Margaret Court is spotted looking downcast after being labelled a ‘delusional Jesus freak’ for her views on homosexuality

Margaret Court was seen looking dejected at the airport just days after she was branded a ‘second class person’ and ‘Jesus freak’ for her outspoken views on gay marriage and homosexuality.

Court and her husband Barry arrived at Perth Airport on Monday, each with two suitcases in tow.

It is understood the controversial Australian legend, 81, will fly to Melbourne for the final five days of the Australian Open, where she won eleven singles titles and twelve doubles titles between 1960 and 1973.

Novak Djokovic remains on course to break Court’s all-time grand slam title record next Sunday evening.

The pair are currently tied with 24 titles each.

Now a church pastor, Court has made headlines in recent years for her anti-gay stance, including the bold claim in 2017 that tennis was “full of lesbians.”

She has also previously labeled gay marriage “a trend”, branded trans women as “problematic” – especially in competitive sports – and said being homosexual is a “choice”.

Court’s divisive comments sparked a huge backlash from tennis greats and fans who called for a renaming of the Margaret Court Arena.

Legends John McEnroe and Martina Navratilova – who is openly gay – were among those leading the effort to change the court’s name.

American fashion icon Anna Wintour also waded into the saga during a fiery keynote address at an Australian Open event in 2019, where she took a swipe at the court and said intolerance has no place in tennis.

“It is inconsistent for sport that Margaret Court’s name appears in the stadium that does so much to bring all people together across their differences,” she said.

“I think this is obvious to anyone who understands the spirit and fun of the game. Margaret Court was a champion on the pitch, but a meeting place for players of all nations, affiliations and backgrounds should also celebrate someone who was also a champion off it.”

Court last attended the Australian Open four years ago to mark the 50th anniversary of her 1970 Grand Slam victory, weeks after an explosive interview in which she revealed she had not yet heard from officials whether the achievement would be recognized become.

Court had not attended the tournament since 2017.

There was further controversy after she received the highest individual award available at the 2021 Australia Day awards.

Then-Victorian Premier Dan Andrews believed Court was not a worthy recipient because of “disgraceful views on same-sex marriage.”

‘I don’t support that. I don’t believe she should be honored. I’m tired of having the discussion every summer in one form or another,” Andrews said.

“But I’m not handing out those gongs, that’s a matter for others… you might want to talk to them about why they think those views, which are shameful, hurtful and cost lives, should be respected.”

News that Court was set to return to the current tournament sparked a fiery war of words last week after newspaper columnist Justin Smith called her “a second-class citizen.”

“She’s a first-class tennis player, more than first-class, she’s fantastic,” Smith said on Sky News program The Kenny Report.

“I also happen to think she’s a second-rate human being and has caused terrible damage and said terrible things about transgender people and gay marriage, and I think she’s a delusional Jesus freak.”

Host Liz Storer branded Smith’s comments ‘disgusting’, before broadcaster Steve Price intervened.

“Your comments about Margaret Court are simply inconsistent,” Price said angrily.

“The woman is an evangelical pastor in Washington and that is her opinion. If she is entitled to her opinion, that is freedom of speech.’

Smith responded, “She pushed those other people, and I’m just pushing my views on her – why not?”

Court will be joined at Melbourne Park by fellow homegrown legends Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall and Evonne Goolagong-Cawley.

Goolagong was excited about overtaking her former long-time rival.

“Margaret helped me during my early years (on tour) and when I played in Western Australia I stayed with Margaret and (husband) Barry, and they really looked after me,” Goolagong-Cawley told the Today show last week Channel Nine show.

“I’m looking forward to seeing her, she’s still an old friend.”

There was drama at the Margaret Court Arena on Monday evening after a woman interrupted Alexander Zverev’s fourth-round match or when a woman threw ‘free Palestine’ leaflets onto the pitch during play.