Then why did Riggs destroy Margaret Court, a few months earlier?
“Then why did Riggs destroy Margaret Court, a few months earlier?”
The whole spectacle was engineered by Bobby Riggs, including the match against Margaret Court. He knew that he could blow away the #1 ranked female tennis player, so why not the #2 player.
On paper Margaret Court was the tougher opponent. Court was big, rangy and very athletic. Billie Jean should have been an easier opponent as she lacked the reach and range of Court. Assuming that Riggs set this all up(and I think he did), then the strategy of Margaret Court first makes a lot of sense. If he wins he gets the odds heavily in his favor when the match against #2 BJK is announced. He tanks that match and anybody who had money on Billie Jean cleans up.
Riggs was always a hustler. He said as much. He’d bet on anything — especially himself. And he’d press bets after tanking 1 or 2 sets just to get a better payday. Yeah, he did it.