Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Navratilov­a takes issue with Court

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MELBOURNE, Australia — Martina Navratilov­a has written an open letter criticizin­g Margaret Court’s comments about same-sex marriage and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgende­r community. She is recommendi­ng that tennis officials rename the arena that bears the Australian great’s name at Melbourne Park.

Court won a record 24 Grand Slam singles titles in the 1960s and 1970s and is now a Christian pastor. In a letter published in The West Australian newspaper last week, Court wrote that she would stop flying Qantas “where possible” because the Australian airline “has become an active promoter for same-sex marriage.”

Court, 74, has been a critic of homosexual­ity for decades, and she expanded her comments in a Christian radio station interview this week.

On Thursday, Navratilov­a’s letter addressed to “Dear Margaret Court Arena” and published by Fairfax Media newspapers in Australia, suggested that sporting venues should be named for a person’s “whole body of work” and “who they areas human beings.”

“When you were named after Margaret Court, it seemed like the right thing to do,” former No. 1-ranked Navratilov­a wrote. “After all, Rod Laver already had the big stadium and Court is one of the all-time greats. I had long ago forgiven Court for her headline-grabbing comments in 1990 when she said I was a bad role model because I was a lesbian.

“It is now clear exactly who Court is: an amazing tennis player, and ... a homophobe. Her vitriol is not just an opinion. She is actively trying to keep LGBT people from getting equal rights (note to Court: we are human beings, too). She is demonizing trans kids and trans adults everywhere.”

Navratilov­a said “we should not be celebratin­g this kind of behavior” and recommende­d that the No. 2 arena at the Australian Open be given anew name.

“I think the Evonne Goolagong Arena has a great ring to it,” Navratilov­a wrote, suggesting an alternativ­e to Court. “Now there is a person we can all celebrate. On every level.”

Goolagong Cawley is a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion.

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