Renée Richards faults herself
Richards says she now believes her challenge was selfish after later concluding she may have had an unfair advantage over other women players.
- At 92, tennis legend Renee Richards now calls her landmark 1976 lawsuit against the United States Tennis Association "selfish." She currently opposes trans women and girls competing in women's sports.
- Following an initial ban by the United States Tennis Association, Richards fought for the right to compete in the 1976 US Open. A judge ruled the organization violated New York State Human Rights Law, permitting her to play.
- Reflecting on her career, Richards concluded she held an unfair advantage over opponents. She cited a 1979 match at Flushing Meadow against Nancy Richey, a Hall of Fame player, as the moment she realized her past as a male provided a competitive edge.
- While contemporaries like Martina Navratilova accepted Richards personally, observers note she was often viewed as a "one-off" exception. Richards now separates her history from the broader campaign against trans rights.
- Her life and legal battle were chronicled in her 1983 autobiography *Second Serve* and a 2011 documentary. Richards, outed by journalist Richard Carlson in 1976, remains a complex figure whose personal journey influences national discourse on gender in sports.
13 Articles
13 Articles
By Leah Asmelash, CNN In 1977, Dr. Renée Richards, a prestigious ophthalmologist who had dedicated most of her life to being an excellent amateur tennis player, sued for her right to participate in the United States Open. Richards had participated in some local and national competitions. She had the support The post Renée Richards sued to become the first trans woman to play female tennis. Today she thinks differently appeared first on KVIA.
On This Gay Day | Renee Richards was born on this day in 1934
Tennis star Renee Richards was born on this day in 1934. Richards came to prominence when, following her gender transition, she successfully fought for the right to compete in the 1976 US Open. Richards trained to be an ophthalmologist, a specialist eye doctor, but also found success playing tennis. Struggling with gender dysphoria she underwent sex reassignment surgery in 1975. In 1976 journalist Richard Carlson publicly revealed that Richards …
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