McEnroe suggests men v women contest to solve Serena debate
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[June 28, 2017]
(Reuters) - An unapologetic John
McEnroe has proposed competition between men and women players to
prove his claim that 23-time grand slam singles winner Serena
Williams would be ranked "like 700 in the world" if she competed on
the men's circuit.
Three-time Wimbledon champion McEnroe said Williams was "the best
female player ever" but said her performance on the men's circuit
would be an "entirely different story."
Williams responded on Twitter asking the 58-year-old to leave her
out of his statements and called for respect and privacy as she
takes time off to have her first child.
"I felt the need, however unfortunately, to defend myself and say
what I really felt, which is about what I think she would be (in the
men's rankings)," McEnroe told American TV show CBS's This Morning
on Tuesday.
"I've got a solution. Solve the problem, and I'm sure the men would
be all for this – the men and women play together. And then we don't
have to guess."
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![](../images/062817pics/sports57.jpg)
Canada's Milos Raonic coach John McEnroe during his semi final match
Action Images via Reuters / Tony O'Brien Livepic
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Mar/14/images/ads/current/tires250x300.gif)
Former world number one Williams confirmed her pregnancy in April
and expects to be back on the court as early as January 2018.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2017/Jun/28/images/ads/current/ldn_more4_121715.png)
(Reporting by Aditi Prakash in Bengaluru; editing by Amlan
Chakraborty) [© 2017 Thomson Reuters. All
rights reserved.]
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