I remember when Chrissy Everett was the #1 ranked female tennis player and an interviewer asked her if she thought she could beat some of the top men and she laughed and said, my brother who is a very good club player has never lost a set to me.
I think there is one thing Mac said that went over everybody's heads. Connors (all-time great player in his own right) beat Martina (all time great women's player, probably best ever after Serena) with ONE serve AND gave Martina the alleys (she had the whole court while he had the standard lines). That is unreal if that actually happened and it really should prove to everyone just how big the gap between men's and women's tennis is.
Dmitry Tursonov is currently ranked 713 in the world. He's won 7 titles on the ATP tour and won the Davis Cup for Russia. I can't see Serena beating him.
It's not just the serve. The men use heavier balls, put more rpm's with the same pace (so the ball has far more energy) and she wouldn't get almost any free points on serve, let alone get her racquet on a return. The whole thing is a joke.
I've forgotten how nice John is. I love listening when he is commenting on a tennis game. I love hearing him when he is talking about... well about anything. As they say he is very likable.
Great interview, so glad they played the tape. How could the woman expect him to say Serena is the best tennis player ever? Have a lot of respect for John.
Yeah. The female interviewer, right? She has never watched tennis in her life, if she thinks that is a good question AND keeps pressing the point on follow-up.
Jack: I don't watch tennis, so my strongest memories of McEnroe are from back when he played on the tour, where he was brilliant but a touch abrasive and confrontational. Always liked and admired him, but wasn't sure I'd want to have a beer with him. Seemed like a cool guy in the interview.
No. 203 sweeps Williams At the height of the Williams boom in 1998, an unofficial game took place in Australia after Serena and Venus claimed that no male player outside the top 200 could beat them. Up stepped a German known as Karsten Braasch who was ranked 203rd in the world and after first beating Serena 6-1, he then disposed of Venus 6-2. "I didn't know it would be that difficult. I played shots that would have been winners on the women's circuit and he got to them very easily," said Serena. "They wouldn't have had a chance against anyone inside the top 500 because today I played like someone ranked 600th to keep it fun," was Braasch's assessment
Still my favorite player to this day. And no, Serena wouldn't be in the Top 700 if she played full time on the Men's circuit. Everybody knows that who's honest.
John McEnroe is the a great guy and a huge inspiration and what he said about Serena Williams was the absolute truth and all those people who told him to apologize to her are morons. And honestly 700 may be a bit generous for her.
McEnroe is telling the truth . He has been very classy. Women will compete eventually in non athletic sports like bowling or golf. Serena herself said Murray would beat her . THE NPR HOST IS TRASH.
I don't think you meant golf. Women cannot compete in men's golf at all. A couple of women at their best #1's in the World could not make the cut at regular tour events. They are playing from 1000 yards less, they cannot hit the ball anywhere near what men do. High school boys would dominate on the LPGA tour. I'm not trying to belittle women's golf these are just facts.
Opening comments from DP- between McEnroe's playing career and his announcing, he is personally responsible with bringing millions of people into fans of the game. He is a titan in tennis history.
How I love this man. His importance for tennis on different levels is huge. When Johnny and Mats Wilander releases "Sound of Silence" together, I'll be in heaven.
Even despite the awesome record of guys like Sampras, Federer, Nadal, Novak....if I had to pick one player to play a game for my life, it'd be McEnroe when he was at his peak. A fantastic competitor.
JOHN IS BEING very generous by saying, Serena could possibly beat a top male at 750 in the world(if the conditions were right). He is correct saying he "might" not be able to beat her now at almost 60 years old....and that there are a handful of lower level male players that would not handle a big time event. But seriously!..... virtually any man with pro points would win. In fact, I would bet anything Serena would struggle to win against the top 10 or so boys in high school in the USA....forget her winning against top 10 male juniors in the world. My guess is John could beat still beat Serena.
Senera should tweet an apolgy to John...it was the news reporter who baited John. And Senera should tweet out a angery tweet for the eporter to keep her name out of it so she can take care of her baby.
I've been around tennis my whole life and played at the Jr., H.S. and College level and am still an A level Club player and I believe Serena would have an extremely hard time beating any of the Boy's H.S. State Champions in America.
I'm really really glad he didnt back down. The interviewer was a shit stirrer because he gave her props. They twisted it in context. I played competitive tennis in USTA ranked tournaments and the best girls couldnt beat the best boys. I understand equality and people hate gender bias but there is only one way to prove it. Let Serena do a leg on the Mens tour French to Wimbledon to US Open...and witness the carnage. She probably wouldnt get out of the 1st round at any of the majors.
This whole thing is nonsense. She would get her ass handed to her by the top 700 guys. Women players are not as strong or quick as men. They only play the best two sets out of three...men play the best 3 out of 5. The host was trying to make it a racial/gender thing. Serena's response was BS. She should have remained quiet. McEnroe speaks the truth in the age of political correctness.
jared kaiser I totally agree with you Jared! That woman is an embarrassment to me and other women who actually have a brain. I can't believe the ignorance of all these people who got offended. Her comments to John were absolutely crazy and sexist. John simply responded by telling the truth. That woman has no clue what the heck she was talking about. Absolutely ridiculous.. & John has handled everything so well! He's a really great guy!!!
Michell Wie tried playing on the mens' pro golf tour, which is way easier to do than a pro woman tennis player going up against a man on the mens' tour, and it didn't work out very good for Wie.
This kills me that people had an issue with what he said. You have high school and college players (non-professional) who would beat her. And I love Serena. Flo-Jo has held the record in the 100 and 200 for 33 years. And she would not qualify for some high-school finals against the boys. I also believe WNBA teams would lose to some high-school boys teams. It is not an insult. It’s just a fact. With all that being said, I enjoy watching some women’s sports more than the guys.
If journalists get this wrong when it's so obvious, they shouldn't be journalists. Women can compete with men in anything demandingly physical? Of course not. They have other areas to excel in.
When I was 17 and in school, the girls Netball team challenged us boys to a Netball game. We had some training sessions and the girls looked pretty good, fluid and accurate shooting. In the game they didn’t score against us as our whole team averaged 6ft tall and we were so much quicker and stronger than them
If he was only 40 he'd be able to beat Serena he's nearly 60 years old now of course he wouldn't beat her and if he could then forget 700 she shouldn't be ranked
Of course he would demolish her at 40 years of age, but if he trained a bit, with true equal playing rules, he would demolish her at his present age of 63 years old!!
Could you imagine if Nadal, Federer or Djokovic ever transitioned to female and played on the women's tour??? It will happen someday with someone like Dr. Renee Richards decades ago---but they weren't that good. Imagine if it happens with a really good player? They would win the grand slam every year. McEnroe is right about what would happen if Serena or any of the top women players ever played the top men players. It's a stupid topic anyway that a leftist from NPR had to bring up of course.
The current Women's 100 meter world record is 10.5. The current world's top 200 men's sprinters all beat that time every race. It's not something you have to be theoretical about. If tennis tracks sprinting ...
There was talk like this during Wimbledon 1984 in which people asked McEnroe if Martina Navratilova could beat a male player on the tour (or maybe beat him) and he said that was ridiculous. It was a different conversation then. Now there is political correctness to consider and other stuff.
He’s right but the comments on here are just guys constantly shitting on women competing in sport. It’s vile and of course men are better at sport but you don’t need to qualify it and say she couldn’t even beat a 16 year old club player and somehow that makes her pathetic.
UFC tried to run the crap that Rhonda Rousey could beat any man or woman her size.They also compared her to Floyd Mayweather JR in a combat fight. Which footwork and punching alone would have her in trouble easily.
It sounds like the women who seem offended by your comments are those who don't actually understand tennis. I'm a woman who plays tennis AND a feminist and have no issue with what McEnroe said at all. I think Serena is amazing too.
John, would you explain the physiological difference between men and women and look exactly at the person from L.A. or NY who is asking this , and try to pc it so they don't take offense----!?
People miss the point -- Serena is such a great and dominant player that we have to jump genders to even see her weakness. She can also beat 95% of all men who play tennis on this earth. At least.
I for one would love to see men and women compete at the same level in sports. No mercy. No holding back. Can you picture a female in the ring with Pacquiao? Can you picture a female looking across the line of scrimmage at Ray Lewis foaming at the mouth ready to rip your head off? Let's get rid of the W in WNBA. Let's be real here. How many females could earn the kind of money they're earning now in female competitions if they had to compete head to head with males? I would love to see a female in the Octagon with Jon Jones.
I remember when Chrissy Everett was the #1 ranked female tennis player and an interviewer asked her if she thought she could beat some of the top men and she laughed and said, my brother who is a very good club player has never lost a set to me.
Whatd you find out Liam
Our PC society is out of control! I think McEnroe was generous about his comments and very polite about his praise for her.
And Serena's comments about him are off-base and really rude
John McEnroe has always been cool. He was great for tennis, and is still contributing great stuff.
He is the "Charles Barkley" of Tennis.
I think there is one thing Mac said that went over everybody's heads. Connors (all-time great player in his own right) beat Martina (all time great women's player, probably best ever after Serena) with ONE serve AND gave Martina the alleys (she had the whole court while he had the standard lines). That is unreal if that actually happened and it really should prove to everyone just how big the gap between men's and women's tennis is.
It did happen. It's on RUclips.
Dmitry Tursonov is currently ranked 713 in the world. He's won 7 titles on the ATP tour and won the Davis Cup for Russia. I can't see Serena beating him.
It's not just the serve. The men use heavier balls, put more rpm's with the same pace (so the ball has far more energy) and she wouldn't get almost any free points on serve, let alone get her racquet on a return. The whole thing is a joke.
He would beat her 0 and 0!
Very well said with numbers to back it up.
So Tursonov is not your average player ranked 713 in the world, right?
John's even being too nice by saying Serena can't beat the 700th ranked guy.
McEnroe and Connors such a classic rivalry. I remember watching them as a kid. Love his honesty and calling as it is. ❤️from🇨🇦
I've forgotten how nice John is. I love listening when he is commenting on a tennis game. I love hearing him when he is talking about... well about anything. As they say he is very likable.
This was an AWESOME interview!! I love John McEnroe! And I completely agree with him :) 👍🏼 Such a cool guy!!
Forget the pros, the top 1000 college men’s players would demolish her.
You’re wrong, and that’s not what he said, he clearly stated that if she had to play the mens tennis circuit she wouldn’t last.
I would take that bet for 100k.
Great interview, so glad they played the tape. How could the woman expect him to say Serena is the best tennis player ever? Have a lot of respect for John.
Yeah. The female interviewer, right? She has never watched tennis in her life, if she thinks that is a good question AND keeps pressing the point on follow-up.
One of the only shows that talked about the statement john made and actually played the entire quote in context.
McEnroe's a lot more likable and fun than I would have guessed.
I agree!!!
Seriously? The guys been a sports presenter for the last 15 years, how do you not know what he's like?
Jack: I don't watch tennis, so my strongest memories of McEnroe are from back when he played on the tour, where he was brilliant but a touch abrasive and confrontational. Always liked and admired him, but wasn't sure I'd want to have a beer with him. Seemed like a cool guy in the interview.
Jan Ozer Mac’s court persona and public persona are definitely two different things.
Different from Serena.
McEnroe should have asked the NPR. Host “does she play tennis?” “Does she know what the hell shes talking about?” I love his honesty and sincerity.
I grew up watching John and have always liked him!
No. 203 sweeps Williams
At the height of
the Williams boom in 1998, an unofficial game took place in Australia
after Serena and Venus claimed that no male player outside the top 200
could beat them.
Up stepped a German known as Karsten Braasch who
was ranked 203rd in the world and after first beating Serena 6-1, he
then disposed of Venus 6-2.
"I didn't know it would be that
difficult. I played shots that would have been winners on the women's
circuit and he got to them very easily," said Serena.
"They
wouldn't have had a chance against anyone inside the top 500 because
today I played like someone ranked 600th to keep it fun," was Braasch's
assessment
Pete391 yep checks out
I believe the guy was also half drunk at the time.
He was also a chain smoker too.
He'd ran a double marathon the day before too - and climbed everest!
I think John was being generous when he said 700. There are high school dudes who would beat her.
Don't go crazy. She has a complete pro game.
Still my favorite player to this day. And no, Serena wouldn't be in the Top 700 if she played full time on the Men's circuit. Everybody knows that who's honest.
John McEnroe is the a great guy and a huge inspiration and what he said about Serena Williams was the absolute truth and all those people who told him to apologize to her are morons. And honestly 700 may be a bit generous for her.
McEnroe is telling the truth . He has been very classy. Women will compete eventually in non athletic sports like bowling or golf. Serena herself said Murray would beat her . THE NPR HOST IS TRASH.
I don't think you meant golf. Women cannot compete in men's golf at all. A couple of women at their best #1's in the World could not make the cut at regular tour events. They are playing from 1000 yards less, they cannot hit the ball anywhere near what men do. High school boys would dominate on the LPGA tour. I'm not trying to belittle women's golf these are just facts.
I love him for what he is in this PC infested world
I hated him on the court and I love him behind the microphone. Best interview ever. He’s extremely likeable. . . Off the court.
Opening comments from DP- between McEnroe's playing career and his announcing, he is personally responsible with bringing millions of people into fans of the game. He is a titan in tennis history.
How I love this man. His importance for tennis on different levels is huge. When Johnny and Mats Wilander releases "Sound of Silence" together, I'll be in heaven.
700 ? I would have said 2000 - and yet, I do agree she is the greatest female tennis player of all time.
In his youth I thought he was a bad loser and a spoiled brat. Today I love the dry humor and straight talk. He was one serious player when competing.
Ze Zhang is the 250th ranked men's singles player in the world as of 6/28/2017. Issam Haitham Taweel is 700.
Why stop at 700? You could go up to 2000 and she'd get her ass handed to her.
I grew up watching McEnroe, Borg,connors, natase, etc all brilliant players great characters missing today 2 many robots
The snarky way the interviewer said "why not greatest tennis player in the world?" People love to ignore reality.
Even despite the awesome record of guys like Sampras, Federer, Nadal, Novak....if I had to pick one player to play a game for my life, it'd be McEnroe when he was at his peak. A fantastic competitor.
Nadal?
JOHN IS BEING very generous by saying, Serena could possibly beat a top male at 750 in the world(if the conditions were right). He is correct saying he "might" not be able to beat her now at almost 60 years old....and that there are a handful of lower level male players that would not handle a big time event. But seriously!..... virtually any man with pro points would win. In fact, I would bet anything Serena would struggle to win against the top 10 or so boys in high school in the USA....forget her winning against top 10 male juniors in the world.
My guess is John could beat still beat Serena.
John might have reumatism.
If Mac was allowed to play her straight up...... meaning he gets two serves and they both play the singles lines, I think he wins in straight sets.
Good to see a famous guy that's not politically correct.
Its not politically correct. It's a plain fact. Same as The fastest woman in the world over 100 metres wouldn't be in the top 200 mens times.
gota love this guy so god bless you JHON MACENROE
Mac is a fun guy... was lucky enough to see him play at Wimby
And I love the 'reporter' questioning John McEnroe about tennis..
Senera should tweet an apolgy to John...it was the news reporter who baited John. And Senera should tweet out a angery tweet for the eporter to keep her name out of it so she can take care of her baby.
I just have tremendous respect for McEnroe. He says what he thinks but he is balanced and reasonable and he is self deprecating
He's a very good guitar player.....
I've been around tennis my whole life and played at the Jr., H.S. and College level and am still an A level Club player and I believe Serena would have an extremely hard time beating any of the Boy's H.S. State Champions in America.
Got to love Johnny Mac! All the Men players ranked top one thousand are awesome!
The most ridiculous comment in the taped interview was that woman saying “why qualify it ?” Duh.
I'm really really glad he didnt back down. The interviewer was a shit stirrer because he gave her props. They twisted it in context. I played competitive tennis in USTA ranked tournaments and the best girls couldnt beat the best boys. I understand equality and people hate gender bias but there is only one way to prove it. Let Serena do a leg on the Mens tour French to Wimbledon to US Open...and witness the carnage. She probably wouldnt get out of the 1st round at any of the majors.
They are right he shouldnt sing.Good on the guitar and a great tennis player and a great commentator.
This whole thing is nonsense. She would get her ass handed to her by the top 700 guys. Women players are not as strong or quick as men. They only play the best two sets out of three...men play the best 3 out of 5. The host was trying to make it a racial/gender thing. Serena's response was BS. She should have remained quiet. McEnroe speaks the truth in the age of political correctness.
Men are too strong and serve too big .. come on... John isner... Would destroy her on serve alone.... And have in mix doubles....
You're so right. Chris Evert said that her brother who was a high school player when she was number 1 in the world beat her in straight sets.
Dont sell yourself short Mac, it was great tennis back then
Johnny Mac what a legend luv him
Hahaha the sound bite by that chick is so ridiculous that interview was so stupid of course Serena isn't a top player on the mens circuit.
jared kaiser I totally agree with you Jared! That woman is an embarrassment to me and other women who actually have a brain. I can't believe the ignorance of all these people who got offended. Her comments to John were absolutely crazy and sexist. John simply responded by telling the truth. That woman has no clue what the heck she was talking about. Absolutely ridiculous.. & John has handled everything so well! He's a really great guy!!!
All of this should really just be common sense. That woman asking John that question had no common sense at all. What a moron.
jared kaiser family health insurance j
You are not allowed to say that, Mac. But it probably added 10,000 sales of your book.
Michell Wie tried playing on the mens' pro golf tour, which is way easier to do than a pro woman tennis player going up against a man on the mens' tour, and it didn't work out very good for Wie.
I'd love to see Steffi vs. Andre! Or Serena vs. Andre.His return of serve would be wakeup call!Snap right back at you! Return Pete's serve! Try it!
700? Try 2,000. She would lose to virtually every male D1 college player.
This kills me that people had an issue with what he said. You have high school and college players (non-professional) who would beat her. And I love Serena.
Flo-Jo has held the record in the 100 and 200 for 33 years. And she would not qualify for some high-school finals against the boys. I also believe WNBA teams would lose to some high-school boys teams.
It is not an insult. It’s just a fact.
With all that being said, I enjoy watching some women’s sports more than the guys.
is someone seriously disputing this ?
Serena would not even stand a chance against an American high school top player
what is happening here?
He spoke the truth, the general public don't like the truth.
Very cool 😎 guy John Mc Enroe. My youth hero
THE -MAN -CAN PLAY FKIN TENNIS
Johnny Mac was and is Awesome. This agenda that people have gotta get life.
If journalists get this wrong when it's so obvious, they shouldn't be journalists. Women can compete with men in anything demandingly physical? Of course not. They have other areas to excel in.
Great story teller!
When I was 17 and in school, the girls Netball team challenged us boys to a Netball game. We had some training sessions and the girls looked pretty good, fluid and accurate shooting. In the game they didn’t score against us as our whole team averaged 6ft tall and we were so much quicker and stronger than them
Just watch mixed doubles.....
If he was only 40 he'd be able to beat Serena he's nearly 60 years old now of course he wouldn't beat her and if he could then forget 700 she shouldn't be ranked
Of course he would demolish her at 40 years of age, but if he trained a bit, with true equal playing rules, he would demolish her at his present age of 63 years old!!
Could you imagine if Nadal, Federer or Djokovic ever transitioned to female and played on the women's tour??? It will happen someday with someone like Dr. Renee Richards decades ago---but they weren't that good. Imagine if it happens with a really good player? They would win the grand slam every year.
McEnroe is right about what would happen if Serena or any of the top women players ever played the top men players. It's a stupid topic anyway that a leftist from NPR had to bring up of course.
Look up the Muay Thai Fight between The Best Muay Thai female and some middle of the road guy--- same weight class... It's on you tube.
He's a funny dude. Fast mind.
Some people believe so much in *bullshit* than when they hear the truth, they get so up in arms.
You got to have him on more often
VERY TRUE -JOHN
i effin hate this guy when he was playing. but once he has retired, ive grown to like him.
YOUR ACE -JOHN
The current Women's 100 meter world record is 10.5. The current world's top 200 men's sprinters all beat that time every race. It's not something you have to be theoretical about. If tennis tracks sprinting ...
Who had the worst temper, McEnroe or Jimmy Connors?
Dan Patrick sounds exactly like Anthony Mason on CBS.
SHE IS A GREAT TENNIS CHAMP
There was talk like this during Wimbledon 1984 in which people asked McEnroe if Martina Navratilova could beat a male player on the tour (or maybe beat him) and he said that was ridiculous. It was a different conversation then. Now there is political correctness to consider and other stuff.
Serena wouldn’t be able to get out of the challengers on the men’s tour
@Tom R agreed
Listen, McEnroe is a champion of facts
John is fucking funny 😂❤
The problem with being PC is that it's not honest. People want equality and that is noble but it's not reality.
And he would absolutely still beat her.
John is obviously Aspergers. Take away all his Aspergers traits and you have the sweetest guy.
I hope he's still married to my favorite 80's female rockstar.
John looks like he could be Mel Brooks’ son.
He’s right but the comments on here are just guys constantly shitting on women competing in sport. It’s vile and of course men are better at sport but you don’t need to qualify it and say she couldn’t even beat a 16 year old club player and somehow that makes her pathetic.
ACE -JOHN
Of course John was correct about Serena. 100%
John is so eloquent, he's 100% on point here on the Serena debate. I could probably beat Serena. On Xbox.
In a couple of MMA fights, men seriously injured women fighters.
UFC tried to run the crap that Rhonda Rousey could beat any man or woman her size.They also compared her to
Floyd Mayweather JR in a combat fight. Which footwork and punching alone would have her in trouble easily.
He is right.
Nice guitar.
America's favorite German.
this would have to be over 5 setsyeah!
It sounds like the women who seem offended by your comments are those who don't actually understand tennis. I'm a woman who plays tennis AND a feminist and have no issue with what McEnroe said at all. I think Serena is amazing too.
McEnroe is 1000% correct about Serena - why must we pretend male and female athletes have the same physical ability? It’s just stupid.
John, would you explain the physiological difference between men and women and look exactly at the person from L.A. or NY who is asking this , and try to pc it so they don't take offense----!?
Not a tennis fan but awesome interview.
John McEnroe said she was the best female player ever , what's so controversial about that? She is female, nothing wrong with that.
People miss the point -- Serena is such a great and dominant player that we have to jump genders to even see her weakness. She can also beat 95% of all men who play tennis on this earth. At least.
I for one would love to see men and women compete at the same level in sports. No mercy. No holding back.
Can you picture a female in the ring with Pacquiao?
Can you picture a female looking across the line of scrimmage at Ray Lewis foaming at the mouth ready to rip your head off?
Let's get rid of the W in WNBA.
Let's be real here. How many females could earn the kind of money they're earning now in female competitions if they had to compete head to head with males?
I would love to see a female in the Octagon with Jon Jones.
THE EARTH IS FLAT