Billie Jean King defeats Bobby Riggs in ‘Battle of the Sexes’ at Houston Astrodome 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 20 1973)


Video: 'Tennis Battle of the Sexes special (September 20, 1973)'

(Thursday, September 20, 1973, approximately 10:25 p.m. EDT) — Women’s Wimbledon champion Billie Jean King, 29, defeated 1939 men’s champion Bobby Riggs, 55, tonight in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3, in their $100,000 winner-take-all “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match at the Astrodome in Houston before a record crowd of 30,492, televised live on ABC.


Video: 'Our World Fall 1973 Part 2' (Sept. 20, 1973, at 1:10)

Riggs was favored to win by gambling oddsmakers as a 5-2 favorite.


Video: '20th September 1973: Billie Jean King defeats Bobby Riggs in the 'Battle of the Sexes' tennis match'

The event was televised in 36 countries and watched by an estimated at 90 million people at home.


Video: 'Did Bobby Riggs throw the match against Billie Jean King?'