When Billie Jean King claimed victory at the U.S. Open in 1972, she made a bold statement, expressing her dismay at the $15,000 pay gap between her and male winner Ilie Nastase. King boldly declared, “I said: This really stinks.” This courageous stand led to a pivotal change in the world of sports. The U.S. Tennis Association took heed and, by 1973, made the U.S. Open the first-ever sports event to offer equal prize money for both genders.
This transformative decision, which is marking its 50th anniversary, will be commemorated this year at the Grand Slam, now held at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Stacey Allaster, who became the U.S. Open’s first female tournament director in 2020, remarked, “Simply no question that Billie's courage and her leadership ... opened the door for me.”
Always ahead of her time, King was instrumental in rallying for sponsors to bridge the pay gap. As she sought to find backers, she questioned, “If I can bring in the money, then how are they going to say no?” Her endeavors paid off when Bristol Myers Squibb offered to cover the entire difference, equalizing the prize money for male and female winners at $25,000. Fast forward to today, and U.S. Open victors stand to earn $3 million each, with total player rewards reaching $65 million.
Lew Sherr, the USTA's executive director, highlights the significance of King’s advocacy. “I think the presentation of the sport and equal prize money being secured 50 years ago has come a long way as to why women in tennis have achieved what they've achieved,” he stated.
This year also saw the birth of the WTA Tour and King's iconic win against Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the Sexes.” While other Grand Slams were slower in adopting equal pay – Wimbledon only making the shift in 2007 – King is optimistic about the rapid progress for women in sports. Commenting on the growing investment in women's sports, she asserted, “I think we're at the tipping point where people think there's money in women now.”
Venus Williams, who played a crucial role in pushing for equal pay at Wimbledon, shared her thoughts, saying, “I don't think any woman should have to worry about if they're getting paid equal.”
As the U.S. Open continues to equally prioritize men and women's matches, the tennis world remembers and honors King's influential stand. Revisiting her brave declaration from 1972, she reflects, “So taking the chance, I'm glad I did.”
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