The men’s world No1, Andy Murray, fears tennis players trying to boycott Margaret Court Arena at the Australian Open would cause scheduling chaos and wants the issue brought to a head sooner rather than later.



Former player Margaret Court’s public opposition to same-sex marriage has sparked furious debate around whether the show court named in her honour at Melbourne Park should be changed.

Murray, a long-time member and former president of the ATP players’ council – in addition to his standing as world No1 – has no doubts Court’s vocal stance is creating locker-room angst.

Placing Tennis Australia under huge pressure to react – after Stosur on Monday suggested players may request not to appear on Margaret Court Arena in January – Murray said a meeting between the game’s grand slam competitors was needed to ascertain the general consensus.

“If something was to be done, I think it would be a lot more beneficial to do it before the tournament starts,” Murray said. “For players to be in a position where you’re in a slam and kind of boycotting playing on the court, I think would potentially cause a lot of issues.

Margaret Court has sparked furious debate around whether the court named after her at Melbourne Park should be changed. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/AAP

“So I think if something was going to be happening and the players come to an agreement, if they think the name should be changed or whatever, that should be decided before the event – before the event starts. But I would imagine a lot of the players would be pretty offended by that. So, we’ll see what happens.”

While gay Dutch professional Richel Hogenkamp is the only elite player on record as saying there should be a name change, Australia’s stars competing at the French Open in Paris are strongly united in disagreeing with Court’s views.

From grand slam champion Samantha Stosur to teenage qualifier Jaimee Fourlis, the Australians have deferred any decision about a possible name change to higher authorities, saying Court, like anyone, is entitled to her opinion.

But they stand united in opposing Court’s stance. “I have no problem with gay marriage at all. I mean, that’s where I stand,” Australia’s men’s No1 Nick Kyrgios said on Tuesday. Stosur, Fourlis, Ashleigh Barty, her doubles partner Casey Dellacqua – who has two children in an openly gay relationship – and fellow men’s players John Millman and Thanasi Kokkinakis share Kyrgios’s view.

“I don’t agree with what Margaret said at all. But everyone is entitled to their opinion,” Kokkinakis said. “I know a lot of people that I’m friends with are gay.”