(2 of 2)
Tactics. He is also, by his own admission, "probably the greatest defensive player who ever lived." Against Court, who at 5 ft. 9 in. is two inches taller than Riggs, he will stick to the base line and try to keep the leggy Aussie running with his maddening array of precision placements, drop shots and lobs into the sun. "He'll serve like a pitcher in baseball," says Faunce, "using a curve, sinker, screwball, change-up and, when he needs it, the fastball." Adds Riggs: "She is going to see a couple of shots she hasn't seen before."
And a lot of energy-conserving ploys that Old Pro Jack Kramer has seen too much of. "Knowing Bobby as I do," says Kramer, "he will use every trick to stall. When they change sides, he will take two minutes to wipe off his racket. After a volley, he will stall before the next serve to catch his breath. My guess is that Margaret, who has a good disposition, will tolerate his tactics and not complain to the umpire. That will be a mistake."
Riggs, who likes to keep up a running banter, has already begun to chatter. "The pressure on Margaret is going to be tremendous," he says. "She's going to have all Women's Lib on her back saying 'Please, please, don't let this old over-the-hill guy beat you.' She has a history of nerves, of choking. I perform better under stress and strain."
Court, who so far this season has won twelve of 15 tournaments and $82,550, responds coolly: "I would not have taken Riggs on if I were not confident that I would beat him." Mighty Maggie, who plays the closest thing to a man's power game on the women's circuit, explains that "I enjoy playing with men. I've practiced a lot in Europe with Bob Howe, who beat Riggs in the veterans' tournament, and I've beaten Bob seven out of ten times." She insists that "Riggs doesn't worry me. There is no way to psych me out. I've been through it all." Court is wisely saving her breath for Sunday's match, when she will have a glorious chance to blow away one of the largest egos in sports.