A Spirited Homage to Tennis Legend Billie Jean King

Directed by celebrated documentarian Liz Garbus and co-director Elizabeth Wolff, Give Me the Ball! is a tribute to the renowned tennis hero, Billie Jean King. The film, commissioned for ESPN Films' sports history series 30 for 30, beautifully marries archival materials with a candid and riveting interview with King herself.

Set in the year 1973, a pivotal period in King's illustrious career, the film showcases her brilliance in every tennis grand slam event and her preparedness for the iconic "Battle of the Sexes" match against Bobby Riggs. Riggs' sexist assertions served as a catalyst for King's fight for equal pay, countering his discrimination against female players.

King's gritty and resolute character, which earned her a celebrated place in tennis history, shines all the more in the face of extreme pressures, where losing was not an option. Vintage footage showcasing King's intense, winner-takes-all match against Riggs, weaved throughout the film, captures the nerve-wracking tension succinctly.

In addition to this, an unhindered interview with King reveals her journey, early introduction to tennis, relationships, marriage, and her enduring love for fellow tennis pro Ilana Sheryl Kloss. King's admirable practicality and easy-going nature are evident in her lifelong friendships and her efficient role in decreasing the monetary disparity plaguing professional female tennis players.

King and Larry found an unexpected investor in the Philip Morris Company. It holds immense significance in the history of women’s tennis, resonating with their motto, “You’ve come a long way, baby”.

The film also captures the birth of the “Original 9” - a group of forward-thinking female players who chose to run their own tour to establish the fact that women's sport was as attractive as men's. Elton John's steady friendship with King, conversations on King's identities, and Serena Williams's ode to her present a rounded perspective of King's influence.

King's candid interview, her fight against discrimination, struggle with an eating disorder due to pressure of concealing her relationships, show her as an endearing, unpretentious, and an influential figure in sports and society at large. Irrespective of interest in sports, the film is an inspiring, engrossing, and fitting tribute to King’s remarkable life and achievements.