Serena Williams hits back at John McEnroe after he says she would be No700 in world on men’s tour
SERENA WILLIAMS has hit back at John McEnroe after he claimed she would only be ranked 700 in the world on the men's tour.
The American became the most decorated female tennis player of all time after winning the Australian Open this year.
Williams, 35, who is out of action until next year after announcing in April she is expecting her first child, tweeted: "Dear John, I adore and respect you but please please keep me out of your statements that are not factually based.
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"I've never played anyone ranked 'there' nor do I have time. Respect me and my privacy as I'm trying to have a baby. Good day sir."
Retired tennis ace McEnroe, 58, most well-known for his rants on court, had said of his compatriot: “If she was in, if she played the men’s circuit, she’d be like 700 in the world.
“That doesn’t mean I don’t think Serena is an incredible player.
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“I do, but the reality of what would happen would be I think something that perhaps it’d be a little higher, perhaps it’d be a little lower.
“And on a given day, Serena could beat some players.
“I believe because she’s so incredibly strong mentally that she could overcome some situations where players would choke ’cause she’s been in it so many times, so many situations at Wimbledon, The US Open, etc.
Serena Williams vs John McEnroe
Serena Williams Grand Slams - 27
- Wimbledon - 7
- Australian Open - 7
- US Open - 6
- French Open - 3
John McEnroe Grand Slams - 7
- US Open - 4
- Wimbledon - 3
“But if she had to just play the circuit – the men’s circuit – that would be an entirely different story.”
Dmitry Tursunov is the man currently ranked 701st in the world. He told BBC World Service Sport he did not think McEnroe was "trying to talk women's tennis down".
But he said the reality was that "men are stronger in general".
Tursunov added: "I would hope that I would win against Serena."
Bobby Riggs famously taunted Billie Jean King into a televised match in 1973, billed "The Battle of the Sexes".
American Riggs, a former world No1 who was 55 at the time, lost to a 29-year-old King, who was the top seeded female the previous year.
In fact, it was a straight set victory - 6-4 6-3 6-3 - for King in the historic Texas match.
Sexist Riggs had said: "I’ll tell you why I’ll win. She’s a woman and they don’t have the emotional stability."
The Women's Tennis Association was formed as a result and Williams has said: "We owe the tour to Billie Jean King."
Williams is expected to be out of action until next year after announcing she was pregnant in April.
She got engaged to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, 33, in December last year following 15 months of secret dating after meeting in Rome.