CASEY Dellacqua has broken her silence on the Margaret Court furore, revealing she was deeply hurt by Court’s comments.
Dellacqua – who has two children in an openly gay relationship with former touch football champion Amanda Judd – was targeted by Court in a 2013 article in which the grand slam record-holder questioned the validity of same sex relationships.
Stopping short of calling for Tennis Australia to remove Court’s name from Melbourne Park ahead of next year’s Australian Open, Dellacqua emotionally opened up on a painful subject.
“At the time I was really hurt. I mean, I was hurt because I actually know Margaret personally,” Dellacqua said.
Casey Dellacqua and Margaret Court in 2006.Source:News Limited
“I used to hit with her back in Perth so I know her. And yeah, I was hurt at the time.
“I let it go because it was a very happy time in my life so I kind of just ignored it and thought, ‘I’m not going to let anyone ruin my happiness.’ So yes, I was hurt.
“I’m very conscious of the fact that everyone is allowed their opinion, but when you start singling out my family especially, that’s when it’s not okay.
“And my family do not deserve to be subject to that.
“She can have her opinion but my family does not deserve that and did not deserve that. That’s when I thought, you know what, it’s my time to speak up.
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“Back in 2013 that was when she wrote about me, obviously, but it was a really happy time in my life.
“You know, the birth of my first child, our first child, so it was a really happy time.
“So I did read the article and I left it alone. I thought, you know what, it’s not worth responding to. So I left it.
Casey Dellacqua and partner Amanda Judd with the couple’s children Blake (boy) and Andie (girl). Picture: InstagramSource:Supplied
“But then obviously more and more stuff just keeps coming out and I just thought, you know what, that’s why the tweet said enough. Because it is, it’s just enough.”
Dellacqua would not be drawn on whether she would consider boycotting Margaret Court Arena or supporting the removal of Court’s name from the precinct.
“I don’t really feel like going into too much in regards to that, I’ll be honest,” she said.
“I personally feel when I’m playing in Melbourne at the Australian Open I have a huge amount of support from the fans there.
“So whatever court I do play on, I know that, you know, I’ll be well supported and I have always enjoyed my time playing in Melbourne.
“The Australian Open is a long time away. But yeah, I just prefer probably not to go into any of that.
“I love playing in Melbourne so whatever court that might be on, but yeah, I feel fine about all that. I’ll just leave that one.”
Great mate and doubles partner Ash Barty (L) with Casey Dellacqua.Source:AAP
Court, who is a Christian Pastor, told 20Twenty Vision Christian Radio program that tennis today is “full of lesbians”.
The 74-year-old claimed lesbians in tennis during her time in the sport were a bad influence on the younger generations.
“Even when I was playing there was only a couple there, but those couple that led, that took young ones into parties and things,” she said.
“And you know, what you get at the top is often what you’ll get right through that sport.”
Court’s comments were related to a question about what transgender athletes mean for the future of sport.
The 24-times major winner also delved into the subject of transgender children during the interview, saying they are influenced by the Devil.
“With the literature, the bullying, the stuff that’s put out today into children’s minds, I tell you what, if you haven’t got parents who bring you up that way and you’ve got parents that don’t care and you’re hurt and offended in somebody saying something to you,” she said.
“I tell you, a child can just start to think ‘well, maybe I am a girl’ when they’re a boy or and maybe I’m a boy and I’m a girl.
Casey Dellacqua and Lleyton Hewitt at Melbourne Park.Source:Getty Images
“Your thoughts – even medically they’re knowing now – the mind is a battlefield and that’s why I wrote that book Train Your Brain because the mind is, it’s all in the Bible.
“God’s got so much in there about the mind how it affects us, affects our emotions, our feelings, you can think ‘oh I’m a boy’ and it’ll affect your emotions and feelings, and everything else and so that’s all the Devil.
“That’s what Hitler did, that’s what Communism did – got the mind of the children. And it’s a whole plot in our nation and in the nations of the world to get the minds of the children.”
Samantha Stosur is among a growing group of players to support Dellacqua, hinting she may try to boycott Margaret Court Arena at next year’s Australian Open.
“Look, I think everyone can have their own opinion. I don’t agree with Margaret’s opinion,” the Australian No 1 said.
“That’s why Casey was, obviously, very adamant about that and I wanted to support my friend and that’s why I sent out my first tweet in a very long time.
“And, look, it’s just not something that I agree with. I think we definitely should have it (same-sex marriage) in Australia.”
Stosur said she found it hard to believe Margaret Court Arena’s name would ever change, but suggested some players may request not to play on it.
“The court’s named Margaret Court Arena because of what she did in tennis, and that’s why basically,” she said.
Dellacqua in action at the French.Source:Getty Images
“But I guess we’ll cross that bridge when we all get down to the Australian Open next year and (see) who wants to play on Margaret Court Arena and who doesn’t, and we’ll go from there.”
Olympian John Millman and teenage wildcard Jaimee Fourlis are also opposed to Court, who wrote in a letter to The West Australian newspaper last week: “I believe in marriage as a union between a man and a woman as stated in the Bible.”
“It’s a little bit inappropriate,” Millman said of Court’s views.
“I have a lot of time for Casey. I think she’s a great person and I think she’s a great mother.
“I’m all for any type of relationships. The more people get along the better and so it’s a little bit disappointing.
“I just think in this day and age, there’s so much worse things happening in the world.
“It’s not a bad thing. I think it’s a great thing when two people, regardless of their gender, find love and whatever.”
Fourlis agreed with her contemporaries.
“I love Casey and two women can parent as good as a man and a woman,” the 17-year-old said.
“I’ve seen the way Casey is parenting and her two kids are unbelievable. They’re incredible.”
Originally published as ‘When you single out my family … it’s not okay’
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