Recognition, No Celebration for Court’s 50th Anniversary

The 2020 season marks the 50th anniversary of Margaret Court's 1970 Grand Slam season.Don't expect a major celebration at Court's home Slam.More: Barty on 2020 PressureTennis Australia plans to "recognize but not celebrate" the 50th anniversary of Court's Grand Slam season at the 2020 Australian Open, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.The Hall of Famer has had a sometime contentious relationship with the TA and some former champions for her statements that tennis is "full of lesbians", transgender children are the work of "the devil" and for her vocal opposition to same-sex marriage.Some champions, including Court's former rival, Billie Jean King, and Martina Navratilova have called for Tennis Australia to rename the Australian Open's Margaret Court Arena in response to what they view as hateful and homophobic statements.Last year, the Grand Slams honored the 50th anniversary of Rod Laver's 1969 Grand Slam. Next year, Tennis Australia reportedly plans a low-key "recognition" of Court's 1970 season when she swept all four majors joining American Maureen Connolly as the second woman in tennis history to win the calendar Slam. Court told The Sydney Morning Herald she would like to sit down and speak with TA officials about her anniversary.“I think Tennis Australia should sit and talk with me," Court said. “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 honor me. If they are not going to do that, I don’t really want to come.”

The 77-year-old Court, who is now a Christian minister in Perth, Australia, has previously defended her views opposing same-sex marriage in an appearance on Network 10’s “The Project” television program. “I may have been a tennis champion, but even as a young person, I’d agree marriage is between a man and a woman," Court said. "If people read the first two chapters of the bible…I think if people read the first two chapters of the bible they find out where I stand and believe….“I have nothing against homosexual people, but don’t touch marriage.”Serena Williams is aiming to equal Court's all-time record by winning her 24th Grand Slam title at the 2020 Australian Open.An 11-time Australian Open champion, Court is the only player in history—man or woman—to win career Grand Slams in singles, doubles and mixed doubles twice. ]]>