SERENA’S THE GOAT, BUT COURT IS DENIED CREDIT SHE DESERVES

SERENA WILLIAMS made no mention of Margaret Court when she retired from tennis in New York last week. Few reference Court if they can help it, even if her 24 Grand Slams remain the record. Court has outspoken Christian views that frown on gay marriage and fly in the face of tennis’s inclusivity. Some even think her name should be removed from the arena in Melbourne, home of the Australian Open.

Court says that when she came to Wimbledon for the centenary celebrations this summer, she was shunned by her fellow greats. Intolerance is a vicious circle.

And she has a point, that some of her finest achievements are airbrushed from history. Williams is given enormous credit for returning after giving birth to her daughter in 2017, but never won another Slam. Court’s first son Daniel was born in 1972 and she won the Australian, French and US Open singles and doubles titles in 1973.

Court’s supreme athleticism, then, should at least be noted. As should the fact that 11 of her singles titles, 10 doubles and seven mixed doubles did occur in the open era. An asterisk goes beside her 13 singles titles that predated 1968, and that almost half her Slams came in Australia which wasn’t the major event it is now, with many significant players missing. Even so, it remains quite the record. With all factors considered, Court isn’t the greatest of all time; Williams is. But she’s better than a great many of those who wish her excised from history.