Margaret Court’s grand slam anniversary deserves recognition, not a boycott
Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley is caught between Margaret Court and Billie Jean King. It’s an uncomfortable place to be, something akin to the awkward, narrow spot between a rock and a hard place.
As much as Tiley would prefer Court and her unfashionable views to just go away and let him get on with running the Australian Open, he is going to have to make a call. And no matter which way he goes, someone will be offended.
MORE: Court serves it up to Tennis Australia
Court, now a Christian pastor, has put Tennis Australia – and the organisers of the other three tennis majors – on the spot, demanding that they celebrate the 50th anniversary of her grand slam year in 2020. Just as they did this year for Rod Laver, who was an honoured guest at all four majors and presented the winner’s trophy at three of them.
But Court’s very public opposition to homosexuality and gay marriage have made her persona non grata in many sections of the tennis world. Making a fuss of her to mark half a century since she won all four majors in 1970 would provoke outrage from influential former players such as King and Martina Navratilova. It could also mean gay rights activists picketing tennis tournaments.
As a result, Tennis Australia is caught in the headlights. Tiley has not contacted Court about the anniversary and no plans to celebrate it have been revealed.
“I think Tennis Australia should sit and talk with me,” Court says. “They have never phoned me. Nobody has spoken to me directly about it. I think they would rather not confront it.
“They brought Rod in from America. If they think I’m just going to turn up, I don’t think that is right. I think I should be invited. I would hope they would pay my way to come like they paid for his, and honour me. If they are not going to do that, I don’t really want to come.”
Clearly doing nothing is no way forward on this. It’s not going to go away – Court herself will probably ensure that.
TA needs to decide whether it will give Court the Laver treatment or shut her out because of her views.
A tough decision, no doubt. But here’s a novel idea to sort it out: let’s make it about tennis.
How Court is treated in the anniversary year should have everything to do with her place in tennis history and as little as possible to do with religious views.
Making her a guest of honour at the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open does not mean endorsing her views on gay marriage, which are not shared by most Australians.
Court is the greatest women’s tennis player Australia has produced. Only two other women have achieved a grand slam – American Maureen Connolly in 1953 and Germany’s Steffi Graf in 1988. Serena Williams, perhaps the greatest of them all, hasn’t managed it. Nor has she equalled Court’s record of 24 grand slam singles titles.
That’s the stuff that matters here. That’s what we should be celebrating.
Tennis tournament organisers with progressive views on gay marriage need to have the courage of their convictions. One of the alleged hallmarks of our society is free speech. If Court wants to spout these views, good luck to her. Those of us who disagree should be confident enough in our stance not to respond by ostracising Court.
There will be protests … so be it. That’s free speech as well. There will be outrage from influential tennis greats. They should be heard as well.
And then we should get on with honouring Court for her sporting achievements, just as we honoured Laver
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