Renée Richards

Renée Richards was a pioneering American ophthalmologist and professional tennis player. She is best known for her landmark legal battle to compete in women's professional tennis. After undergoing medical affirmation to transition from male to female, she fought for her right to play in the 1976 US Open. Her victory became a significant moment for transgender rights in sports.

Richards's early life was marked by exceptional athletic and academic achievement. Born Richard Raskind in 1934 in New York City, she attended the Horace Mann School. She was a versatile athlete, excelling in football as a wide receiver and in baseball as a pitcher. Her baseball talent was so high that she received an invitation to join the New York Yankees. She eventually chose to focus her energy on tennis. At Yale University, she served as the captain of the men's tennis team. Some experts considered her one of the finest college players in the nation.

Following her education, Richards pursued a career in medicine. She attended the University of Rochester Medical Center to study ophthalmology, which is the branch of medicine concerning eye diseases. She completed a residency at the Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital and an internship at Lenox Hill Hospital. Richards also served in the United States Navy to continue her medical training. While in the Navy, she remained a dominant tennis player. She won both the singles and doubles titles at the All Navy Championship, utilizing a highly effective left-hand serve.

During her college years, Richards began to experience a struggle with gender identity. She chose the name "Renée," which means "reborn" in French. At that time, the medical community classified transsexualism as a form of insanity. Richards sought help from Dr. Charles Ihlenfeld, a specialist in endocrinology and sex reassignment. She began receiving hormone injections to facilitate her transition. In 1975, she successfully underwent sex reassignment surgery performed by Dr. Roberto C. Granato Sr.

Richards's transition led to a major conflict with tennis governing bodies in 1976. After her identity became public, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and other groups began requiring female players to undergo a Barr body test. This test checks chromosomes to verify biological sex. Richards applied to play in the 1976 US Open as a woman but refused the test. This resulted in her being barred from several major tournaments. She subsequently sued the USTA, alleging that the policy violated the New York Human Rights Law.

In August 1977, Judge Alfred M. Ascione ruled in favor of Richards. He declared that the USTA's testing requirements were discriminatory and inequitable. The judge's injunction allowed her to compete in the US Open. Her professional career as a woman began at this tournament. In her first US Open, she reached the doubles finals alongside partner Betty Ann Stuart. They lost a close match to Martina Navratilova and Betty Stöve.

Richards competed professionally from 1977 until her retirement in 1981 at age 47. She achieved a high world ranking of 20th in February 1979. Her career included winning the 35-and-over women's singles title. She also secured victories against notable players like Hana Mandlíková and Pam Shriver. After retiring from the court, she returned to her medical practice on Park Avenue. She eventually became the surgeon director of ophthalmology at the Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital.

Beyond her individual achievements, Richards left a lasting impact on the sport and society. She coached Martina Navratilova to two Wimbledon titles. In 2000, she was inducted into the USTA Eastern Tennis Hall of Fame. In 2013, she was included in the first class of the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame. Her life has been documented in books like her autobiography, *Second Serve*, and the 2011 documentary *Renée*. Her wooden tennis racket is preserved in the National Museum of American History.