Margaret Court has hit back at John McEnroe and Martina Navratilova after the pair launched a stunning protest against the Australian tennis champion calling for the arena named after her to be renamed.
In recent years Court has been a fixture in the headlines for her controversial stance towards transsexuality and gay marriage.
However, 50 years on from the 1970 season when she won all four Grand Slams, she was invited to honour her incredible achievement at this year's Australian Open.
But less than 24 hours after she was recognised on Rod Laver Arena, she was the subject of a bizarre on-court protest following an exhibition legend doubles match.
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Navralitova, who has been one of Court's most outspoken critics and was part of the legends match, was joined on-court by McEnroe holding up a sign that said: 'Evonne Goolagong Arena'.
This came after. I don't know who to credit the picture to. pic.twitter.com/EOECYF10yR
— Lee (@yelnats_eel) January 28, 2020
The duo were later condemned by Tennis Australia, who released a statement saying the Australian Open has regulations and protocols which both had breached.
And speaking on Channel 9 News on Tuesday, Court responded to the protest and suggested the pair's actions were "very wrong."
“I always thought I got on quite well with John McEnroe and I’ve always respected him. I feel sorry for him that he speaks like that and that he can’t separate one part of life to another," Court said.
“I’d never go to another nation, whatever I thought of the person, I would never say, ‘Hey, you should take their name off a building.’ And I think that was very, very wrong.
“You know, there are a lot of those people who do agree with me.
“I walked around and people touched me on the shoulder and said, ‘Thank you for being my voice.’ I’ve never had one person come and say: ‘I hate you’."
Court also admitted she felt restrained during the ceremony honouring her 50th anniversary.
While she was presented with a replica Australian Open trophy while a brief documentary marking her achievements played on the screens, she wasn't given the opportunity to speak.
It came after Tennis Australia released a statement earlier in the year saying it did not agree with Court's controversial views, and would as such be recognising rather than celebrating her at this year's Open.
The 24-time grand slam winner sensed there were fears she may have used the opportunity to send out a message.
“They think because I’m a preacher I’m going to preach the gospel," Court said. "There is a time to speak and a time to not.
“I think they (Tennis Australia) said they were going to honour me but not celebrate me because of my stance and my views on gay marriage and all those areas, which I’ve got nothing against people who are gay.
“From the tennis side of it, where they pointed the finger at me and tried to discriminate against everything that I’ve done."
Tennis Australia released a statement on Morning evening to dispute these claims, revealing that they had gone out of their way to honour Court and her extended family.
"Tennis Australia invited Margaret and Barry Court, along with 16 members of their family, to the two weeks of the Australian Open." the statement said.
TA covered the cost of flights, accommodation, breakfasts and executive club access, for the family, along with hospitality at the event, which included more than 100 tickets over the two weeks,"
"Margaret agreed to all these arrangements ... prior to her arrival in Melbourne. We are very disappointed to hear now of her complaints, none of which were expressed to us during her time at the Australian Open.
"In addition, Margaret and Barry attended 'O', the premium hospitality and seating area at the AO, at least eight times during the tournament, with the entire family of 16, including her children, their partners and her grandchildren, hosted on the night of her anniversary, Monday 27 January.
"In total, Margaret and Barry had 20 guests in 'O' for dinner and premium seating, along with an additional 26 tickets for family and friends in Rod Laver Arena on the night of the ceremony."
