PARIS (AP) – Sam Stosur says Margaret Court is “digging a very big hole for herself” with her comments about same-sex marriage and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
Court won a record 24 Grand Slam singles titles in the 1960s and 1970s and is now a Christian pastor. In a letter published in The West Australian newspaper last week, Court wrote that she would stop flying Qantas “where possible” because the Australian airline “has become an active promoter for same-sex marriage.”
The 74-year-old Court has been a critic of homosexuality for decades, and she expanded her comments in a Christian radio station interview this week.
“I think she’s digging a very big hole for herself at the moment. And for whatever reason, she wants to keep talking about it,” Stosur said Friday after beating American qualifier Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-2, 6-2 in the third round of the French Open.
Martina Navratilova wrote an open letter this week criticizing Court and recommending that tennis officials rename the arena that bears the Australian great’s name at Melbourne Park, home to the Australian Open.