Controversial Aussie tennis legend Margaret Court has medals stolen during break-in at her home – after she was a no-show at the Australian Open
- Two men have been charged for break-in
- Court was a notable absentee from the Australian Open
- Tennis legend has created controversy with religious views
Two people have been charged after awards, medals and other valuables were stolen from the West Australian home of controversial Australian tennis champion Margaret Court on Australia Day.
The men from Edgewater, aged 33 and 34, have been charged with one count of aggravated home burglary and commit and one count of stealing and are due to appear in a Perth court next month.
Thieves allegedly stole awards and medals from Margaret and Barry Court during the break-in. Picture: Fiona Hamilton
‘It will be alleged about 8pm, two men gained access to the premises via the front entrance door,’ Western Australian police said in a statement.
‘Once inside, it will be further alleged the accused rummaged through the victim’s property and stole a number of items including awards, medals and jewellery.
‘A number of the items were located in nearby bushland and gardens.’
Court holds the all-time record for singles grand slam championships in the Open era with 24 and has a show court named after her at Melbourne Park, which hosts the Australian Open.
However, Court has not been sighted at the Australian grand slam in three years after calls from tennis greats Martina Navratilova and John McEnroe to have Margaret Court Arena re-named after Evonne Goolagong Cawley.
While Court has not appeared at the Australian Open since 2020, she was a special guest at Wimbledon in 2022 (pictured with British champion Andy Murray and John Newcombe)
Evonne Goolagong Cawley and Ash Barty were guests at the 2023 Australian Open at Melbourne Park but Court was nowhere to be seen
The arena named after Margaret Court. There has been a petition and considerable support from the tennis community to re-name it after Evonne Goolagong Cawley
The 80-year-old is a Catholic and prominent voice of a Perth-based Pentecostal movement.
She has previously made headlines for her views on same-sex marriage, previously describing gay marriage as a ‘trend’.
‘I think there will be a price to pay for it in the future in the nation and people will see it’s not about marriage,’ she told the Herald Sun at the time.
‘There will be a genderless generation. My thing was a marriage is between a man and a woman.’
Serena Williams kisses Margaret Court after her victory against Lindsay Davenport during the women’s final of the 2005 Australian Open. The pair have also clashed over who is the greatest women’s player of all time
While the former champion was not present at the Australian Open, she did make an appearance at the Yarrawonga Lawn Tennis Club in the lead-up where she signed autographs for young fans at an All Stars Tennis Tournament.
Court is considered one of the sport’s all-time greats, having won 24 major singles titles and a phenomenal 64 major titles in total.
She retired from tennis in 1977.
Former champions Rod Laver, Evonne Goolagong, John Newcombe, Ken Rosewall and Ash Barty were spotted at the Australian Open this year but Court was a notable absentee.
Margaret Court of Australia holds the Venus Rosewater Dish after defeating Billie Jean King of the United States at Wimbledon in 1970
She has not been sighted at the Australian Open since she was the guest of honour in 2020 to mark the 50-year anniversary of her ‘grand slam’ in 1970.
Tennis Australia introduced a Pride Day as part of the 2023 Australian Open to celebrate inclusivity, which included a Pride Hub and all-gender toilets at Melbourne Park.
On top of that, the Open also included a Glam Slam event to celebrate the LGBTI+ community from January 25-27.
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