She is the queen of Grand Slams!

Nearly 50 years after her last title, earned at the U.S. Open in 1973, Margaret Smith Court has still not been equalled. With 24 victories in major tournaments, the Australian is still a step ahead of Serena Williams, who has been trying to catch her for years. Without luck. Margaret Smith Court was also the first female player to win a Grand Slam in the Open Era. That was in 1970, and only Steffi Graf had pulled it off since then. As comfortable in the backcourt as at the net, Margaret Smith (married name Court) is also known for her fierce rivalry with Billie Jean King. Both on the court and off, the two players still hold very different positions today. While Billie Jean King is lauded as a pioneer in fighting for gender equality in sport, Margaret Court, who became a pastor in the Pentecostal Church, has accumulated blunders, including on homosexuality and apartheid. This has led many players to ask that the court which bears her name in Melbourne be renamed to honour Evonne Goolagong, the first aboriginal champion.

Current projects

Pastor in the Pentecostal Church of Perth