ＧＳ歴代最多優勝のコート氏、セレーナから称賛返されず不満

【ロンドンＡＦＰ＝時事】テニス、四大大会（グランドスラム）の女子シングルスで歴代最多２４勝を記録している往年の名選手マーガレット・コート氏（８０）は、現役を引退する見通しのセレーナ・ウィリアムス（米国）について、自身はこれまで称賛してきたものの、同等の評価を返されていないと考えている。（マーガレット・コート氏。資料写真）
　２日に行われた全米オープン３回戦でアイラ・トムリャノビッチ（オーストラリア）に敗れ、これでキャリアに幕を閉じるとみられている４０歳のセレーナは、史上最高の選手として広くたたえられている。
　しかし、グランドスラムの女子シングルス優勝回数は２３となっており、男女を通じて歴代１位のコート氏にあと一つ届いていない。
　オーストラリア出身のコート氏は、豪紙デーリー・テレグラフで珍しくインタビューに応じ、「セレーナのことは、選手としてたたえてきた」としつつ、「だけど、これまで彼女が私をたたえたことはないと思う」と述べた。
　現在は豪パースで教会の牧師を務めており、同性婚に反対の声を上げるなど、人種や同性愛者に関する発言でテニス界を分断してきたコート氏。現役時代の１９６０年代と１９７０年代序盤に輝かしい記録を打ち立ててきたものの、テニス界では自身が過小評価されていると感じているという。
　「特にテニス界において、マスコミやテレビがあまり私の名前を出さないので、とても悲しく思っている」
　「私は今でも数々の記録を保持しているので、彼らはそうしなければならないときだけ、私の名前に言及している」
　グランドスラムのタイトル獲得数で、コート氏がシングルスとダブルス、そして混合ダブルスと合わせて計６４個（ＷＴＡ公式では６２個）を記録しているのに対し、セレーナは計３９個となっている。
　１９７３年にグランドスラムのシングルスで最後のタイトルを獲得しているコート氏は、「６４なんて、誰も到達できないはず」とコメント。
　さらに「セレーナは自分より７年間長くプレーしてきた」とし、「私は３０代前半でキャリアを終えたけれど、その前に２年ほどブランクがあったことは忘れられている。アシュリー・バーティのように、２５歳のときに二度とテニスをしないつもりで一度引退した。結婚して、出産したけれど、それから全盛期を迎えて２５大会で２４回優勝した」と述べた。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2022/09/07-13:42）

Australian tennis great Margaret Court says her admiration for Serena Williams is not reciprocated after the American retired just one major short of equalling her all-time record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles.
Williams was widely hailed as the greatest player ever after she bowed out of the sport following defeat to Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round of the US Open on Friday.
But the 40-year-old ends her career with 23 majors, one behind Court, who holds the overall record for men and women.
Serena, I've admired her as a player, Court told Britain's Daily Telegraph in a rare interview. But I don't think she has ever admired me.
The 80-year-old, who works as a church pastor in Perth, has become a divisive figure in tennis over her remarks on race and homosexuality, including opposition to gay marriage.
Court feels she is under-appreciated in the sport despite her stellar record throughout the 1960s and early 1970s.
It's very sad, because a lot of the press and television today, particularly in tennis, don't want to mention my name, she said.
It's only when they have to, because I still hold so many records. In 2020, I was meant to be coming to Wimbledon for the 50th anniversary of my calendar Grand Slam.
But then Covid hit, so the honour never happened.... The honour has not been there for what I did do. In my own nation, I have been given titles, but they would still rather not mention me.
She added: I was at Wimbledon this year and nobody even spoke to me. So I thought, 'Ah, that's interesting.'
- 64 majors -
Overall, Court won 64 Grand Slam titles, including singles, doubles and mixed doubles competitions, compared with Williams's overall number 39.
The 64 -- I don't think anyone will ever touch, said the Australian, who won her last major singles title in 1973.
Serena has played seven years more than I did, said Court. I finished in my early 30s. People forget that I took two years out. I first retired, like Ash Barty, when I was 25, thinking I would never return to tennis. I got married, had a baby, but then had one of my best years, winning 24 out of 25 tournaments.
Court said her record after becoming a mother was superior to that of the American's.
I came back after two babies, she said. After having the first baby, I won three out of the four Slams. And Serena hasn't won a Slam since (she had a child).
Court also said playing in her era was tougher.
As amateurs, we had to play every week, because we didn't have any money, she said. Now, they can take off whenever they want, fly back whenever they want.
?We would be away for 10 months. That's why I first retired in 1965, because I used to get homesick. You might be with the odd other person, but it's not like having your family there. We didn't have psychologists or coaches with us. It's a whole different world. That's what disappoints me -- that players today don't honour the past of the game.