Billie Jean King dismissed Evonne Goolagong’s 1970s quip about playing for free, a moment dramatized in the new BBC Four series *Goolagong* that aired on 20 June 2026.

What happened in the drama?

The three-part Australian ABC drama *Goolagong* opens with soulful 1970s soul music as a teenage Evonne Goolagong (played by Eloise Hart) drifts through Wimbledon’s halls, portraits of past champions watching her every step. By the 1970s, Goolagong had already claimed her first Wimbledon title in 1971 and would win again in 1980, plus a 1974 doubles crown. But the series doesn’t linger on the trophies. It pivots to the backstage fights: Goolagong’s coach Vic Edwards moved her from rural Barellan to Sydney at 14, grooming her for fame and, according to the drama, crossing lines that left her mother warning, “When it stops being fun, come home.”

Where Billie Jean King appears

Goolagong’s script lands a pointed jab at Billie Jean King. In one scene, a young Goolagong tells a journalist she’d play for free if needed. The room falls silent. Later, King shuts it down. “Billie Jean King is deeply unimpressed,” the narration states, and Goolagong finds herself ostracized by fellow women players. The moment lands in the drama’s 1970s setting, when pay equity and gender politics roiled tennis.

Why the moment still matters

The exchange isn’t just period color. It’s a reminder that Billie Jean King’s fight for equal prize money at the 1973 US Open wasn’t an isolated crusade. Goolagong’s on-screen stumble—echoing real 1970s attitudes—highlights the cultural pushback King overcame while building the Women’s Tennis Association. The drama’s portrayal of Goolagong’s defiance and vulnerability reframes the era’s tensions, where women athletes were expected to grin and bear exploitation.

What critics say about the series

Reviews call *Goolagong* a “lovely tribute” but uneven. The opening’s saccharine flashbacks—Goolagong hitting balls with a plank of wood—feel heavy-handed. Later, the series pivots to Goolagong’s financial abuse and alleged sexual harassment by Edwards, a tonal whiplash that lands hard. McGuire’s portrayal of Goolagong’s mix of naivety and steel anchors the drama, while Hart’s child version and Rilee Clarke’s adult turns keep the character human. The supporting cast—Luke Carroll as Goolagong’s father Kenny and Chenoa Deemal as her mother Linda—rounds out a story that’s charming but sometimes too light for its own heavy themes.

The romance between Goolagong and English journalist Roger Cawley (Felix Mallard) adds a trans-hemisphere spark, though Edwards allegedly sabotaged the wedding plans and falsely announced Goolagong’s retirement. The drama can’t settle on a tone, but its sharpest moments expose the contradictions of 1970s tennis: the glamour of Centre Court versus the exploitation behind the scenes.

Where to watch

The three-part *Goolagong* premiered on BBC Four on 20 June 2026. Australian audiences can stream it via ABC iview. The series arrives as Billie Jean King’s legacy—her 1973 win and the WTA’s founding—remains a touchstone for today’s equal-pay debates in sport.