Billie Jean slams Court honour

AUSTRALIAN Open Woman of the Year Billie Jean King has sensationally declared Margaret Court should have her name removed from the Melbourne Park arena named in her honour.

And if she were playing today, she would refuse to play on the court.

Court — who has won the most grand slams of any female player — is now a Christian minister in Perth and has been vocal in recent years on her homophobic views surrounding gay marriage and the gay community.

She has said she will not be attending this year’s Australian Open.

King, 74, is openly gay and said she had previously disagreed with Court’s stance but recent comments have put her “over the edge”.

“I probably don’t think it’s appropriate to have her name,” she said. “I just think she’s gotten really derogatory.

“It took me a long time with my own sexuality, until I was 51, to feel comfortable in my own skin.”

She also said that she “wouldn’t play on the court” but refused to encourage current players to boycott the arena.