Martina Navratilova calls for name change for Margaret Court Arena after Aussie pledges Qantas boycott

STAR AFLW players have joined tennis legends in hitting out at Australian tennis great Margaret Court after she said she would stop using Qantas in protest of the airline’s promotion of same-sex marriage.

STAR AFLW players have joined tennis legends in hitting out at Australian tennis great Margaret Court after she said she would stop using Qantas in protest of the airline’s promotion of same-sex marriage.

Martina Navratilova and current Australian player Casey Dellacqua, who are both openly gay, weighed in on Friday — with Navratilova calling for Melbourne’s Margaret Court Arena to be renamed.

Carlton AFLW star Darcy Vescio called on Court to get with the times and her newly signed teammate Tayla Harris called on her to “turn it up”.

Dellacqua’s comment was more pointed: saying ”Enough is enough”.

Australian tennis legend Margaret Court.

It's time Margaret Court up with the times. Imagine if only mixed doubles partners could win grand slams...You'd be outraged. #loveislove pic.twitter.com/uhvKkD1Ldk

— Darcy Vescio (@darcyvee) May 25, 2017

Turn it up Margaret https://t.co/Wj15vOAnKQ

— Tayla Harris (@taylaharriss) May 25, 2017

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull sidestepped the question of whether Court’s name should be removed from the arena at Melbourne Park.

“Whatever people think of her opinion on gay marriage, she is one of the all time greats and the arena celebrates that,” Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told 3AW.

“She is the greatest of greats of tennis and that’s why it’s named after her.”

Margaret. Enough is enough. pic.twitter.com/Cl1DtC4aSL

— caseydellacqua (@caseydellacqua) May 25, 2017

Court sparked the furore in a letter published in The West Australian newspaper.

“I am disappointed that Qantas has become an active promoter for same sex marriage,” Perth resident Court wrote.

“I believe in marriage as a union between a man and a woman as stated in the Bible.

“Your statement leaves me no option but to use other airlines were possible for my extensive travelling.”

That prompted an outpouring of criticism for Court, with Navratilova taking to Twitter to slam the Australian.

“Maybe it’s time to change of the Margaret Court Arena then,” wrote Navratilova, who won 18 grand slam singles titles, before adding in a later tweet: “Margaret — you have gone too far. Shame on you ... #wrongsideofhistory.”

@John__Donegan @GregBaum Maybe it's time to change the name of the Margaret Court Arena then... and I guess Margaret will be taking the boat on her next trip?:)

— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) May 25, 2017

@Rebelstorm @MomentsAU @Qantas thank you Qantas for your support. And Margaret - you have gone too far. Shame on you...#wrongsideofhistory

— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) May 25, 2017

@NeilMcMahon Evonne Goolagong Cawley Arena is a mouthful,but it gets my vote:). For all the right reasons.

— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) May 25, 2017

Navratilova and fellow tennis great Billie Jean King, who are both gay, have previously criticised Court for her views on homosexuality.

Margaret Court Arena was originally called Show Court One when it opened in 1988 before it was renamed in 2003 in tribute to the multiple grand slam winner.

Martina Navratilova on Rod Laver Arena. at the 2015 Australian Open.

The Margaret Court Arena also hosts other sporting events and concerts. And the official Twitter account for the venue even came out in opposition to Court’s comments on Thursday night.

pic.twitter.com/hmGV2O2GtV

— Margaret Court Arena (@MCourtArena) May 25, 2017

Tennis Australia later released a statement distancing itself from Court’s views.

Our statement regarding #MargaretCourt pic.twitter.com/XMxkxwIDrJ

— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) May 25, 2017

American singer Ryan Adams, who is playing at the arena on Friday, tweeted: “Hey Margaret Court, a PAGAN who STRONGLY SUPPORTS marriage equality (get a prenup tho) will play the arena named for you tomorrow.”

Hey #MargaretCourt , A PAGAN who STRONGLY SUPPORTS #MarriageEquality ( get a pre-nup tho ) will play the arena named for you tomorrow
; ) pic.twitter.com/lc4GFCkGuF

— Ryan Adams (@TheRyanAdams) May 25, 2017

The nation’s other major domestic airline Virgin and its founder Richard Branson also support gay marriage.

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce recently had a pie thrown in his face in front of hundreds of people at a business breakfast in Perth by Tony Overheu, 67.

He said it was in protest at what he was said was “corporate bullying” including Mr Joyce and 20 chief executives of major companies signing a joint letter in support of marriage equality.

He was charged by police with assault and banned by Qantas.

Court, a 74-year-old senior pastor at Perth’s Victory Life Church and critic of homosexuality and same sex marriage for decades, said in the letter she had proudly promoted Qantas during her days “of never losing a tennis match while playing for my country”.

“I love all people and will be pleased to talk to your board at any time,” she wrote.

“But it won’t be in the Qantas lounge.”

Court is the most decorated player in grand slam tennis history, winning a record 24 major titles from 1960 to 1973.

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Originally published as Martina Navratilova calls for name change for Margaret Court Arena after Aussie pledges Qantas boycott