King wants Court’s name banished from the arena

BEN MCKAY TRAILBLAZER Billie Jean King has used the occasion of being named Australian Open woman of the year to call for the renaming of Margaret Court Arena.

King is being feted at Mel- bourne Park this month – on the 50th anniversary of her first Australian title – for her contribution to the sport and her pioneering support for women’s rights and social justice.

The 74-year-old’s advocacy extended to naming the show court after her friend Margaret Court, but King said she could no longer support the honour.

“I was a proponent of hers, trying to get her to the best possible court,” King said. “She won 64 grand slams ... more than everybody else. When Rocket, Rod Laver, got given the arena, I said ‘what are you going to do for Margaret?’.”

King said Court’s “derogatory” attacks on sexually diverse people were the last straw. “I think it’s its really important, if you’re going to have your name on anything, that you’re hospitable, inclusive, you’re opening arms to everyone that comes to a public facility,” she said.

“I was fine until lately she said so many derogatory things about my community, I’m a gay woman; about the LGBTIQ community.

“That really went deep in my heart and soul. I don’t think she should have her name (on it) any more.”

King ended her career with 12 major singles titles.

In 2006, the US Open facility was rebadged as the “USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre” in her honour.