Grandson of Tennis Legend Bobby Riggs Sentenced for Abuse

The grandson of tennis star Bobby Riggs has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the sexual abuse of two female students he coached while working in Florida.

Daniel James Riggs, 33, received a 240-month sentence in federal prison after pleading guilty to coercing two minors into performing sexual acts. This information was shared by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida on Tuesday.

Previously a coach with Team Riggs at a tennis center in Fort Lauderdale, Dan Riggs was following in his grandfather’s notable footsteps until his arrest.

His grandfather, Bobby Riggs, is best known for his infamous match against Billie Jean King in the “Battle of the Sexes.” A three-time Grand Slam champion, he was ranked world No. 1 and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1967 before passing away in 1995 at the age of 77.

Daniel Riggs is the son of Larry Riggs, Bobby’s oldest son.

Known as Danny, he committed the disturbing offenses between 2021 and late 2024 after meeting the victims at the tennis center.

His first victim was a 15-year-old girl he encountered in 2020, while the second victim, a 16-year-old, was identified through social media as well.

According to the Justice Department, Riggs made multiple Snapchat accounts to hide his identity while communicating with the girls, engaging in explicit conversations.

During tournaments across the U.S. and on trips abroad—including in southern Florida—he abused at least one of the girls. He also used one of his fake profiles to solicit “child sexual abuse material” from them.

Authorities tracked him down using subscriber and billing records from his social media accounts.

On December 17, 2024, Riggs was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service.

Jason A. Redding Quiñones, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, stated, “Kids and parents trust their coaches for more than just athletic guidance. They trust them for safety, leadership and character. This defendant abused that trust in the most disturbing way imaginable, using his position to groom and sexually exploit the students he was supposed to be teaching.”

As part of his guilty plea, Riggs will have to register as a sex offender upon his release. He is currently held at the Paul Lane Detention Center in Pompano, Florida, though the specific federal prison where he will serve his sentence hasn’t been disclosed.