the battle of the ages
Riggs v Court
A master promoter of himself and of tennis, Riggs saw an opportunity in 1973 to make money and to elevate the popularity of a sport he loved. Although 55 years old at the time, he came out of retirement to challenge one of the world's greatest female players to a match, claiming that the female game was inferior and that a top female player could not beat him even at the age of 55.[1] Riggs first challenged King but when she declined, Court stepped in. At the time Court was 30 years old and the top female player in the world. In their May 13, 1973, Mother's Day match in Ramona, California, Riggs used his drop shots and lobs to keep Court off balance. His 6?2, 6?1 victory[2] landed Riggs on the cover of both Sports Illustrated and Time magazine.[3][4]