Story highlights
- Navratilova writes open letter hitting out at Court's remarks
- Court made the claim during a radio interview
(CNN)Martina Navratilova has launched a scathing attack on former Australian tennis player Margaret Court by labeling her a "racist and a homophobe."
In an open letter published by Fairfax Media in Australia, Navratilova also urged Tennis Australia to take action by renaming the Margaret Court Arena, one of the arenas used for the Australian Open.
Neither Court nor Tennis Australia were immediately available for comment.
Court, who has won more tennis grand slams than any other player in history with 24, has been heavily criticized since claiming that tennis is "full of lesbians" earlier this week.
"It is now clear exactly who Court is: an amazing tennis player, and a racist and a homophobe," wrote Navratilova, referring to the Australian's views on South Africa's past apartheid policy.
"Her vitriol is not just an opinion. She is actively trying to keep LGBT people from getting equal rights (note to Court: we are human beings, too). She is demonizing trans kids and trans adults everywhere.
"And now, linking LGBT to Nazis, communists, the devil? This is not OK. This is in fact sick and it is dangerous.
"Kids will suffer more because of this continuous bashing and stigmatizing of our LGBT community."