Margaret Court to be recognised in Australia Day 2021 honours, tennis fans SLAM decision

Australian tennis legend Margaret Court is due to get her country’s highest recognition as part of the Australia Day 2021 honours ceremony on January 26. The 78-year-old, who retired from professional tennis back in 1977, is to be awarded a Companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia. As soon as the news became public through the Australian media, several fans and Australian citizens have been expressing their rage online for Court’s controversial views on the LGBT community in the past.

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Margaret Court LGBT controversy haunts her prior to receiving country’s highest honour

In 2019, Margaret Court criticised transgender athletes at a church based in Perth where she is a pastor. Court also slammed the teachings of LGBT materials in schools. She was later subjected to severe backlash from the community with tennis legends John McEnroe and Martina Navratilova lambasting her for her comments.

Quite recently, Victoria state leader Daniel Andrews, without naming Margaret Court, slammed the tennis legend after her looming Australia Day 2021 honours recognition news became public. After Andrews' statement on social media, several Australian fans and supporters of the LGBT community echoed his views and criticised the Australian government’s decision of granting the highest civilian honour to Court.

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Here is a look at some of the fans' most aggressive reactions to Margaret Court LGBT controversy and her getting recognised for the top honour.

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Margaret Court Grand Slam wins

The Margaret Court Grand Slam wins and other statistics make for a staggering read. Between 1960 and 1977, she won 24 Grand Slam women’s singles titles. Moreover, she has also won 19 Grand Slam doubles and another 21 in mixed doubles. Her singles career includes 11 Australian Open titles, five each of French Open and US Open and three Wimbledon Championships.

Australian Open 2021

Just a few days after Margaret Court receives her country’s highest honour, Melbourne will host the first Grand Slam of the year with the Australian Open 2021. Several players have already arrived in the city for the tournament scheduled to take place between February 8 and 21.  

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Image source: AP