Australian Open champion Serena Williams has criticised John McEnroe after he recently claimed that she would be ranked outside the top 500 on the men’s tour.
The controversy occurred over the weekend when McEnroe was conducting an interview with npr.org. Questioned about Williams status in the sport, the former world No.1 described her as ‘the greatest female player’ of all time. On the other hand, his response was somewhat different when he was asked if she was the best player regardless of gender.
“If she played the men’s circuit she’d be like 700 in the world.” Said McEnroe.
“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 U.S. Open, etc.’
‘But if she had to just play the circuit — the men’s circuit — that would be an entirely different story.’
On the WTA tour Williams has so far won 72 titles, including an Open Era record of 23 grand slam titles. The 35-year-old is currently the only player, male or female, to win ten major titles in two separate decades. She has also spent a total of 319 weeks as world No.1, the third longest of all time.
Williams is currently absent from the tour due to pregnancy. Responding to McEnroe comments on Twitter, she has asked him to show her ‘some respect.’
“Dear John, I adore and respect you but please please keep me out of your statements that are not factually based,” Williams wrote on Twitter.
“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.”
Last year Williams wrote an open letter discussing the topic of gender and sexism for Porter magazine. In it, she expressed her frustration of being described as the ‘greatest female player’ instead of on a gender neutral basis.
“As we know, women have to break down many barriers on the road to success,” she wrote. “One of those barriers is the way we are constantly reminded we are not men, as if it is a flaw.”
It is expected that Williams will return to the tour next year following the birth of her child.
The full McEnroe transcript (source npr.org)
Garcia-Navarro: We’re talking about male players but there is of course wonderful female players. Let’s talk about Serena Williams. You say she is the best female player in the world in the book.
McEnroe: Best female player ever — no question.
Garcia-Navarro: Some wouldn’t qualify it, some would say she’s the best player in the world. Why qualify it?
McEnroe: Oh! Uh, she’s not, you mean, the best player in the world, period?
Garcia-Navarro: Yeah, the best tennis player in the world. You know, why say female player?
McEnroe: Well because if she was in, if she played the men’s circuit she’d be like 700 in the world.
Garcia-Navarro: You think so?
McEnroe: Yeah. That doesn’t mean I don’t think Serena is an incredible player. 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 U.S. Open, etc. But if she had to just play the circuit — the men’s circuit — that would be an entirely different story.
