Margaret Court wants to remind the world that it is she and not Serena Williams who holds the record for the most Grand Slam titles, with 24, one more than the newly retired.
In interview at Daily Telegraph Mondaythe Australian has lamented that she doesn’t get enough credit for her exploits, achieved between 1960 and 1973. She criticizes both Williams and the media, who still call Serena ‘the best player of all time’ .
“I admire Serena, but I don’t think she does,” Court said. A lot of media won’t even mention my name. I have not received any honor for all that I have accomplished. I have already been honored in my own country, but the media still prefer not to talk about me.
According to her, it is because of her religious beliefs, which led her to oppose same-sex marriage in 2012. Court is currently a minister at a Pentecostal Christian Movement church in Perth.
In 2017, she did not help her cause by decrying the endorsement of Australian carrier Qantas for its support of same-sex marriage.
She believes that she is a victim of censorship simply because she uses her right to freedom of expression. A situation that saddens him greatly.
“I think a lot of that is because I stood up for my beliefs. I was the victim of a lot of harassment. But we should be able to say what we believe. I have nothing against anyone. I respect everyone, I serve everyone.”
“It’s what I believe and what the Bible says,” she added.
The American is often praised for returning to the top level after giving birth to daughter Olympia in September 2017. But that doesn’t impress Court.
“Serena hasn’t won a Grand Slam title since having a child. For my part, I returned to the game after having two children. After my first childbirth, I won three of the four Grand Slam titles,” recalled the 80-year-old woman.
Serena’s last title in a Grand Slam tournament dates back to the 2017 Australian Open… when she was eight weeks pregnant.
“It’s much easier today”
Court also pointed out that she played for less time than Williams, which is a sign of her superiority, in her opinion.
“Serena played seven years older than me. I stopped my career in my thirties (35 years old). People forget that I took a two-year hiatus. I first retired when I was 25. I got married, had a child, and then had one of my best seasons, winning 24 out of 25 tournaments.
Court had another gossipy opinion that the life of a tennis player is “much easier” today than it was back then.
“I would have liked to play in this era. I believe it is much easier. I wish I could bring my family and friends with me, but I couldn’t.
“Also, we didn’t have any sports psychologists or coaches with us. It was a completely different world. It disappoints me that the players of today do not honor those of the past.
Tips for Billie Jean King
Besides Serena, Court shot arrows at another American tennis legend: Billie Jean King.
“I often hear Billie Jean say that the best players didn’t come to Australia in the early years of my career, but world number one Maria Bueno came, as did Christine Truman, Ann Haydon and Darlene Hard. There were also five Australian players in the top 10.
Williams lost Friday in the third round of the US Open. It was her last match since she had previously indicated that she was retiring at the end of this tournament.