Opinion – John McEnroe is correct

Tennis legend John McEnroe stirred up “controversy” Sunday during an interview with N.P.R. in which he accurately and presciently declared that Serena Williams, while the greatest female tennis player in history, shouldn’t be considered the greatest tennis player in the world as she would only be ranked “like, 700 in the world” if she played against men. He shouldn’t apologize for the latest media-driven controversy.

McEnroe, promoting his new book But Seriously, likely couldn’t have anticipated the backlash that would ensue, as what he said was a non-issue to anyone with a modicum of tennis knowledge.

Which, apparently, is an embarrassing proportion of the Internet:

Fact: Serena Williams is the greatest tennis player of all time. Yes, she’s greater than Roger and Rafa. Accepting that won’t kill you.

—King Quenchi (@MrQuenchiAdams) June 26, 2017

Serena would crush McEnroe in his prime. And Mac at his prime was great. But she would kill him.

—Jason Karsh‏ (@jkarsh) June 26, 2017

Yes, those are actual things real people that ostensibly follow sports said, without irony. There are many, many other examples.

Maybe 700 is too low. Maybe 200 or 300 would have been more accurate. The exact number changes nothing, however. Serena would have no hope–none–of beating a top-ranked male player, a fact she herself reiterated in an interview back in 2013.

“Actually it’s funny, because Andy Murray, he’s been joking about myself and him playing a match. I’m like, ‘Andy, seriously, are you kidding me?’ For me, men’s tennis and women’s tennis are completely, almost, two separate sports. If I were to play Andy Murray, I would lose 6-0, 6-0 in five to six minutes, maybe 10 minutes. No, it’s true. It’s a completely different sport. The men are a lot faster and they serve harder, they hit harder, it’s just a different game. I love to play women’s tennis. I only want to play girls, because I don’t want to be embarrassed.”

This, of course, didn’t stop Serena from bashing McEnroe on Twitter Monday.

Dear John, I adore and respect you but please please keep me out of your statements that are not factually based.

— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) June 26, 2017

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

— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) June 26, 2017

Here’s what’s really asinine about this uproar: McEnroe didn’t come out of the blue and declare that Serena was a scrub. He was baited into it.

NPR: 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.

NPR: 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?

NPR: 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.

Yes, how dare one of the greatest tennis players of all time offer his opinion on the sport of tennis when prompted to do so in an interview! What a jerk!

If McEnroe actually has to apologize for these comments, I give up. If stating simple physiological realities is now considered a controversy that must be atoned for, we are finished as a society. Biology trumps dogma. Even in sports.