Australian tennis great Margaret Court feels she isn’t ‘admired’ by retiring legend Serena Williams and that her own 24 Grand Slam title record is not given enough credit.
Williams retired from tennis after getting knocked out in the third round of the US Open – finishing with 23 Grand Slam titles in a wonderful career.
In an interview after Williams bowed out of the sport, Court revealed she didn’t feel the American star felt the same way she did about her.
“Serena, I’ve admired her as a player,” Court told the Daily Telegraph.
“But I don’t think she has ever admired me.”
Court – who won her 24 majors between 1960 and 1973 – has become a controversial figure in recent years, with her Christian beliefs meaning she opposed same-sex marriage.
She feels that she is no longer respected in the tennis world and even in her own country.
“A lot of the press and television today, particularly in tennis, don’t want to mention my name,” she said.
“The honour has not been there for what I did do. In my own nation, I have been given titles, but they would still rather not mention me.”
Despite Williams winning one less Grand Slam title, some critics claim Court’s achievements couldn’t be compared because they were in different era.
Court ridiculed that suggestion and claimed it would have been easier to have success in current times.
“Serena has played seven years more than I did,” Court said.
“I finished in my early 30s. People forget that I took two years out. I first retired…when I was 25, thinking I would never return to tennis.
“I would love to have played in this era. I think it’s so much easier.
“How I would love to have taken family or friends along with me. But I couldn’t. I had to go on my own or with the national team. People don’t see all that.
“We didn’t have psychologists or coaches with us. It’s a whole different world. That’s what disappoints me — that players today don’t honour the past of the game.”
Court also claimed she played better tennis after having a baby than Williams did when she became a mother.
“I came back after two babies,” she said.
“After having the first baby, I won three out of the four Slams.
“Serena hasn’t won a Slam since [having a baby].”
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