While all the big names like Ashleigh Barty,Roger Federer,Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal fronted the media for the traditional pre-tournament press conference over the weekend,Serena Williams chose not to.
Tennis Australia said late last year it would"recognise but not celebrate"Court at the 2020 event,with the Australian legend under fire for her views on same-sex marriage and transgender people.
The former world No.4 has nothing but praise for Ashleigh Barty,who enters the Australian Open as the top seed.
She'll be recognised on the 50th anniversary of her calendar-year grand slam,but Margaret Court won't be presenting the trophy to the women's champion.
Discussions are well advanced for an ATP Cup-style tournament for women next year to be called the WTA Cup.
Serena Williams hopes her famed determination can end the longest drought of her storied tennis career and lift her alongside Margaret Court as the owner of the most grand slam singles titles.
Tennis great Martina Navratilova has accused Margaret Court of"hiding behind her Bible"and decried her recent controversial sermon as"pathetic ... in every way".
Margaret Court has doubled down on her controversial views in a fiery sermon at her Perth church,condemning trans athletes in the wake of a hard-fought battle to be celebrated by Tennis Australia for the 50th anniversary of her grand slam year next month.
Court will appear as a'special guest'at next month's Open. It's the first time she has appeared since 2017,when her same sex marriage views entered the marriage equality campaign.
Tennis Australia was never going to keep everyone happy,but good leadership is not about creating winners and losers,but rather finding a way to achieve outcomes in difficult situations.
Todd Woodbridge has supported Tennis Australia's decision to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Margaret Court's Grand Slam in 1970 but denounce her views on homosexuality.