How Good is Bobby Riggs? The Real Rank of a Tennis Legend

Bobby Riggs was an elite, world-class champion who reached World No. 1 as both an amateur (1939) and a professional (1946–1947).

While often remembered for the 1973 “Battle of the Sexes,” his true legacy lies in his 99 career titles and a remarkable 72.8% winning percentage.

As a 6-time Major champion, including the rare 1939 Wimbledon Triple Crown, Riggs overcame his 5’7” stature through masterful defensive tactics and psychological warfare.

He is widely considered one of the greatest tactical masterminds in history, earning his place in the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Was Bobby Riggs a Good Player? Analyzing His Stats

To understand the sheer dominance of Bobby Riggs, one must look beyond the spectacle of his later years and analyze the raw data of his competitive prime.

He was not just a “good” player; he was a generational talent who maintained a high level of excellence for over two decades across the most competitive circuits in the world.

His ability to win consistently against players who possessed significantly more power is a testament to his unique skill set and endurance.

What Rank Was Bobby Riggs During His Prime?

Determining a player’s rank in the mid-20th century requires looking at expert consensus and professional tour results, as the modern computerized points system did not yet exist.

During this era, rankings were meticulously curated by leading tennis journalists and industry experts who evaluated head-to-head performance on the grueling professional tours.

Riggs consistently placed at the very top of these lists, proving that his peers and critics alike recognized him as the premier player of his day.

The Rise to Amateur World No. 1

In 1939, Bobby Riggs ascended to the pinnacle of the amateur world. Following his historic performance at Wimbledon and his victory at the U.S. National Championships, he was ranked as the undisputed World No. 1 by the legendary journalist A. Wallis Myers.

This period marked the beginning of his era of dominance, where his tactical consistency began to frustrate even the most powerful baseline hitters in the game.

By 1941, even as professional tours began to shift the landscape, he remained the No. 2 ranked amateur globally, trailing only the powerhouse Don Budge.

Professional Supremacy and the Budge Rivalry

After turning professional, Riggs did not slow down; instead, he elevated his game to match the intensity of the paid circuit. By 1946, he was again the undisputed World No. 1 after capturing the U.S. Pro Singles title.

His primary rival during this time was Don Budge, a player known for his devastating backhand and raw power.

Riggs managed to defend his top ranking through 1947 by repeatedly defeating Budge on tour, finishing their famous 1946 head-to-head series with 24 wins to Budge’s 22.

This ability to outlast and outthink a legendary power player solidified his status as the best in the business.

The Passing of the Torch and Later Rankings

The reign of Riggs at the top of the professional ladder eventually met a formidable challenge in the form of Jack Kramer. In the 1947–1948 tour, Kramer’s overwhelming power game finally broke through Riggs’s defensive wall, defeating him 69 matches to 20.

Consequently, Riggs slipped to the World No. 2 spot in 1948. This shift prompted a strategic transition for Riggs, who leveraged his fame and deep understanding of the sport to become a highly successful promoter, though his days as a top-ranked contender were far from forgotten.

The Masterful Tactics of the “Greatest Pusher”

Riggs earned the nickname of the “Greatest Pusher of All Time” not as an insult, but as a recognition of his unparalleled ability to return every ball and force his opponents into errors.

Standing at only 5 feet 7 inches tall, he was physically outmatched by almost everyone he faced on the court. To win, he had to be smarter, faster, and more disciplined than his rivals.

He revolutionized the concept of “counter-punching,” turning defense into a lethal weapon that could dismantle even the most aggressive serve-and-volley players.

Overcoming Physical Limits with Finesse

Because he lacked a 100-mph serve or a heavy baseline drive, Riggs relied on pinpoint ball placement and constant changes in pace. His game was a symphony of lobs, drop shots, and heavy spins designed to keep his opponents off-balance.

He possessed flawless anticipation, often moving to the spot where the ball would land before his opponent had even finished their swing.

This defensive mastery ensured that he almost never made unforced errors, effectively forcing his rivals to play “perfect” tennis to win even a single point.

The Role of Psychological Warfare and Hustle

Beyond his physical skills, Riggs was a master of the mental game. He was a relentless “hustler” and a dedicated gambler who understood that tennis is as much about the mind as it is about the racket.

He often engaged in psychological warfare, using his reputation as a gambler to agitate his opponents and exploit their emotional weaknesses.

By making the match feel like a high-stakes bet, he could pressure his rivals into overreaching or collapsing under the stress, a tactic he used with great success throughout his long career.

Major Career Milestones and the Wimbledon Bet

The career of Bobby Riggs is filled with legendary stories that blend athletic brilliance with high-stakes drama.

Perhaps the most famous of these occurred during his amateur days in 1939, a year that would define his legacy as both a champion and a legendary gambler.

His success on the grass courts of London remains one of the most singular achievements in the history of the sport, showcasing his ability to handle the pressure of three different draws simultaneously.

The 1939 Wimbledon Triple Crown Achievement

As a 21-year-old amateur, Riggs achieved what very few men have ever done: he swept Wimbledon by winning the Singles, Men’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles titles in the same year.

The Singles final was a grueling five-set marathon against Elwood Cooke, which Riggs won 2–6, 8–6, 3–6, 6–3, 6–2.

This victory proved his physical stamina and mental toughness, as he had to navigate multiple matches per day across various disciplines to secure all three trophies.

Financial Gains and the Legend of the Hustler

Before the 1939 tournament even began, Riggs demonstrated his ultimate confidence by placing a £100 bet on himself with a London bookmaker to win all three titles.

By completing the Triple Crown sweep, he collected a payout of roughly $105,000 at the time. In today’s economy, that sum would be valued at over $2.3 million.

This bold move cemented his image as a man who played best when his own money—and his reputation—was on the line.

The Pro Tour Monopoly and Rivalries

The professional era of tennis was a different world than the modern tour, characterized by long, grueling head-to-head tours that traveled across the country. In this environment, Bobby Riggs flourished.

After the conclusion of World War II, he became the undisputed king of the pro tour, organizing and headlining events that drew massive crowds and featured the highest level of talent available.

His dominance during the late 1940s established him as the standard against which all other professionals were measured.

Taking Down Power-Hitters like Don Budge

Don Budge was the gold standard of power tennis in the 1940s, yet Riggs found ways to neutralize him consistently. In the 1946 U.S. Pro finals, Riggs dismantled Budge with a stunning 6–3, 6–1, 6–1 victory.

He followed this up in 1947 with a tight five-set win (3–6, 6–3, 10–8, 4–6, 6–3) and again in 1949 with a four-set triumph. These victories over a player of Budge’s caliber demonstrated that Riggs’s tactical “pushing” style was more than a match for raw strength.

Head-to-Head Success on the Professional Circuit

The professional tours were essentially a survival of the fittest, and Riggs’s statistics here are staggering. In 1947, he headlined a tour against Dinny Pails, winning 36 matches while losing only 11.

His career match record of 804–300 includes these high-pressure professional encounters where he was often the target of every other player on the circuit.

His consistency allowed him to maintain a 72.8% win rate even while facing the same elite opponents night after night in different cities.

How Did the 1973 Exhibitions Affect His Legacy?

The final chapter of Riggs’s public life was defined by two matches that would become cultural touchstones. Long after his retirement from the professional tour, and in his mid-50s, he returned to the spotlight to challenge the best female players in the world.

These matches provided a late-career showcase for his enduring tactical brilliance, even as his physical abilities had declined with age.

The Mother’s Day Massacre Victory

At age 55, Riggs proved that his tactical mind was still sharp by orchestrating a match against the active World No. 1, Margaret Court. On Mother’s Day in 1973, he completely dismantled Court with a 6–2, 6–1 victory.

He did not use power; instead, he relied on precise spins and drop shots that exploited Court’s movement and frustrated her aggressive style. This victory set the stage for the even larger spectacle that would follow later that year.

Understanding the Loss to Billie Jean King

The loss to Billie Jean King in the “Battle of the Sexes” (6–4, 6–3, 6–3) is often what casual fans remember most vividly. However, historians point out that Riggs entered the match overconfident and out-of-shape.

King, conversely, was in peak physical condition and used an aggressive strategy specifically designed to counter his baseline game.

While the loss was a blow to his ego, it did not diminish the reality of his earlier achievements as a multi-time world champion and Hall of Fame inductee.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bobby Riggs

Was Bobby Riggs actually one of the best players ever?

Yes, he was an elite champion who won 99 career titles and held the World No. 1 ranking as both an amateur and a professional. His 72.8% winning percentage across over 1,100 matches places him among the statistical elite of the sport.

What were Bobby Riggs’s most important titles?

His most notable achievements include the 1939 Wimbledon Triple Crown (Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles) and his three U.S. Pro Singles Championships (1946, 1947, 1949), where he defeated the legendary Don Budge.

How tall was Bobby Riggs?

He was 5 feet 7 inches tall. He used this lack of height as a motivation to develop a superior tactical and defensive game, relying on anticipation and finesse rather than power.

When was Bobby Riggs inducted into the Hall of Fame?

Riggs was officially inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1967, recognizing his lifetime of achievement as a world-class player and promoter.

The Enduring Impact of a Tactical Giant

Bobby Riggs was far more than the theatrical personality seen in the 1970s. He was a master of the court whose success was built on a foundation of intellectual rigor, flawless technique, and an unbreakable will to win.

By capturing World No. 1 rankings in two different eras and dominating his rivals on the professional tour, he proved that strategy could triumph over strength.

Today, he is remembered not just for his bets and his bravado, but as one of the most brilliant minds to ever play the game. For any student of tennis, the career of Bobby Riggs serves as a masterclass in how to maximize one’s talent through sheer tactical ingenuity.