Murray wants Margaret Court Arena renamed over anti-gay views Murray wants Margaret Court Arena renamed over anti-gay views LONDON, Sept 18: Three-time Grand Slam
champion Andy Murray has urged officials
to consider renaming Melbourne’s Margaret
Court Arena over the Australian’s anti-gay
stance, saying: “I don’t think her values
are what tennis stands for”.
Murray’s comments follow calls from WTA
founder Billie Jean King to remove Court’s
name from one of the main stadiums at the
Australian Open’s Melbourne Park venue and
a welter of criticism for her
controversial views from other senior
figures in the sport.
“She has obviously offended and upset a
lot of people over the years,” said Murray
in an interview with Pridelife.com. “I
think the players certainly have spoken
up, which is a positive thing.
“As far as renaming the venue. I think
that yes, it’s something the sport should
consider. I don’t know who makes the final
decision on that but I don’t think her
values are what tennis stands for.
“When you get to the Australian Open you
want to concentrate on the tennis. Court’s
views detract from that,” said Murray, who
has been men’s singles runner-up five
times at the Melbourne Grand Slam
tournament, reports AFP.
Court, who won a record 24 Grand Slam
singles titles, has become a divisive
figure in tennis, and especially at the
Australian Open.
At the tournament in January, Tennis
Australia held a low-key ceremony to mark
the 50th anniversary of her 1970 calendar-
year Grand Slam after noting her views had
“demeaned and hurt many in our community”.
In retirement, Court, now a devoutly
Christian church pastor and based in
Perth, Western Australia, has often
attracted controversy over her comments on
race and homosexuality.
The Australian once praised South Africa’s
apartheid system, said “tennis is full of
lesbians” and described transgender
children as “the work of the devil”.
“Court was given a ceremony at the
Australian Open this year to mark her
achievements in the game, but the
reception she received from the public was
lukewarm,” Murray said.
At the same tournament, American greats
John McEnroe and Martina Navratilova were
reprimanded for unfurling a banner on
court calling for Margaret Court Arena to
be renamed after Evonne Goolagong, the
three-time Australian Open winner.
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