Margaret Court vowed she wouldn't stay away.

The 11-time Australian Open singles champion arrived in Melbourne Monday (23 January) night despite backlash against her over her outspoken comments against gay marriage.

'I love [gay people], I even work with them,' Court tells the Herald Sun. 'But what concerns me so much is the amount of hatred that has been directed at me.'

Court, winner of three Wimbledons and a record 24 grand slam singles titles overall, is senior pastor in Perth’s Victory Life Church and has been speaking out against efforts in Australia to legalize same-sex marriage.

She caused a furor after saying that same-sex marriage is an effort to legitimize 'abominable sexual practices that include sodomy.'

There are those who want the Margaret Court Arena at Melbourne Park to be renamed because of Court's comments. Some fans and players, including Martina Navratilova, are wearing rainbow-colored clothing at the tournament.

'There have been some awful things,'  Court said. 'But I love my nation and I don't like seeing it in moral decline. I pray for it, I love it and I want to protect the young of the future. My heart is for the next generation.'

Navratilova had her first Legends Doubles match on Monday scheduled for the stadium named for Court. Although she has criticized Court's views, she has respect for her tennis accomplishments and limited her protest wearing rainbow-colored patch on her sleeve during her match.

'Playing on Margaret Court Arena, it’s an honor, as always, to be on that court,' Navratilova said. 'You know, it’s not a personal issue. Clearly Margaret Court’s views that she has expressed on same sex marriage, I think are outdated. But it’s not about any one person. It’s not about religious rights, it’s about human rights. It’s a secular view, not a religious view.'