Biography

Bobby Riggs was probably most famous for losing to Billie Jean King in the famous Bobby Riggs vs. Billie Jean King: Tennis Battle of the Sexes (1973), held at the Houston Astrodome. What is often forgotten is that Bobby Riggs was at one time the Number One tennis player in the world and a former Wimbledon and United States champion. He was reputed to have bet on himself to win the Singles, Men's Doubles, and Mixed Doubles in the 1939 Wimbledon. The story goes that if he won all three titles that he would win $108,000. It is the part of the Rigg's mythology and may or may not be true. What is definitely true is that he did win the Singles, Men's Doubles, and Mixed Doubles at Wimbledon in 1939, making him one of the few players to ever complete this prestigious triple.

Riggs became a pro in the early 1940s and became the number one player in the world by defeating Don Budge 23 matches to 21 in 1946. Riggs remained Number One until he was decisively defeated by Jack Kramer in the tour of 1947-1948 by a score of 69 matches to 20.
- IMDb mini biography by: AnonyMouse

He defeated Margaret Court in his first "Battle of the Sexes" tennis match during the early 1970s. His outspoken gloating and trumpeting of male chauvinism afterward drew the ire of ranking women's champion Billie Jean King who finally accepted his challenge and defeated Riggs when his second "Battle of the Sexes" tennis contest occurred, in Houston, Texas, on September 20, 1973.

He was portrayed by Ron Silver in When Billie Beat Bobby (2001) and by Steve Carell in Battle of the Sexes (2017).

All my life everything has been a contest. This so turns me on and I so love it---I love the competition---and that's the thing I crave, like some guys crave women. I crave the game...

If I can't play for big money, I play for a little money. And if I can't play for a little money, I stay in bed that day.