Event chiefs hit out at Navratilova and Mcenroe for Court stunt

Australian Open organisers have criticised Martina Navratilova and John Mcenroe after they staged a protest calling for the name of Margaret Court Arena to be changed.

The two greats of the game have been among the fiercest critics of Court for her statements on LGBTIQ matters and, a day after the 24-time grand slam singles champion was honoured on the 50th anniversary of her calendar Grand Slam, they took matters into their own hands.

After Navratilova took part in a legends’ doubles match on the neighbouring 1573 Arena, she was joined on court by Mcenroe before climbing into the umpire’s chair to address the crowd that remained.

The sound system was quickly turned off but Mcenroe and Navratilova then held up a banner reading “Evonne Goolagong Arena”.

Goolagong won seven grand slam singles titles during her career and was a trailblazer for indigenous Australian tennis.

The protest did not impress tournament organisers, who said in a punchy statement: “We embrace diversity, inclusion and the right for people to have a view, as well as their right to voice that view.

“But the Australian Open has regulationsandprotocolswith 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.” Navratilova expressed her views in a letter on tennis. com, saying: “Nobody disputes her [Court’s] achievements on the tennis court, and her place in the sport’s history remains as distinguished as it gets. Nobody wants to take away or diminish her career, least of all me. Margaret, Billie Jean and Rod were my childhood heroes. I wanted to be like them. So, it pains me to say this, but Margaret Court Arena must be renamed.

“As a worthy replacement, my vote goes to Evonne Goolagong. Evonne is the embodiment of what a role model or hero truly is.”

Mcenroe, pictured, had earlier described the 77-year-old Court as the “crazy aunt” of Australian tennis, saying on Eurosport that the only thing longer than her list of tennis achievements was “her list of offensive and homophobic statements”.