Transgender tennis star reached US Open final before 25 players launched furious protest

A transgender tennis player was once granted permission to play at the US Open after pleading her case to compete in women's events. Renee Richards, who was born male, featured in the women's singles and doubles tournaments back in 1977. She was beaten by Virginia Wade in the first round of the singles event but reached the final of the women's doubles alongside Betty Ann Stuart.

Richards fought for the right to play in women's events for a long time before she was permitted to compete at the US Open. Ahead of the tournament, a New York court banned the United States Tennis Association (USTA) from excluding Richards. Her appearance at Flushing Meadows sparked a media circus, with her story gaining plenty of traction in the build-up.

The USTA issued a statement at the time, which read: "For the past year, the USTA has been confronted with the difficult problem of balancing consideration for an individual transsexual with considerations of fairness for women tennis players in general.

"On the basis of medical authority, the USTA has had reason to believe that a postoperative transsexual may retain some physical and competitive advantages.

"It appeared to the USTA that a generally accurate, easily administered and objective test, such as the Olympic type chromosome test, was a desirable screening process in determining sex for the purpose of athletics.

"The New York State Court ruled in favour of an individual transsexual and places restrictions on the use of the chromosome test. As a result of this proceeding, the USTA will accept Richards as an entrant into the US Open tennis championships."

Richards played professionally from 1977 to 1981, when she retired at the age of 47. She was ranked as highly as 19th in the world, but not everybody believed that she should have been allowed to play in women's events.

A year before turning professional, Richards was invited to compete at the Tennis Week Open in New Jersey. When it was announced that she would be playing, a total of 25 players withdrew in protest. She went on to reach the semi-finals of the event.

Philippe Chatrier, president of the International Tennis Federation, also declared that Richards could not play at the French Open, Wimbledon or the Australian Open.

Richards was initially adamant that she had no biological advantage over her opponents, but later came to believe that being born as a man provided her with a competitive edge.

Speaking to Slate in 2012, she said: "Having lived for the past 30 years, I know if I'd had surgery at the age of 22, and then at 24 went on the tour, no genetic woman in the world would have been able to come close to me. So, I've reconsidered my opinion."

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