For any sporting fan the world over, Margaret Court’s name is synonymous with greatness.
With an unmatched record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles, a calendar Grand Slam in 1970, and victories on every major stage of international tennis – including the first Australian woman to win Wimbledon – she remains one of the greatest athletes the world has ever known. Her achievements transcend generations, setting a benchmark that has endured for decades.
Yet, ask Margaret Court what she considers her greatest achievement, and her answer has little to do with trophies or tennis courts.
Instead, she points to the transforming power of faith in Jesus Christ – a journey that, she says, gave her a new purpose long after her remarkable sporting career had ended.
While many remember Margaret Court as Australia’s most decorated tennis champion, fewer know that she was born and raised in the Catholic faith. As a young woman she was active in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, where she first experienced a desire for a deeper relationship with God. But it would be many years later that this longing would culminate in what she describes as a life-changing encounter with Christ.
Speaking at a recent breakfast event hosted by the Knights of the Southern Cross WA, Margaret recalled a pivotal moment in 1991 when she responded to an invitation to prayer while attending a Pentecostal gathering in the United States.
“I had the power of God hit me and I gave my heart to Christ. It was so real to me then and still is today,” she said.
That experience, she says, became the foundation for everything that followed, including the establishment of Victory Life Centre in Perth and the beginning of a ministry that has now spanned more than three decades.
For Margaret, the transition from elite athlete to Christian minister was never part of her personal ambitions.
“I never wanted to be a pastor,” she admits.
But during her years travelling the world as a professional tennis player, she witnessed lives transformed through faith. Those experiences planted seeds that would later bear fruit when she herself encountered profound personal struggles.
Following the end of her tennis career, despite a loving and supportive husband and four young children, Margaret experienced depression, insomnia and health problems.
“I honestly felt life wasn’t worth living. I wish I could say it was all rosy, but it wasn’t,” she candidly recalled.
She credits Bible college as a turning point in her recovery, where immersing herself in Scripture transformed not only her thinking but her entire outlook on life.
By the second year of study, she says she had experienced healing from depression and other health challenges, convincing her that God’s Word possesses the power to restore lives.
That personal experience continues to shape her pastoral ministry today, particularly her desire to help others discover hope amid suffering.
Although her Christian journey eventually took her beyond the Catholic Church, many of the themes Margaret speaks about resonate deeply with Christians of every tradition.
She speaks often about the importance of prayer, the need for an authentic relationship with Christ, and the conviction that faith must move beyond cultural identity to become a lived encounter with the living God.
“Faith is a part of us,” she suggests. “It’s not something we’re trying to get; we have it within us.”
Another constant theme throughout her ministry has been the importance of family.
While she admits that her family life growing up was challenging, Margaret believes strong families remain the foundation of a healthy society and says Christians have a responsibility to nurture the next generation in faith.
“When the family is not healthy, society is not healthy, our nation is not healthy,” she said, as she encouraged believers to become courageous witnesses in a culture where faith is often challenged.
She also continues to encourage Christians not to lose heart in the face of opposition.
“We must find our voice. If there’s no voice, there’s no faith. If there’s no voice, nothing changes,” she suggested.
Prayer, she insists, remains essential for personal holiness and for the renewal of society. Drawing on Scripture, she reminded all present that God’s love – not fear – is the defining mark of Christian discipleship and that every Christian is called to be a witness to hope.
Today, Margaret Court’s legacy extends far beyond the tennis court.
Her sporting achievements remain unmatched, securing her place among Australia’s greatest athletes. Yet by her own account, the victories that matter most are not measured in championships but in transformed lives, renewed faith and the opportunity to share the Gospel with others.
For Catholics, her story serves as a reminder that God’s call can unfold in unexpected ways. Extraordinary talents and worldly success may open doors, but they are not the final destination. Rather, they become opportunities to serve others and witness to Christ.
It is a conviction that has shaped Margaret Court’s life long after the accolades ceased – a reminder that the greatest victory is not found in earthly acclaim, but in responding faithfully to God’s call.
Margaret Court is a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), and an inductee of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. She is one of Western Australia’s most significant and enduring public figures – a woman who stood at the top of the world and then chose something greater still.