Navratilova sorry for Court protest
Tennis great Martina Navratilova has apologised for breaking Tennis Australia protocol with her on-court protest against Margaret Court but says she stands by her statement.
Navratilova has long called for Court’s name to be removed from Margaret Court Arena, given the grand slam record-holder’s divisive views on the LGBTIQ community, and on Monday, wrote an open letter on Tennis.com, saying the venue should be renamed after Evonne Goolagong Cawley.
On Tuesday, Navratilova had just completed a legends’ exhibition match when she invited fellow great John McEnroe – who has also publicly criticised Court – onto the court. The pair unfurled a banner Navratilova had made that read ‘Evonne Goolagong Arena’.
The move earned them a public rebuke from Tennis Australia on Tuesday night.
‘‘We embrace diversity, inclusion and the right for people to have a view, as well as their right to voice that view,’’ a TA statement said.
‘‘But the Australian Open has regulations and protocols with respect to how any fan, player or guest can use our facility, the event and the global stage it provides.
‘‘This is to ensure the integrity of our event.
‘‘Two high-profile guests have breached these protocols and we are working through this with them.’’
Yesterday, Navratilova emphasised she stood by her beliefs regarding Court, but regretted breaking TA protocol.
‘‘I got in trouble. I am sorry I broke protocol. I had no idea there was this kind of protocol,’’
Navratilova told the Tennis Channel.
‘‘Had I known, I would have done it differently but I would still have tried to make my statement which is basically: you name buildings after not what people just did on the court but also off the court, the whole body of work.
‘‘And so I said my piece. You can read my whole statement. I stand by that. But I do apologise about breaking protocol. I did not mean to do that.’’
Court is being honoured at this year’s Open as it is the 50th anniversary of her calendar-year grand slam.
Court, who has been widely criticised for her opposition to same-sex marriage and views on transgender people, is being recognised at the Australian Open this year for the 50th anniversary of her grand slam achieved in 1970.
On Monday night, Court was presented with a full-size replica of the Australian Open trophy on court as she posed for pictures in front of photographers.
Her presence on court followed a short documentary that was shown at the venue, which featured Court talking about her four wins in the calendar grand slam and a guest appearance from one of her fiercest rivals, Billie Jean King.
Navratilova and McEnroe, who at different times have criticised Court for her controversial views, have taken fresh swipes at the Australian tennis great. In a video published for EuroSport, McEnroe said Tennis Australia faced a dilemma with what do with their ‘‘crazy aunt’’ while Navratilova wrote a column on tennis.com in which she said it ‘‘pains me to say’’ that Margaret Court Arena should be renamed.