That record, driven from a passion fostered during her South Albury childhood, has given her a public profile far beyond the average 74-year-old.

But it also must be remembered it is 42 years since Court played her last grand slam singles match, incidentally losing to Martina Navratilova at the US Open.

Court has been an ordained minister and operated her own church, Victory Life Centre, for 22 years, so she now has devoted more time to religion than tennis.

Holding traditional Biblical views, it is no surprise she does not support gay marriage and in her autobiography last year wrote: “Reporters know I will never back down from my position on gay issues and will stand up for the Word of God.”

Court understands how the media works and knows the currency of her tennis record, if you look at her Twitter blurb it mentions grand slam titles.

That means the hubbub at her boycott of Qantas over its chief executive’s support of gay marriage should not surprise Court.

Clearly she is entitled to her opinion, just as proponents of gay marriage are entitled to criticise her outlook.

But it is ludicrous for Court to compare education on gay issues to the mind control techniques of the regime of Nazi despot Adolf Hitler.

We do not live in a dictatorship and Court’s ability to speak out and indeed influence her parishioners mocks the suggestion of state control of children’s thoughts.

The flipside of the free speech debate generated by Court’s comments has been an argument over whether Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne should be renamed.

Navratilova wants the tennis stadium to become Evonne Goolagong Arena, stating Court is a bigot who should not be honoured in such a way.

But when Margaret Court Arena was christened it reflected the tennis record of its namesake.

Outstanding sport stars are honoured for their playing deeds not for outside matters.

Otherwise scandal-magnet Shane Warne would not have a statue outside the MCG, there would not be a wing at Subiaco Oval named after West Coast star and drug user Chris Mainwaring and 1964 Olympics flag prankster Dawn Fraser would not have Balmain baths bearing her moniker.