Almost as soon as Ash Barty announced her retirement, calls were being made to rename Melbourne’s Margaret Court Arena in her honour.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on Thursday labelled the debate unfair, saying the right move at this time would be to focus on the 25-year-old’s achievements.
“The naming of that stadium has been quite controversial. Let’s not take away from what is a celebration of an amazing tennis career by plunging headfirst into that debate,” Mr Andrews said.
Barty dropped the bombshell news this week that she would be leaving the sport at the very peak of her career.
Her good nature, humility and success on the court have won her national acclaim and a soft spot in the hearts of Australians.
Conversely, 79-year-old Margaret Court’s religious-inspired opinions on same-sex marriage and transgender issues have drawn widespread criticism.
Court remains one of the most successful athletes ever to play the game, winning 24 grand slam singles titles and being the first woman of the open era to win all four major titles in one year in 1970.
However, plans to honour her achievements at the 2020 Australian Open stirred bitter controversy, including a push to remove her name from the second biggest arena at Melbourne Park where the Open is held.
With Barty’s retirement came renewed calls to strip Court of the honour.
Former AFLW coach Bec Goddard was one of the first to suggest the change on social media, prompting mixed responses.
Co-presenter of ABC News Breakfast, Michael Rowland also appeared to be for the change.
He posted, “The ‘Ash Barty Arena’ to sit alongside the ’Rod Laver Arena’ in Melbourne. That would be fitting.”
However, Mr Andrews said ultimately how Barty was honxjmtzywoured was up to her.
According to the premier of Barty’s home state of Queensland, Annastacia Palaszczuk, she has already turned down the idea of a statue.
“I’m not sure that she necessarily wants a stadium named after her. That’ll be driven by her,” Mr Andrews said.
“I reckon she might be much more interested in … promoting the next generation of young tennis players to come through rather than naming stadiums after herself.”
Mr Andrews, who has previously condemned Court’s controversial statements, said the limelight should be left on Barty and her inspiring career.
“I don’t think that we do her justice by diving into (that). That’s a separate issue. That’s not fair on a wonderful career that we should celebrate. Let’s not dredge up that other debate that’s pretty controversial.”
Former tennis star Pat Rafter agreed, telling 3AW that fans should focus on what made Barty great.
“She doesn’t want all the hoo-ha that goes along with it. We all fell in love with her because she’s the girl next door and she’s never changed,” Rafter said.
However he added, “I think she’s really deserved of every stadium in Australia.”
