Some shoes carry a little more history than others.

To mark the start of the final major tennis tournament of the season in New York, adidas is bringing back Billie Jean King’s iconic Blue Suede Shoe, first worn during the historic 1973 “Battle of the Sexes” match.

King wore the blue suede shoes when she defeated Bobby Riggs in front of a global television audience of an estimated 90 million people. The victory was bigger than tennis. It challenged perceptions of women in sport and became a defining moment in the broader fight for gender equality.

More than 50 years later, the shoes return as a reminder that what happens on the court can have a much longer life beyond it.

“These blue shoes will always represent so much more to me than one match,” says Billie Jean King. “They remind me of the progress we’ve made, but also of the work that is still ahead of us. I hope bringing them back inspires the next generation to keep pushing for equality and to use their voices to create positive change.”

The Blue Suede Shoe is available now from adidas.