MELBOURNE — Margaret Court? The outspoken tennis great had long opposed the fact that Court, a fellow legend who has become known more for her homophobic comments than her sterling game, had been honored at the Australian Open with a show court stadium bearing her name. Then, as this year’s two-week tournament entered its final week, tennis officials feted Court once again. 1 and three-time Australian Open singles champion, “and John McEnroe is here to help.”Suddenly there was McEnroe — another ardent critic of Court. “Evonne Goolagong Arena,” it read, a nod to calls for Melbourne Park’s second biggest stadium to be renamed after an uncontroversial and widely beloved Australian great of the women’s game, the winner of three consecutive Australian Opens in the mid-1970s.

Source: New York Times January 31, 2020 20:48 UTC