Andy Murray: Margaret Court Arena row needs to be resolved

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Andy MurrayImage source, Getty Images
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Andy Murray beat Russia's Andrey Kuznetsov in four sets to reach the French Open second round on Tuesday

Britain's Andy Murray has called for a quick resolution to the row over the potential renaming of the Australian Open's Margaret Court Arena.

Court, a 24-time Grand Slam singles champion and now a Christian pastor, is an opponent of gay marriage.

Former world number four Sam Stosur hinted earlier on Tuesday that players may refuse to play in protest.

Asked if he would support a boycott, Murray said: "It'd be more beneficial to do something before the tournament."

The world number one added: "For players to be in a position where you're in a slam and boycotting playing on the court, that would potentially cause a lot of issues.

"If the players come to an agreement - if they think the name should be changed or whatever - that should be decided before the event starts.

"But I would imagine a lot of the players would be pretty offended by that."

Murray beat Russia's Andrey Kuznetsov in four sets to reach the French Open second round on Tuesday.

'We'll see who wants to play and who doesn't'

Court, 74, has said she will not fly on Qantas "where possible" in protest of its support of same-sex marriage.

"I think everyone can have their opinion. I don't agree with it, but I guess we'll cross that bridge when we get to the Australian Open," Stosur, 33, said earlier on Tuesday.

"We'll see who wants to play on Margaret Court Arena and who doesn't."

The Australian number one added: "I find it very hard to believe that the name would ever be changed - the court's named Margaret Court Arena because of what she did in tennis."

Tennis Australia have said they will not rename the Arena, stating that Court's personal views are her own., external

The venue was originally called Show Court One when it opened in 1988 before it was renamed in 2003 in tribute to the multiple Grand Slam winner.

Stosur's fellow Australian player Casey Dellacqua, who has two children with partner Amanda Judd, tweeted, external her opposition to Court: "Margaret. Enough is enough".

And Stosur issued her support for friend Dellacqua, saying: "It's been pretty fiery. Casey was obviously very adamant, and I wanted to support my friend and that's why I sent out my first tweet, external in a very long time."

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