John McEnroe was on defense Tuesday after Serena Williams responded to his statement over the weekend.
John McEnroe was on defense Tuesday after Serena Williams responded to his statement over the weekend that pegged the female tennis star as “like No. 700 in the world” if she were to play on the men’s circuit.
In an interview with “CBS This Morning, ” McEnroe declined to apologize for the comments he made on NPR, which ranked Williams above some male players but dismissed her chances to seriously compete in the field.
“No, ” he said when asked if he wanted to apologize. “It seems in tennis, unlike other sports, women always ask me how I would do. ‘Why isn’t this old bag John McEnroe — how would he do against Serena?’ I’m sure the men would be all for this — the men and women play together, and then we don’t have to guess.”
McEnroe reiterated on Tuesday that he believes Williams is the greatest female player that ever lived. But Williams, who holds the Open Era record owith 23 Grand Slam titles, didn’t find any compliments in McEnroe’s initial remarks, instead serving him some criticism Monday on Twitter.
Serena Williams to John McEnroe: ‘Respect me and my privacy’
“Dear John, ” she wrote, “I adore and respect you but please keep me out of your statements that are not factually based.
“I’ ve never played anyone ranked ‘there’ no do I have time. Respect me and my privacy as I’ m trying to have a baby. Good day sir.”
McEnroe said Tuesday that his No. 700 comment wasn’t necessary and that he didn’t know it would create controversy. He added that he has no ill will toward Williams, who he believes was not entirely serious in her response.
“I don’t want anything to go wrong with Serena ’cause she’s pregnant, ” McEnroe said. “I don’t want to upset her or whatever it was. I think she was doing it tongue-in-cheek as well, and I think that deep down we’re talking about something — I can’t even believe we’re talking about it.”
McEnroe’s ‘No. 700’ remark example of misogyny Serena deals with
The 58-year-old McEnroe, who won seven Grand Slam championships, estimated that he would currently be ranked about 1,200th in the world. But he said he wouldn’t throw himself into any battles of the sexes as Bobby Riggs famously did in 1973. Riggs was 55 years old when he lost to Billie Jean King, who was 29.
At 35, Williams is closer to McEnroe in age, but McEnroe won’t be the one to challenge her, whether she’s pregnant or not.
