Billie Jean King backs calls to rename Margaret Court Arena

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Billie Jean King thinks one of the main venues at the Australian Open should be renamed because of Margaret Court's comments about the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

King, a pioneer for equality and diversity in tennis, said she had initially been a proponent of having Margaret Court Arena named in recognition of the 24-time Grand Slam singles winner's contribution to the sport.

"I was fine until lately when she said so many derogatory things about my community — I'm a gay woman — about the LBGTIQ community," King said at news conference Friday. "That really went deep in my heart and soul.

"I personally don't think she should have (her name on the stadium) anymore.