Margaret Court will not attend 2023 Australian Open

Controversial tennis legend Margaret Court has revealed whether she will attend this year’s tournament amid the push to remove her name from the arena.

Tennis legend Margaret Court is set to snub this month’s Australian Open.

The Herald Sun can reveal legendary Aussie player Rod Laver is set to jet into Melbourne in time to watch matches on the centre court named in his honour this weekend.

But 24-time Grand Slam singles champion Court has declined an invitation from Tennis Australia to attend.

The controversial tennis great has not attended the Open since 2020, when she was honoured on Rod Laver Arena for the 50th anniversary of her 1970 “Grand Slam”, when she won all four majors in a calendar year.

Margaret Court with Rod Laver when she was honoured in 2020. Picture: Getty

Before that, she had not attended the Open since 2017.

Court’s tennis record is undisputed with the Albury born 80-year-old winning more grand slams (66) than any other woman including doubles crowns.

But her views on homosexuality and same sex marriage have drawn criticism and sparked calls from the likes of fellow greats John McEnroe and Martina Navratilova to have her name removed from Melbourne’s second biggest show court.

She did not return calls.

Court has been criticised for her views on homosexuality and same sex marriage. Picture: Getty

Tennis Australia has taken significant strides to make the Open an inclusive event, with rainbow flags flying around Melbourne Park, a “pride hub” and “all gender” toilets on site.

An “AO Glam Slam’’ championing the LGBTI+ community will also be staged at Melbourne Park from January 25-27 as well as “AO Pride Day’’ on January 27.

In 2018 Court told the Herald Sun she was skipping the Open to “do more crabbing” with her family.

She described gay marriage as a “trend” at the time.

“I think there will be a price to pay for it in the future in the nation and people will see it’s not about marriage,” she said.

“There will be a genderless generation.

“My thing was a marriage is between a man and a woman.”

Laver – Australia’s greatest men’s player and winner of 11 Grand Slam titles – has thrown his support behind Novak Djokovic’s bid to win a record 10th Australian Open title.

“I look forward to seeing you play again in Australia,’’ he tweeted late last year.