There are many great tennis players out there, but few can compare to Billie Jean King – no wonder many tennis fans, even many years later, still want to know what racket she used.
She is a legend in the sport and has accomplished more than most people could even dream of.
One of the questions that often comes up about her is what type of tennis racket she uses.
In this blog post, we will take a look at her racket and discuss some of the features that make it so special. Stay tuned!
Who is Billie Jean King?
Billie Jean King is one of the most accomplished and legendary tennis players in history.
She has won 39 Grand Slam titles, including 12 singles championships at Wimbledon, six doubles titles, and 11 mixed doubles victories.
Which tennis racket does Billie Jean King use?
It’s a very hard question to answer because first, you have to understand that Billie had a really rich career from 1959 to 1990, so like all of us, the tennis players, she changed many tennis rackets and brands.
But from all the tennis rackets that Jean King Used, there’s one particular tennis racket that she made famous- Wilson T2000.
This was a steel racket that had been around for over 10 years, but it was still popular in the 1960s-1970s when she started playing competitively.
The T2000 is known for its large head size and thin beamwidth. This model has one of the slimmest beam widths out there!
She is known to have a very strong backhand and her serve is one of the best in women’s tennis history.
The fact that she has won so many tournaments using this particular racket speaks volumes about its quality as well as how well it suits her playing style.
What happened to Billie Jean King’s tennis racket?
After a while, Wilson came out with the T400 and T500 which was slightly modified version of the original.
Billie Jean King ended up using this racket for most of her career and even won some major tournaments with it-
She won $100,000 and national acclaim after beating Bobby Riggs in a live televised match known as “The Battle of the Sexes” with this tennis racket-
Which gives the racket the nickname “The Battle of the Sexes tennis racket”.
What is the Battle of the Sexes?
The battle of the sexes in tennis means a match between a man and woman at the height of their respective powers.
It was played on September 20th, 1973, with King winning in three straight sets (including two tiebreakers) against Riggs who was 55 at the time.
The game is considered to be one of the most important events ever held for women in tennis.
After the Battle of the Sexes, King continued playing competitively and even won a few more tournaments with her Wilson tennis racket.
A movie called “Battle of the Sexes” was even made about the iconic event which starred Emma Stone as Billie Jean King while Steve Carell was cast as Bobby Riggs.
If you’re interested in learning more about this incredible athlete and her amazing career, I suggest checking out the movie –
When I watched it, I got to know more about her as a person, besides being one of the best tennis players in history:
It even makes me more appreciate her and what she achieved for Women’s Tennis.
How much is a Billie jean king tennis racket value?
The ‘Battle of the Sexes Billie Jean King racket sold for $125,000 in New York in the year 2017-
Which made it the most expensive women’s sports memorabilia in history to date.
The racquet is not being offered by BJK herself, but rather by a private seller. However, 10% of their income will go to the Women’s Sports Foundation, which she founded.
Where can I buy Wilson T200?
The Wilson T200 is considered an old tennis racket, so if you want to buy it, you should look for a used one.
You can find Wilson T200 on eBay or other second-hand stores where people sell their old stuff.
The best option is to buy from someone who has not played with it much because then there will be less damage to the frame than if they had played with it a lot.
But don’t worry – visit my review about the best Wilson tennis rackets today and find a new racket by Billie’s favorite brand!
What is the price of a Wilson T200?
You can buy this racket for under 100 dollars if you look around, which make is much cheaper than the 125,000 dollars – ah?
Wilson T200 is an old and cheap racket, so it’s not surprising that many people like to buy them as souvenirs or collectibles rather than play with them on the court-
But if you want to get your hands on one of these, then it might be worth looking for a used version that’s in good condition.
The price will depend greatly on where and when you buy it from but generally speaking, expect something around USD 50D or less!
When did Billie Jean King retire?
Billie Jean King retired from professional tennis in 1990 –
She is now 78 years old and continues to be an influential figure in both the sporting and social world.
6 cool facts about Billie Jean King
- The Ted Tinling-designed dress King wore for the actual Battle of the Sexes match is part of a Smithsonian Museum collection in Washington DC.
- She has many musicians friends: her close friend Elton John wrote the song “Philadelphia Freedom” as a tribute to her and she also has a good friendship with the “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” singer, Cyndi Lauper.
- She was married once before coming out as gay in 1981 and has been with her partner, the former professional tennis player Ilana Kloss, ever since then!
- She is a vegetarian.
- She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama in 2009
- The Billie Jean King Tennis Center in Flushing, Queens is named after her.
In conclusion
Bille Jean King is a tennis legend and her Wilson T200 racket is just as iconic!
If you’re looking for an old, cheap, and unique tennis racquet to add to your collection, then the Wilson T200 might be perfect for you-
But that’s it! it’s too old to be played, so if you want the best Wilson tennis rackets in today’s market – check out my honest reviews!
And if you want to know what tennis rackets are popular among the pro players today – check my posts here.
