: Richards famously coached Navratilova to two Wimbledon titles (1982 and 1984), helping her reach the pinnacle of the women's game.
Richards became a household name when she was barred from the 1976 U.S. Open after refusing to take a newly instituted chromosome test designed to exclude her. She sued the United States Tennis Association (USTA) for gender discrimination, leading to a historic 1977 New York Supreme Court ruling in her favor. The court deemed the chromosome test "grossly unfair" and "discriminatory," marking a massive breakthrough for transgender rights in sports.
: She was a close friend and doubles partner of King, who supported her during her legal battle. Life Beyond the Court
Dr. Renée Richards (born Richard Raskind) is a trailblazing American figure best known for her landmark legal victory that allowed her to compete as a woman in professional tennis, though she often identifies herself first as an accomplished ophthalmologist. Born in 1934, she excelled in sports early on, captaining the men's tennis team at Yale and reaching a high amateur ranking while also building a prestigious medical career. After years of struggling with her gender identity, she underwent gender reassignment surgery in 1975 at age 40, seeking a private life in California before her participation in local tournaments sparked national controversy.
Following her victory, Richards competed on the women's circuit from 1977 to 1981, reaching the doubles final of the 1977 U.S. Open and achieving a career-high world ranking of No. 19 in 1979. Beyond her own play, she left a lasting mark on the sport as a world-class coach: