Tennis: Billie Jean King wants Margaret Court Arena renamed

American tennis legend Billie Jean King has called for the Margaret Court Arena’s name to be changed due to Court’s divisive views on sexuality.

King is in Melbourne to celebrate the 50th anniversary of her Australian Open victory.

Billie Jean King, speaking in Melbourne, says Margaret Court Arena’s name should be changed. Photograph: Mark Baker/AP

She has been named Australian Open Woman of Year.

King said she had a friendship with Court but the arena should no longer be named after her.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate ... she’s gotten derogatory,” King said, adding that she would not play on the court if she was still in action.

In September, at the Toronto film festival premiere of Battle of the Sexes, a film about the 1973 tennis match between King and former men’s champion Bobby Riggs, King said she was disappointed Court had urged a no vote in Australia’s marriage equality postal survey.

Court said people should vote no “for the sake of Australia, our children, and our children’s children”.

“Margaret and I always sat together at lunch when we were at the same events but we got along in a very superficial way,” King said.

“I would love to talk to Margaret, and I think probably now I need to talk to her about what she’s saying. But she’s a Pentecostal minister with her own congregation so I don’t think it will help much or that she will change or adapt in any way.”

(GUARDIAN)