Guardian Print Shop

Buy a classic sport photograph: Billie Jean King – living the dream

The latest in a Guardian Print Shop series is a portrait of an American tennis icon – yours to own for just £55 including free delivery

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Billie Jean King (pictured at Wimbledon in 1975) was one of the most decorated tennis players of her era, winning 12 grand slam singles titles. Yet her career has been defined as much by her achievements off the court as by those on it. A lifelong campaigner for gender equality, she was one of the nine women who, in 1970, formed the Virginia Slams Circuit in protest at the lack of prize money in the women’s game and later became the first president of the newly-formed Women’s Tennis Association. She also swatted aside the former men’s pro Bobby Riggs in the so-called “Battle of the Sexes” – an exhibition contest borne of Riggs’s sexist belief that no female player could defeat him. The match was worth $100,000 to the winner, but, as King said, much more was at stake: “I thought it would set [women] back 50 years if I didn’t win that match – it would ruin the women’s tour and affect all women’s self-esteem.” She duly trounced her opponent in straight sets (6-4, 6-3, 6-3) in front of a global TV audience of almost 100 million. She recently urged other women to live their dreams.

Photograph: Gerry Cranham / Offside

Words: Jonny Weeks

Buy your exclusive print here

Price
£55 including free delivery (30x40cm print size).

Prints
Photographs are presented on museum-grade, fine-art paper stocks, with archival standards guaranteeing quality for 100-plus years. All editions are printed and quality checked by experts at theprintspace, the UK’s leading photo and fine-art print provider.

Delivery
Artworks are dispatched via Royal Mail and delivered within three to five working days. Theprintspace takes great care in packaging your artwork, with a no-quibble satisfaction guarantee should you be unhappy in any way. Global shipping is available.

Contact
Email: guardianprintsales@theprintspace.co.uk

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Other prints you can buy

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Heavyweight boxer Cassius Clay holds up five fingers to predict that he will win his fight with Henry Cooper in five rounds. Photograph: Gerry Cranham/Offside

Cassius Clay predicts the future (above)

Maradona, the God of Naples

Swimming turn

Kelly Holmes’ eye-popping celebration

Euphoria at the 1966 World Cup (below)

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England physiotherapist Harold Shepherdson jumps for joy as England win the World Cup. Photograph: Gerry Cranham/Offside

Alex Ferguson’s hairdryer treatment

Dog Bites Ball at Italia 90

Cassius Clay training in London

Jumping in the Fog at White Hart Lane (below)

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Tottenham goalkeeper John Hollowbread jumps to keep warm during an FA Cup match in 1964. Photograph: Gerry Cranham/Offside

See the full series here