Martina serves up blast to Court
MARTINA Navratilova has declared that she would refuse to play on Margaret Court Arena because of the Australian tennis legend’s homophobic views.
Court said she would go crab fishing instead of attending the Australian Open in Melbourne this year, but Navratilova has reignited debate about whether the show court should continue to bear Court’s name.
“You keep her in the Hall of Fame,” Navratilova told the New York Times.
“That Margaret has definitely homophobic views does not take away those accomplishments, no doubt about that.
“But you do not name a building after her.
“Would you be naming a new building after her now? No, there’s no chance.”
Tennis Australia last week said it would not consider changing the name of the tennis court after Court’s strong public views against same- sex marriage.
The Pentecostal pastor’s comments led to widespread condemnation among the player cohort, prompting Tennis Australia to distance itself from the sport’s most successful player.
Navratilova said she would refuse to play on the court if she were still an active player, but she told the New York Times it was unlikely any of today’s players would take that stance.
Navratilova, who has long been out as a lesbian, and Court are members of the International Tennis Hall of Fame.