Margaret Court is one of the most successful tennis players to date and has an arena at the Australian Open named after her, so here is everything that you need to know.
Tennis Australia sought to further recognize the impact that Court made on the sport in the Oceanic nation in 2002 by renaming one of the arenas at the Australian Open after her. The Australian Open had also been where Court enjoyed the most success in her playing career.
Success often followed Court during her playing days with a whopping 62 titles from singles, doubles and mixed doubles competitions from 1960 until 1975. Her triumphs also saw Court become just the second woman to ever win a Calendar Grand Slam after Maureen Connolly.
Margaret Court was the second woman to achieve the Calendar Grand Slam
Court completed her only Calendar Grand Slam in 1970, the year in which she also won the singles title at Wimbledon for the third and last time plus the only time in the open era. She had come close in 1962 but Court lost to Billie Jean King in the second round at Wimbledon.
She also came close to the Calendar Grand Slam in 1965 but Lesley Turner edged her in the final of the French Open. Few would rival Court at the Australian Open, though, as she won her home tournament 11 times – even going unbeaten for seven years from 1960 to 1966.
What made Court such an exceptional player was her telescopic reach and immense natural athleticism. She even invested a lot of time into improving the Australian’s physical strength and also trained with men, resulting in Court having a different playing style from her rivals.
So, with that in mind, The Tennis Gazette has looked into everything that you need to know about Court including why she has an Australian Open arena named after her to her career.
Who is tennis legend Margaret Court?
Margaret Court (born Margaret Smith) is an Australian tennis icon who won 24 Grand Slam titles across a career in which she achieved the Career Grand Slam in women’s singles at 21. She was also one of the first players inducted in the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame in 1993.
Court also achieved the Calendar Year Grand Slam in 1970 and also became the first mother to be the number one ranked women’s player in the world in 1973 following the birth of her first child. In 1973, Court even won an insane 24 of the 25 tournaments in which she played.
Australian tennis champion Frank Sedgman saw Court’s potential from an early age, too, as he told her at just 13 years old that becoming the first female Australian to win Wimbledon was possible. It was a prophecy Court fulfilled three times – including once in the open era.
When did Margaret Court retire?
The International Tennis Hall of Fame inducted Margaret Court within the Class of 1979, just two years after she permanently retired from playing competitively. Court formally hung up her racket and retired in 1977 after learning she was expecting the third of her four children.
Court had previously taken a break from tennis after getting married in 1967 but returned to winning ways in 1968. She also took a break in 1971 when Court learned she was pregnant with her first child. But Court’s heart was no longer in the game during her third pregnancy.
But Court lost her way after retiring upon releasing how disconnected she became from her upbringing as a Catholic. Court later turned to the Pentecostal Church in 1980 and was even ordained as an independent Pentecostal minister in 1991 and established her own ministry.
How old is Margaret Court? What is her age?
At the time of writing, Margaret Court is 82 years old and she was born on July 16, 1942.
Where was Margaret Court born? What is her nationality?
Australia boasts one of the most successful tennis players to date with Margaret Court, who was born in Perth. She also returned to Perth in Western Australia after retiring from playing competitive tennis, at which point Court also refocused by opening a boutique clothes store.
Court left Perth as a child as her family moved to Albury in New South Wales. Yet their move meant she lived over the road from 24 grass tennis courts where Wally Rutter noted Court’s potential, so became her coach. Court moved to Melbourne aged 16 for specialist coaching.
How tall is Margaret Court? What is her height in feet?
Standing at a height of 1.75m, Margaret Court measures in at 5 ft 8 in feet and inches.
Margaret Court won 24 Grand Slam titles
Few female and male players in history can rival the career that Margaret Court had through the amateur era and open era with 24 Grand Slam titles. Court also won 11 Australian Open, five French Open, three Wimbledon and five US Open titles in the Australian’s all-time total.
| MARGARET COURT’S GRAND SLAM TITLES | |||
| GRAND SLAM | ALL-TIME TITLES | AMATEUR ERA | OPEN ERA |
| Australian Open | 11x (1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973) | 7x (1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966) | 4x (1969, 1970, 1971, 1973) |
| French Open | 5x (1962, 1964, 1969, 1970, 1973) | 2x (1962, 1964) | 3x (1969, 1970, 1973) |
| Wimbledon | 3x (1963, 1965, 1970) | 2x (1963, 1965) | 1x (1970) |
| US Open | 5x (1962, 1965, 1969, 1970, 1973) | 2x (1962, 1965) | 3x (1969, 1970, 1973) |
The Australian Open named a court after Margaret Court in 2002
Tennis Australia sought to further honor the legacy that Margaret Court made on tennis, not only Down Under but around the world, by renaming a court at Melbourne Park after her in 2002. Margaret Court Arena is also the third-largest site at the home of the Australian Open.
Only the Rod Laver Arena (15,000) and the John Cain Arena (10,500) have larger capacities than the Margaret Court Arena, in which 7,500 spectators can watch the Australian Open at Melbourne Park. The Margaret Court Arena originally opened in 1988 as ‘Show Court One’.
Margaret Court’s net worth
Despite being one of the most successful tennis players in history with 24 Grand Slam titles in the Australian’s trophy cabinet, Margaret Court only boasts a net worth of around $10m.
Margaret Court vs Serena Williams
For many tennis fans, Margaret Court or Serena Williams is the greatest female player so far. But Court and Williams have also had a somewhat acrimonious relationship across the years as the former’s career Grand Slam record was often put to the latter to decide who is better.
Williams, ultimately, retired in 2017 with just one fewer Grand Slam title than Court’s record of 24. Yet the American was quick to direct a jibe at the Australian upon Williams retiring for Court lifting 13 titles before the open era in which professional tennis has radically changed.
Court even directed jibes at Williams and noted shortly following the American’s retirement: “I would love to have played in this era. I think it’s so much easier.” The Australian also cited how Williams had the luxury, unlike Court, to travel with the company of family and friends.
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