Tennis Player. He began playing tennis at the age 11, winning several tournaments in the 1930s, later helping the United States win the Davis Cup in 1938. After winning the Singles Crown at Wimbledon in 1939, and the National Championships in 1939 and 1940, he turned professional in 1941. He won the National Professional Singles Championship in 1946, 1947, and 1949, later retiring from tennis. In May of 1973, Riggs came out of retirement to play a match against Australian, Margaret Smith Court. Later that same year proclaiming that male superiority was higher than females, he challenged Billie Jean King to a winner-take-all match on September 20, 1973. Riggs was defeated by King before a televised audience and 30,492 spectators in Houston, Texas. In 1988 he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and worked endlessly to find a cure. Riggs died on October 25, 1995, from the disease. He was 77 years old.
Tennis Player. He began playing tennis at the age 11, winning several tournaments in the 1930s, later helping the United States win the Davis Cup in 1938. After winning the Singles Crown at Wimbledon in 1939, and the National Championships in 1939 and 1940, he turned professional in 1941. He won the National Professional Singles Championship in 1946, 1947, and 1949, later retiring from tennis. In May of 1973, Riggs came out of retirement to play a match against Australian, Margaret Smith Court. Later that same year proclaiming that male superiority was higher than females, he challenged Billie Jean King to a winner-take-all match on September 20, 1973. Riggs was defeated by King before a televised audience and 30,492 spectators in Houston, Texas. In 1988 he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and worked endlessly to find a cure. Riggs died on October 25, 1995, from the disease. He was 77 years old.
Bio by: The Silent Forgotten
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