She Sued to Play Women’s Tennis. Now She Regrets It
The Remarkable Story of Dr. Renée Richards: Tennis Pioneer and Complex Advocate
An ELI5 Guide to a Groundbreaking Athlete’s Journey and Her Surprising Views Today
Who Was Renée Richards?
Imagine being really good at tennis — good enough to play in the biggest tournament in America, the US Open. Now imagine being told "No, you can’t play" not because of your skill, but because of who you are.
That’s exactly what happened to Dr. Renée Richards in 1977.
Quick Facts About Renée
- Eye doctor (ophthalmologist) by profession
- Excellent amateur tennis player with a tricky left-handed serve
- Transgender woman — the first in professional tennis
- Backed by tennis legend Billie Jean King
- Sued the US Open — and won in court
The Historic Lawsuit: 1977
What Happened?
| Tournament | Response to Renée |
|---|---|
| Some local tournaments | Allowed her to play |
| Italian Open | Accepted her, then changed their mind days before |
| US Open | Barred her completely |
The Court Battle
- Renée sued the US Open for discrimination
- Judge ruled: The ban violated New York State’s Human Rights Law
- Result: Renée won the right to play!
Important Point: This was a landmark legal victory for transgender rights in sports — one of the very first!
Her Time on the Pro Tour
1977 US Open Results
- Singles: Lost in the first round
- Women’s Doubles: Made it to the FINALS!
Career Highlights
- Played professionally for 4 years (1977–1981)
- Reached top 20 in women’s rankings
- Coached Martina Navratilova to two Wimbledon championships
- Retired at age 47 (pretty old for a pro athlete!)
The New Biography: "Finding Renée Richards"
Author: Julie Kliegman (trans/nonbinary sportswriter)
Published: This week
Focus: The challenges AND contradictions of Renée’s life
Key Insight from the Book
Renée was accepted partly because people saw her as a "one-off" — a unique exception, not part of a larger group.
The "Personal Relationship" Factor
- Martina Navratilova (now anti-trans-in-sports) liked Renée personally
- Kliegman explains: It’s easier to accept one person you know than "the abstract idea of trans people taking scholarships"
The Big Twist: Renée’s Current Views
Here’s where the story gets complicated and surprising…
Renée Today (Age 92)
- Strong supporter of trans rights in general
- OPPOSES trans women/girls in women’s sports
- Calls her own lawsuit "selfish"
Why Does She Oppose Trans Women in Sports?
Renée’s Explanation (In Simple Terms)
ELI5 Version: "If you go through male puberty, your body builds:
- Bigger, longer bones
- Larger chest cavity (more lung space)
- Bigger heart (pumps more blood)
- More muscle mass
Even if you take medicine to lower testosterone later, those body changes don’t fully go away. It’s not a level playing field."
The Moment She Changed Her Mind
- 1979: Playing in 35-and-over championship
- Beat Nancy Richey (Hall of Famer, French Open winner)
- Age difference: Only 10 years (not 20+ like vs. younger stars)
- Realization: "I don’t think it’s fair. The age gap isn’t big enough to cancel out my advantage."
Renée Separates Sports from Everything Else
Her Logic:
| Area of Life | Physical Advantage? | Renée’s View |
|---|---|---|
| Sports | YES (bones, muscles, heart, lungs) | Separate categories needed |
| Congress/Government | NO | Trans women should serve freely |
| Bathrooms/Locker Rooms | NO | "Stupid" argument — just anti-trans rhetoric |
| Jobs/Daily Life | NO | Full equality and respect |
Key Quote: "Competitive sports are a totally different entity. Why do we have weight classes? Age groups? Because sports IS different."
Selected Quotes from Renée (From the Interview)
"I was selfish. I was looking out for myself… only secondly, what was fair for the world."
"Being a trans woman is something that is a right and should be respected."
"This locker room, bathroom thing is just stupid. They’re just using it because it adds fodder to their complaint about trans women in general."
"Think of how difficult it is for somebody to be transgender… It’s a curse. I don’t want them to look at my life… and say that I represent the norm. I represent the abnorm."
"Don’t beat up on them so much. Try it yourself."
By the Numbers: Trans Athletes in Sports
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| How many trans women athletes? | Extremely few |
| Are they "overrunning" women’s sports? | No — it’s a myth |
| Renée’s view on the numbers | "If somebody commits murder… murder is murder. Just because it’s a small number doesn’t make it right." |
The Disagreement: Renée vs. The Biographer
| Julie Kliegman (Author) | Dr. Renée Richards |
|---|---|
| Sports debate = part of broader anti-trans campaign | Sports = separate issue from other rights |
| Conceding on sports won’t protect healthcare/bathroom access | Sports fairness requires biological categories |
| Sees Renée’s view as aligned with anti-trans groups | Rejects anti-trans politics; supports trans rights elsewhere |
Summary
Dr. Renée Richards is a living paradox:
- PIONEER: First trans woman in pro tennis, won historic lawsuit
- MENTOR: Coached champions, respected by legends
- ADVOCATE: Supports trans rights in government, bathrooms, jobs, healthcare
- CRITIC: Opposes trans women in women’s sports based on biology
- SELF-REFLECTIVE: Calls her own fight "selfish," acknowledges her unique privilege
Her story forces us to ask hard questions with no easy answers:
- What makes sports "fair"?
- Can you support a group except in one specific area?
- How do we balance inclusion and competitive equity?
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
Q1: Was Renée Richards actually good at tennis, or did she just win because of an advantage?
A: She was genuinely skilled — a top amateur with a "tricky left-handed serve." She reached the US Open doubles finals and top 20 rankings. But she herself admits her male-puberty body gave her advantages that age only partially offset.
Q2: Why does Renée support trans rights in bathrooms but not sports?
A: She sees a clear difference: Bathrooms/jobs/government don’t involve physical competition where bone structure, muscle mass, heart/lung size create measurable advantages. Sports do — that’s why we have weight classes, age groups, and sex categories.
Q3: Is Renée Richards "anti-trans"?
A: No. She explicitly says: "Being a trans woman is something that is a right and should be respected." She supports trans people in virtually every area of life. She only draws the line at competitive sports.
Q4: What does the biographer, Julie Kliegman, think about Renée’s stance?
A: Kliegman disagrees. She believes the sports debate is weaponized by anti-trans politicians to roll back all trans rights (healthcare, bathrooms, IDs). She thinks conceding on sports won’t stop the broader attacks.
Q5: What does Renée want people to understand most about being transgender?
A: It’s incredibly hard. "Think of how difficult it is… It’s a curse… almost life-ending for some." She wants compassion, not debate points. Her final message: "Don’t beat up on them so much. Try it yourself."
This article is based on a CNN interview with Dr. Renée Richards (age 92) and discussions around the new biography "Finding Renée Richards" by Julie Kliegman. The conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity.