The grandson of tennis legend Bobby Riggs has been arrested by armed FBI agents on child pornography charges.
Daniel Riggs was arrested by several armed FBI agents while at the Lauderdale Tennis Club in Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday where he works as a coach.
The late, great Bobby was one of the top men’s tennis players in America during his prime. Bobby Riggs won Wimbledon and the US Open in 1939 and again in 1941.
Riggs, his 31-year-old grandson, is accused of having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old female who he had been coaching, according to federal court records.
He now faces charges of enticement of a minor and production of child pornography.
A federal complaint, filed in September, alleges that the South Florida-based tennis coach engaged in sexual conversations with the 15-year-old female athlete using Snapchat, a popular social media application.
The complaint also accuses the tennis star’s grandson of requesting ‘child sexual abuse’ materials from the minor using the social media platform where he allegedly created ‘multiple anonymous profiles and at times advised the minor victim to delete their conversations,’ the US Attorney’s Office said.
In addition to the inappropriate requests, Riggs was also accused of sexually abusing the minor while they traveled for tournaments domestically and internationally in states across the US, including Florida, as well as in Brazil.
Daniel Riggs, 31, grandson of the former tennis pro and a tennis coach himself, was arrested by several armed FBI agents inside of the Lauderdale Tennis Club in Fort Lauderdale, where he worked as a coach, on Tuesday
A federal complaint, filed in September, alleges that the South Florida-based tennis coach engaged in sexual conversations with the 15-year-old female athlete using Snapchat , a popular social media application. Pictured: The Lauderdale Tennis Club in Fort Lauderdale
Riggs began coaching the teenage girl in 2020, however, the alleged sexual assault had not begun until October of 2021.
According to the federal complaint, the alleged sexual abuse had continued until August just before the victim reported the situation to the FBI in September.
As the agents arrived at the posh Fort Lauderdale tennis club on Tuesday, the federal law enforcement officials interviewed several employees, children and their parents who were at the court, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported.
Riggs was a member of Cornell University’s tennis team in 2011 and 2012. In 2014 and 2015, Riggs played tennis for Lynn University in Boca Raton, according to his biographies from the respective universities
The Riggs family operates their own private tennis training company, Team Riggs Inc., within the Lauderdale Tennis Club – a private club with tennis courts and condos.
Team Riggs Inc. leases courts from the facility to operate their exclusive business, the Orlando Sentinel reported. State business records lists Riggs as the president of the company.
Before faring into coaching, the Florida-native has some success of his own, winning a national team title for Florida in 2009. A year later, Riggs won a high school doubles championship, according to biographies on websites used for various college athletic programs.
Taking his success to the next level, Riggs was a member of Cornell University’s tennis team in 2011 and 2012. In 2014 and 2015, Riggs played tennis for Lynn University in Boca Raton, according to his biographies from the respective universities.
His grandfather, the late, great Bobby Riggs (pictured) was one of the top men’s tennis players in America during his prime. Bobby Riggs won Wimbledon and the US Open in 1939 and again in 1941
Bobby Riggs (pictured), 55 at the time, challenged the 29-year-old King, aiming to display that women were less skilled in the sport, according to a post on King’s website. But, he famously lost the match to King
Aside from his remarkable championship successes, Bobby Riggs is also widely recognized for the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ match against another tennis icon, Billie Jean King.
Bobby Riggs, 55 at the time, challenged the 29-year-old King, aiming to display that women were less skilled in the sport, according to a post on King’s website. But, he famously lost the match to King.
Investigators have also revealed additional social media records that suggest that there might have been a second minor victim in the case.
A pretrial detention hearing has been scheduled for Monday, December 23.
