IBill Maher once criticized transgender athletes using a John McEnroe comment about Serena Williams.
In 2017, during an interview with NPR as part of a book tour to promote his memoir “But seriously,” Former world number one McEnroe was of the opinion that if Williams played in the men’s circuit she would not achieve the same success and could be ranked around world number 700. However, he also gave credit to the 23-time Grand Slam champion. for his achievements on the WTA Tour.
“If she played on the men’s tour, she would be 700th in the world. That’s not to say that I don’t think Serena is an incredible player. I do, but the reality of what would happen would, I think, be something which maybe it would be a little higher, maybe a little lower,” he said.
Famous American comedian and writer Bill Maher made an appearance in the boxing legend Mike Tyson‘s ‘Hotboxin’ in 2022 and addressed the controversial topic of transgender athletes competing in women’s sports. He used John McEnroe’s comment about Serena Williams as an example to highlight why he thought it was unfair.
“Obviously, Mike, can you imagine getting in the ring against a woman with you in the prime of your life? Or even now? That would be a bloodbath. Or playing football, exactly! Men and women are different. John McEnroe, I think it was who said that if Serena Williams played on the men’s tour, she would be 700th in the world,” Maher said. (Quotes via Marca)
Maher then brought up a comment made by Serena Williams when she and her sister Venus were defeated by a male player ranked 203rd in the world, Karsten Braasch, in an exhibition event at the 1998 Australian Open.
The American said:
“And Serena Williams is obviously a powerful and incredible athlete. She even once said that when she played against a man, she didn’t realize it. Serene said that she hit shots that no woman couldn’t achieve and he passed them easily. So obviously there are differences between men and women. Can we just agree on that?
Serena Williams reacted to John McEnroe’s controversial comment
In 2017, Serena Williams wasted no time fighting back John McEnroe after her comment that she could be ranked around 700th in the men’s circuit was revealed.
The American ace, who was pregnant with her first child with husband Alexis Ohanian, took to X (formerly Twitter) and politely asked the seven-time Grand Slam winner to refrain from using her name in his statements which, according to her, were not based on facts. .
“Dear John, I love and respect you, but please keep me away from your statements that are not based on fact. I have never played against anyone ranked “there -down” and I don’t have time. Please respect me and my privacy while I try to have a baby. Hello sir,” Williams wrote.
The 42-year-old retired from tennis after losing in the third round of the 2022 US Open to Ajla Tomljanovic. She now devotes more time to her family, which includes her husband, Alexis Ohanianand their two daughters, Olympia and Adira.
