Margaret Court with husband Barry. Picture: EPA
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Margaret Court was a tennis idol – now she rushes as a homophobic preacher
Margaret Court was the best tennis player in the world. With 24 Grand Slam titles in singles, she still holds the most important record. Now she is preaching against gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transsexuals. And thus plunges Australia into a national dilemma.
In terms of sport, Margaret Court is beyond any doubt: 62 Grand Slam titles, 24 of them singles, along with Maureen Connolly and Steffi Graf, she is one of only three players who won all four Grand Slam tournaments within one year. The second largest arena in Melbourne Park, site of the Australian Open, has been named after her since 2003. It was 50 years ago when the now 77-year-old reached the calendar grand slam.
Margaret Court in her Wimbledon victory in 1963. Picture: EPA
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A reason to celebrate, actually. Margaret Court plunges the proud tennis nation of Australia into a dilemma.
There is the successful athlete who has set records that will last forever. But there is also a worldview that has fallen out of time. After her retirement in 1976, Court became an evangelical preacher. And as such, it regularly causes displeasure with its attitude. This debate is no longer about sporty merits.
“The devil has gone to the media, politicians, educators and television,” she preaches to the evangelical community in Perth on the Australian west coast in late December. “Children decide to change their sexuality at the age of seven or eight – read the first two chapters of the story of creation, that’s all I have to say about it,” says Court, white dress with black dots. Regularly and unfiltered, she rushes against gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transsexuals. She had nothing against this, but marriage, which belonged to husband and wife, was withheld. Transsexuality is a crime, the sex is given by God, “it alone makes us what we should be,” Court preaches.
For decades, the mother of two has carved social interaction with statements like these. In the debate about same-sex marriage in Australia, she stated that “nothing should be legitimized by what God calls disgusting sexual practices”. She opposed allowing “alternative, unhealthy and unnatural connections” to marriage. Tennis is full of lesbians and they are here to help these people. In 2012 she described transgender children as the “work of the devil”.
John McEnroe then accused Court of wanting to “take us deep into the Middle Ages”. Court said 20 years ago that lesbians would ruin tennis and were bad role models for young people. With Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova, two icons of that time live in a same-sex partnership. Navratilova said at the time: “Margaret Court was once an outstanding tennis player and is a homophobic racist.”
Margaret Court 1977. Image: AP
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The gruesome ritual has been repeated for years: As soon as the Australian tennis summer begins, Court is back on the scene. Two years ago, she called for a boycott of the airline Qantas because it supports the tennis player Casey Dellacqua, who has two children with her wife. Numerous tennis exponents then called for the Margaret Court Arena to be renamed. “If something bears your name, you have to be open and want to welcome everyone,” Billie Jean King had said.
Margaret Court is something like the grandma who makes racist sayings at Christmas, a talk show moderator drew a comparison. “It’s completely wrong, but you still like your grandma.” The debate was so high that even the then Prime Minister, Malcom Turnbull, commented on it and argued for a separation between athlete and private person.
The second largest arena in Melbourne Park is named after Margaret Court. Picture: EPA AAP
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Even Roger Federer lacks the words
At Court, the question arises whether the success as an athlete can be separated from the public in 2020. The proud tennis nation of Australia is in a dilemma. The national association, Tennis Australia, said in a message to the Australian Open that Margaret Court’s beliefs should not be shared. These have injured many members of the tennis family in recent years. One stands for equality, diversity and inclusion. Courts are recognized for their accomplishments, but they do not intend to celebrate them.
But that’s exactly what Court demands, publicly and emphatically. She deserves the same recognition as Rod Laver, whose second calendar grand slam had celebrated its 50th anniversary last year and who had been worshiped for a year.
Margaret Court presents a work of art dedicated to her in 2015. Picture: EPA TENNIS AUSTRALIA
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The tennis family would like to sweep the topic under the table. One is tired of commenting on Schirmacher Court’s tirades. Even Roger Federer, the master of diplomacy, said before the tournament that he didn’t know what to say and made a white lie when he said he had no opinion.
Many would like Serena Williams to win the Australian Open, equalizing Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam titles in singles. She, of all people, who, as an African-American and a woman, represents two groups who have had to fight for rights and recognition in the past century and until today.
«If she beats my record, she deserves it. I won’t have sleepless nights because of that, ”Court says. She thinks women’s tennis is boring anyway and in her time Williams wouldn’t have had a chance. When asked about this, Williams says: “Margaret Court was a big winner. She deserves credit for her hard work, like Steffi Graf, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. “One wishes Court cut a slice of Willliams’ size.
