Tennis Australia serves backhand to Margaret Court
Image: Former tennis champion Margaret Court. Image: file photo.
Anti-gay tennis champion Margaret Court has been served a stinging backhand by Tennis Australia (TA).
The organisation, the official governing body for the sport in Australia, has invited Court to attend the Australian Open in January to mark the 50-year anniversary of her 1970 Grand Slam, when she won all four majors鈥攂ut used the opportunity to deliver a grand slam of their own, heavily criticising Court’s repeated opposition to LGBTQI rights.
A consistent critic of same-sex marriage, 77-year-old Court has also targeted lesbian tennis champion Martina Navratilova over her sexuality, and claimed transgender people are the work of the devil, among other comments.
In an extensive public statement issued today, TA said:听“Tennis Australia respects听Margaret鈥檚 unmatched tennis career and welcomes her to the Australian Open, particularly in this milestone anniversary year.
鈥淎s often stated, Tennis Australia does not agree with Margaret鈥檚 personal views, which have demeaned and hurt many in our community over a number of years. They do not align with our values of equality, diversity and inclusion.
鈥淥ur sport welcomes everyone, no matter what gender, ability, race, religion or sexuality, and we will continue to actively promote inclusion initiatives widely at all levels of the sport.鈥�
The statement went on to welcome LGBTQI players to the sport, taking the opportunity to spruik a TA diversity and inclusion initiative and an international LGBTQI tennis tournament.
鈥淚n 2017 the Australian Open launched #Open4All, a major diversity and inclusion initiative, designed to showcase the many inclusive opportunities in tennis.
鈥�#Open4All encompasses events such as the Glam Slam, an international LGBTQI tournament that has been held at the Australian Open for the past few years, and will be back for AO 2020.听
鈥淲e have also hosted events for the National Inclusion Conference and have ongoing working relationships with the Pride in Sport Index and Stand Up Events.鈥�
The statement concluded by highlighting that the Australian Open鈥攚hich will be held at Melbourne Park in January鈥攚elcomes all, despite Court鈥檚 views.
鈥淭he Australian Open is for everyone, and we look forward to welcoming the world to Melbourne in January 2020.鈥�
Game, set, match.听
Yawn … boring!
To Tennis Australia: while I admire the stand that you have taken I cannot support in any way the actions of this individual (Margaret Court). Who the hell does she think she is, speaking the garbage that she does? So in response to your actions in even inviting this product of Satan, I respectfully advise that I for one will not celebrate the milestone that she has supposedly reached as her public statements regarding gay, lesbian, and in particular transgender people was and is totally out of line, and will remain just a disgraceful piece of garbage uttered by an individual who knows absolutely nothing of which she spews out of her foul mouth. l will not be watching when TA proceeds to heap praise on a person that does not deserve to be praised. Signed, a Transgender Christian.
I do not understand how MARION KENNEDY thinks that calling Margaret Court the following is Christian?
Garbage
Product of Satan
Disgraceful piece of garbage
Foul mouth
Is this really helping the matter? If there is constant slanging matches, where does it end?
Better to accept that not everyone will agree with you – it is a part of life.
Perfect picture to accompany this article! Love your style, S.O.