Billie Jean King releases new audible documentary

Billie Jean King is widely known for taking down Bobby Riggs in the historic and heavily-hyped tennis match in 1973, which was coined the "Battle of the Sexes." By defeating the Grand Slam champion and former No. 1, King undoubtedly changed a lot of perspectives about women's tennis. However, there is much more to the 12-time major champion than her 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 win over Riggs.

Last week, King released "The Dollar Rebellion: How Billie Jean King and the Original 9 Became the Change They Wanted to See," which is her latest audible documentary. She opens up about her childhood, how she started the game, and one of her biggest achievements, forming the Original 9.

Fifty years ago, a group of nine women signed $1 contracts not out of entrepreneurial spirit but for self-preservation.

"Let’s put it this way: Rod Laver wins Wimbledon and is paid 2,000 British pounds. I won and was paid 750. I was not happy," King said in a recent Vogue feature. "And pretty soon, tournaments were dropping women’s events—and if they did have them, the prize money was an eight-to-one ratio."

King along with Rosie Casals, Nancy Richey, Judy Dalton, Julie Heldman, Kerry Melville, Peaches Bartkowicz, Kristy Pigeon, and Valerie Ziegenfuss took a massive risk by signing those contracts and creating their own tour that day back in 1970.

In the face of adversity, King only had three things on her mind: to provide women who were good enough to compete a tour to do so, for these women to be appreciated and respected, and last but not least, to be able to make a living.

If King along with the eight other women didn't push for change, Naomi Osaka wouldn't be cashing a $3 million dollar check that went to both the men’s and women’s US Open champions. And, nine out of 10 of the top earners in women’s sports wouldn't be tennis players, if it weren't for the Original 9's tremendous efforts.

"We were willing to give up our careers—we crossed that line in the sand where we knew that we may never have played again. And we didn’t care. We decided that we were going to go for it. And every time today that a woman gets a check, we feel proud," King told Vogue.

The audible documentary is narrated by King and is an hour and 24 minutes long. Fans can tune into the audible original now.