Peter FitzSimons: Rename Margaret Court arena – due to tennis legend’s anti-gay rights stance

Columnist Peter FitzSimons is leading the call for Margaret Court Arena to be renamed in response to the tennis legend’s anti-gay marriage stance.

Court wrote a letter to Qantas in 2017 offering her ‘disappointment’ at the airline in supporting the federal government’s plebiscite and said she would no longer fly with the company in the future as a result.

‘I am disappointed that Qantas has become an active promoter for same sex marriage,’ Court said.

‘I believe in marriage as a union between a man and a woman as stated in the Bible. Your statement leaves me no option but to use other airlines where possible for my extensive travelling.’ 

FitzSimons, who has urged officials to change the stadium’s name in the past, posted a poll to Twitter on Sunday night asking his followers what they think the name should be changed to, offering Aboriginal icon Evonne Goolagong-Cawley as an alternative.

FitzSimons believes Aboriginal icon Goolagong (pictured with Australian Open champion Ash Barty) would be the ideal person to name the stadium after

He has previously spoken glowingly of the seven-time grand slam winner.

‘Personally, I know of no finer person, no more generous and inclusive than Evonne Goolagong-Cawley,’ he said. 

‘I run into her about once a year in airports around Australia and she is always on her way to do something to help someone. 

‘How bout the Evonne Goolagong Arena, as a name that tennis can be proud to put up in lights?’

FitzSimons’ poll offers followers three options, Goolagong, keeping the name the same or someone different entirely.

With over 5,000 votes, 80 per cent agreed that the indigenous legend should see her name immortalised on Melbourne Park’s second biggest tennis arena. 

The Sydney Morning Herald columnist said Tennis Australia should be doing more to shed themselves of Court’s baggage and said it is time the sport ends its association with the ‘bigot’.

‘Tennis is an inclusive game, and ever more inclusive in the 21st century,’ he wrote in 2017.

‘Does Melbourne Park really want to have an arena named after someone who stands so firmly against such inclusiveness, who is becoming a byword for bigot?’ 

Fans and pundits are calling for Goolagong or even Ash Barty to have their names emblazoned on the stadium instead of Court

Meanwhile, Ash Barty’s stunning victory in Saturday’s Australian Open final saw hundreds take to social media to suggest changing the name to honour the country’s new golden girl.

Twitter was ablaze following the 25-year-old’s straight sets win over American Danielle Collins, with many suggesting she is the perfect person to replace Court at the front of the stadium.  

‘She’s much more deserving of the honour. I mean, a dog turd bag is more deserving but anyway… bloody change it already,’ one person wrote.

‘Ash Barty Arena has a nicer ring than Margaret Court don’t you think?’ another Twitter user said.

Barty’s stunning victory in Saturday’s Australian Open final saw hundreds take to social media to suggest changing the name to honour the country’s new golden girl

Many were quick to pour water on the suggestion though, saying it’s too early in the Queenslander’s career to rename a stadium in her honour. 

‘I love Barty but I don’t think it should be named after someone who is still active in the sport. Wait until she retires. I would love for them to rename it after Evonne Goolagong Cawley though!’ a Reddit user posted.

‘I don’t think they should do it now since she is still playing…but when she retires and that sure,’ another replied.