Margaret Court on Serena Williams: Don’t think she has ever admired me

Court also said she has become a persona non grata in the tennis world because of her Christian beliefs, which led her to oppose same-sex marriage when it was proposed in Australia.

Published : Sep 05, 2022 11:33 IST

FILE PHOTO: Former Australian tennis legend Margaret Court.
FILE PHOTO: Former Australian tennis legend Margaret Court. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
infoIcon

FILE PHOTO: Former Australian tennis legend Margaret Court. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

Australian Margaret Court believes she does not get as much credit as she deserves for her 24 Grand Slam singles titles from anyone in the tennis world these days, least of all Serena Williams.

Williams was feted in many quarters as the greatest tennis player of all time when she retired after her third-round loss at the US Open on Saturday, one title shy of the record Court set from 1960 to 1973.

"Serena, I've admired her as a player," Court, 80, told Britain's Daily Telegraph in a rare interview.

"But I don't think she has ever admired me."

Court said she has become a persona non grata in the tennis world because of her Christian beliefs, which led her to oppose same-sex marriage when it was proposed in Australia.

The 80-year-old defended her achievements against suggestions they were not comparable to those of Williams because she played mostly in the amateur era.

"Serena has played seven years more than I did," Court added. "I finished in my early 30s. People forget that I took two years out. I first retired ... when I was 25, thinking I would never return to tennis.

"I got married, had a baby, but then had one of my best years, winning 24 out of 25 tournaments."

Court reminded her critics that she also had a superior record to Williams after they became mothers during their careers.

“Serena, I’ve admired her as a player. But I don’t think she has ever admired me.”Twenty-four time Grand Slam winner Margaret Court of AustraliaDaily Telegraph

“I came back after two babies,” she said. “After having the first baby, I won three out of the four slams. And Serena hasn’t won a slam since she had a baby.’

Court also hit out at suggestions that her 11 Australian Open singles titles had less value than Williams's seven.

"I often hear Billie Jean (King) saying that people didn't come down to Australia in my early years," she said.

"But Maria Bueno, the world number one, came down. So did Christine Truman, Ann Haydon, Darlene Hard. Plus, Australia had some wonderful players. We had five girls in the top 10. Lesley Bowrey won two French Opens."

EASY LIFE

Court said she thought the life of a top tennis player was actually harder in her day.

"I would love to have played in this era. I think it's so much easier," she said.

"How I would love to have taken family or friends along with me. But I couldn't. I had to go on my own or with the national team. People don't see all that.

"We didn't have psychologists or coaches with us. It's a whole different world. That's what disappoints me – that players today don't honour the past of the game."

“After having the first baby, I won three out of the four slams. And Serena hasn’t won a slam since she had a baby.”Twenty-four time Grand Slam winner Margaret Court of AustraliaDaily Telegraph

Court said she was disappointed that Williams made little mention of Australian Ajla Tomljanovic after the final match of her career.

"I thought it was bad that Williams didn't mention her opponent more when she spoke," she says. "We were taught to honour our opponent. We respected one another."

Court said she lost no sleep over the snubs from the tennis world but did find it sad.

"A lot of the press and television today, particularly in tennis, don't want to mention my name," she said.

"The honour has not been there for what I did do. In my own nation, I have been given titles, but they would still rather not mention me."

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment