Margaret Court and Tennis Australia in verbal clinch
Margaret Court, still the record holder with 24 Grand Slam titles in singles, continues to be unforgiving. This time the Australian Tennis Association is the target of their attacks.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Feb 05, 2020, 03:40 pm
Tennis Australia certainly imagined it differently: Margaret Court was honored on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of her outstanding season in 1970 in the arena named after her, including a large number of family members who were invited to attend the entire tournament. And now the 77-year-old is attacking the organizers of the first Grand Slam tournament of the year head-on.
"I think they thought because I was a preacher, I would preach on this occasion, but I would never do that," Court told Channel Nine News. “There is a time when you speak. And a time when you don't speak. ”Tennis Australia had honored the veteran, but she hadn't given her a microphone to say a few words. “You (Tennis Australia) pointed your finger at me and tried to discriminate against me for everything I did. And I think it's very sad. "
The Court family uses the hospitality of Tennis Australia
Criticism that Tennis Australia can not leave. The association had invited Court with husband Barry and another 16 family members for the duration of the Australian Open. "Tennis Australia has the cost of the flight, accommodation, breakfast and access to the Executive Club, plus hospitality during the event, which totaled more than 100 tickets over the two weeks."
In addition, the Court couple would have the most exclusive hospitality area, the 'O' visited at least eight times. And with the whole family. "Margaret agreed to all of this ... before arriving in Melbourne. We are very disappointed to hear your complaints now. None of them were made during her time at the Australian Open. ”
Court blames McEnroe
A day after the ceremony for Court, John McEnroe and Martina Navratilova decided to rename Margaret Court Arena to Evonne Goolagong Arena. And were warned by Tennis Australia. Naturally, Court himself did not like the action of the two legends. "I always got along well with John McEnroe and always respected him," said Court. And I was surprised that he did something like that. I am sorry that he says this and cannot separate part of one life from another. ”