Local tennis star inspired by famous tennis match at Astrodome

Kasey Hughes Wright

HOUSTON – Opening in theaters this weekend is the movie "Battle of the Sexes."

It's based on the tennis match played in 1973 at the Astrodome.

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A local woman who watched the match as a teen said it inspired her own professional tennis career.

Kasey Hughes Wright played college tennis and went on to coach.

In a small-world twist, Wright later came to face-to-face with the tennis star himself, Bobby Riggs, on the court.

She played against him in South Carolina.

Wright said she was nervous.

"I played him for two nights, had a great time, had a lot of fun, thousands of people were out there cheering," she said.

Wright also credits Billie Jean King, Riggs' opponent in Houston, for paving the way for women in all sports.

Wright plans to go see the movie.

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