Tennis Australia will invite Margaret Court to the 2020 Australian Open to celebrate the 50th anniversary of her grand slam sweep but does not agree with her personal views.
Tennis Australia said it will recognizing Margaret Court at next year's Australian Open because of her incredible tennis record but said it did not agree with her "demeaning" personal views.
In 1970, Court captured all four major titles and posted a record of 24 grand slam wins for her entire tennis career. These achievements will be celebrated by the regulating body at next year's Australian Open.
However, the 77-year-old, now a Pentecostal pastor in Western Australia, has received widespread controversy for expressing her opposition to same-sex marriage and saying that tennis is "full of lesbians."
This prompted her former rival Billie Jean King to cal for the removal of Court's name from Melbourne Park's Margaret Court Arena at last year's tournament. However, Tennis Australia refused to do so, saying: "Australia is fortunate that Margaret Court's extraordinary playing achievements form part of our national tennis history."
"Naturally, we will be recognizing Margaret and her incredible tennis record, and contrary to many reports, there is no plan to 'rewrite history'," it added.
However, Tennis Australia reiterated that Court's personal views "fracture our incredible tennis community. We respect that everyone has a right to an opinion -- and a right to express it."
"Equally, we all share an obligation that while living our lives freely, we do not harm others, and we understand that there are consequences to our words. Publicly stated views of intolerance and demeaning language about others can have enormous impact, and are particularly hurtful and harmful to those who believe they are targeted," the governing body emphasized.
Currently, Court's record of 24 grand slam titles is unmatched in both the men's and the women's game, with Serena Williams in second with 23 and Steffi Graf in third place with 22.
