of what women can do and making a statement."
King's comments highlight the changing landscape of tennis, with many modern-day players focusing on their athletic prowess rather than using the sport as a platform for social change.
While some may view King's assertion as dismissive of the current generation of female athletes, she believes that her own experience paved the way for future generations to follow in her footsteps.
. it's just tennis, right? 
she's got a point tho, i mean if the match is all about entertainment and not pushing boundaries then it's kinda lacking. but at the same time, billie jean was breaking barriers in the 70s and that's something we cant replicate with today's players. maybe she should just be happy that women are still playing pro tennis 
.
. She's saying it's not the same as her iconic 1973 match because it's more about entertainment than social change? I get what she's saying, but can't we still have both? 
. I think it's awesome that these young players like Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios are pushing themselves to be their best, and who knows, maybe they'll break some records and inspire others too 
. It's not all about being a social commentary piece, but still using the platform for good, you know? 
... it was a movement. Billie Jean King's statement about this year's match being less historically significant feels like a slight 
, but I get where she's coming from. Progress has been made, and women in tennis are now seen as athletes in their own right 
. But the fire that sparked back in '73 is harder to ignite nowadays 
. Maybe it's not about being dismissive of the current crop, but acknowledging that the playing field (literally and figuratively) has changed significantly since King's time 
.
. I think King's right that the sport has evolved into more of an entertainment thing, but that doesn't mean we've forgotten the importance of using our platforms to make a difference 
. It's just that the way it's being done might be different now...
I think Billie Jean King is right though, it's not the same as back then 
. Women's tennis has come so far and we've got so many talented players now 
. It's still super exciting for us fans to see these incredible female players compete! 
.
... but maybe that's not as relevant to modern tennis fans? I mean, we're more interested in the athleticism and skill on display rather than just the social commentary 
.
. I mean, I get what Billie Jean King is saying - we've come a long way since 1973 and women's tennis has evolved into its own thing. But can't we still have some of that old-school fire and passion? 
. Plus, Aryna & Nick are total superstars in their own right, so I think they'll bring a level of athleticism & skill that'll be epic to watch 
️!
But maybe, just maybe, the vibe of the match isn't supposed to be as "iconic" as her 1973 victory was? 
. Billie Jean King is basically saying that modern-day women's tennis is just a joke compared to what it was back in '73 
. Nowadays, it's just about who can hit the most aces and look good doing it 
. And King is right, we have made progress, but sometimes I wish some of that edge and passion was still present in the game 
.