Tennis players and fans added a splash of colour to the Australian Open today, wearing rainbow colored clothing in protest against Margaret Court's anti-gay comments.

During her match against former world number one Jelena Jankovic, British player Laura Robson showed her support for those angry at Court's vocal opposition to same-sex marriage by wearing a rainbow ribbon in her hair.

And she wasn't the only one standing up for gay rights at the tournament in Melbourne, with many fans also proudly wearing rainbows.

The 17-year-old said: 'I never saw a direct quote from Court so I don’t want to comment when I haven’t actually spoken to her.

'But I believe in equal rights for everyone – that is why I wore it.'

The flash of many colours on the Open's first day comes after a campaign on Twitter and Facebook.

Activists were furious after Australia's legendary player, who has a court named after her at the Open, said same-sex marriage is an effort to legitimize 'abominable sexual practices that include sodomy.

One of the founders of Facebook group Rainbow Flags Over Margaret Court, Moana Bauer, told Gay Star News: 'It's not the players wearing ribbons, but the spectators unfurling the flags.

'Our idea is to support the gay community by inundating MCA [Margaret Court Arena] with rainbow flags during the Australian Open and bring forward the issue of equality.'