Andy Murray during his match against Yoshihito Nishioka in the first round of the US Open on September 1, 2020. -

Seth Wenig / AP / SIPA

The Briton Andy Murray, said Thursday he was in favor of the "Margaret Court Arena", one of the main courts of the Australian Open in Melbourne, to be renamed because the former Australian champion "offended" " number of people ”by his controversial remarks on apartheid or homosexuality.

The Scotsman, former world number 1, told Pridelife.com that he did not believe that "the values ​​(of Margaret Court) are those that tennis stands for".

Margaret Court, 77, holds the all-time Grand Slam title record with 24 trophies.

Now a Pentecostal pastor in Perth, Australia, she has come under heavy criticism for praising the apartheid system in South Africa, saying that "tennis is full of lesbians" and that transgender children are "The work of the devil".

But of course ... Margaret Court considers Folau to be "persecuted" via @ 20minutesSport https://t.co/uH9pLbX2G2

- 20 Minutes Sport (@ 20minutesSport) April 18, 2019

"She has obviously offended and upset many people for years," added the five-time Australian Open finalist, who described as "positive" the fact that several players have spoken on the subject.

Asked about the possibility of changing the name of this court, Murray said he was in favor: "I think it's something that sport should consider".

Soon the “Evonne Goolagong Arena”?

“When you get to the Australian Open you want to focus on your tennis.

And the opinions expressed by Ms. Court prevent you from doing so, ”said the Briton, winner of three Grand Slam titles.

In January, to commemorate the 50 years of his Grand Slam in singles, a year after having celebrated with great pomp that of Rod Laver (in 1969), Melbourne had given him an icy welcome.

The two American tennis glories Martina Navratilova and John McEnroe then pleaded for the “Margaret Court Arena” to be renamed “Evonne Goolagong Arena”, named after the first Aboriginal to have won a Major.

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  • Racism

  • Homophobia

  • Australian Open

  • Andy Murray

  • Tennis

  • Sport