Venus Williams calls for equality on court

Venus Williams made an impassioned cry for equality to Wimbledon organisers after the five-time champion was sent to play on tiny Court 18 in the second round.

The smallest show court at the All England Club was packed out to see Williams beat 20-year-old Greek qualifier Maria Sakkari 7-5 4-6 6-3, and she will face Russian Darya Kasatkina in the last 32.

Martina Navratilova offered a scathing verdict on the scheduling, saying “it stinks”, and Williams suggested it would only be justifiable if the highest-profile men were also occasionally moved to the smaller courts.