Margaret Court has celebrated the 40-year anniversary of her 1970 Grand Slam at Melbourne Park on Saturday before the women’s final of Australian Open 2010.
With a record 24 women’s Grand Slam titles to her name, Court was joined on Rod Laver Arena by four of her former rivals in Billie Jean Kean, Rosie Casals, Lesley Bowrey and Evonne Goolagong Cawley.
The four superstars of days past shared their memories of Court with tournament on-court announcer Craig Willis and an adoring crowd.
“Every time I go to Wimbledon, I see myself lose because they show that match every single year for the last 40 years... but Margaret is such a great champion and I celebrate her in winning all majors in one year in 1970,” King said.
“What I can remember are her long arms, her long legs, she could reach everything and there wasn’t a lot that went over her head because she could always reach it. So for me, being 5 foot 2 and a quarter, it was very tough to serve and volley against her, but she is great champion,” Casals said.
“She was always really tough to beat here in Australia ... Margaret was just a terrific athlete, she had a powerful game – very similar to how the Williams sisters are of this era,” Bowrey said.
“Before I went to Wimbledon, Margaret beat me all the time ... when I did play at Wimbledon in 1971, I was playing really well, got to the final and Margaret was up there. I thought ‘gee, either I’m playing really well or she is playing really bad’; anyway she was playing really bad. I found out later that she was pregnant, so (Margaret’s husband) Barry, I have to thank you for helping me achieve my first Wimbledon,” Goolagong Cawley said.
Court was humbled by the comments of her contemporaries. “It is wonderful to see these players back here; we don’t always get to see one another, and I just thank them for coming and making this the day it has been,” she said.
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