1 July 2013
A witty, inspiring documentary that charts Billie Jean King's drive to put women's tennis on the map. King, all squinty blue eyes and ecstatic smile, made deals with everyone (even cigarette companies) to get what she wanted. And she knew how to play ball with the media.
Her literal and metaphorical battle with ex-Wimbledon champion Bobby Riggs - a hyper-active, rather pathetic figure, who challenged King to play against him in the early 70s and completely misjudged the 15 minutes of fame that followed – dominates the film's second half. These days, King looks as stiff and square as a waxwork dummy. It's nice to be reminded of her radical, high-stakes past.
