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Serena Williams has hit back at John McEnroe. Aaron Favila/PA Images

Serena Williams hits back at John McEnroe: 'Respect me and my privacy as I'm trying to have a baby'

McEnroe had suggested the 23 Grand Slam title winner would struggle to break the top 700 on the men’s tour.

SERENA WILLIAMS FIRED back at John McEnroe last night after he said she would struggle to break into the top 700 if she competed on the men’s tour.

While McEnroe did qualify his comment by adding that he still believed Williams to be the best female player ever, the 35-year old was still less than impressed with his statements she said were not “factually based”.

Using Twitter, the 23-times Gland Slam title winner also asked McEnroe to respect her privacy as she was trying to focus on having her first child.

In an interview on Sunday to promote his new book, McEnroe said that if Williams played on the men’s tour, she’d be “like No. 700 in the world” but that she was also the “best female player ever, no question.”

However, he added that he wouldn’t class her as the greatest to ever play the game.

John McEnroe says Serena Williams would rank 700th in the world on the men’s tour

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75 Comments
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    Mute Government Sachs
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    Jun 27th 2017, 8:38 AM

    Was she trying to have her baby as she tweeted?

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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Jun 27th 2017, 9:45 AM

    @Government Sachs: no but I do think he was promoting a book pretty successfully by insulting the best female tennis player ever.

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    Mute MaryLoonyMcDonald
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    Jun 27th 2017, 9:50 AM

    @Deborah Behan: how did he insult her?

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    Mute Catherine Sims
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    Jun 27th 2017, 10:05 AM

    @MaryLoonyMcDonald: He tried to belittle her. Just to create controversy and media attention. A cheap shot from a nasty human being.

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    Mute Government Sachs
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    Jun 27th 2017, 10:10 AM

    @Catherine Sims: he criticises male players too you know?

    94
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    Mute Catherine Sims
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    Jun 27th 2017, 10:21 AM

    @Government Sachs: well if he does it’s on technical aspects of their game. Here he used a blanket comment to belittle her. There was no dissection on technique or anything like that. It was intended solely to belittle another athlete.

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    Mute Philip Brady
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    Jun 27th 2017, 10:54 AM

    @Catherine Sims: welcome to the Real world

    50
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    Mute Gulliver Foyle
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    Jun 27th 2017, 11:00 AM

    @Catherine Sims: but he was commenting entirely on the technicality of the tennis game, and how physicality is a central component of both men’s and women’s success. It was followed up by a comparison with other sports where strength is important, and was neither belittling not sexist.

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    Mute Paul Quirke
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    Jun 27th 2017, 11:37 AM

    @Government Sachs: so him being an equal opportunities geebag makes it ok?

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    Mute Government Sachs
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    Jun 27th 2017, 12:02 PM

    @Paul Quirke: he’s paid to commentate and critique if that makes him a what you say it does then yes.

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    Mute sister atrocious
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    Jun 27th 2017, 5:47 PM

    @Government Sachs: More likely posing for nude pics for the aptly named “Vanity Fair”

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/40422852/pregnant-serena-williams-poses-naked-on-the-cover-of-vanity-fair

    You see it’s all about her privacy, I wonder will the baby be afforded any privacy when it’s born or will it be plastered all over social media as a virtue beacon.

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    Mute Jackie Caruana
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    Jun 27th 2017, 8:57 AM

    I don’t see how what he said affected her privacy in any way. He never mentioned her baby…she took the opportunity to put that out there herself. Her response is a bit weird.

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    Mute Minom Pnom
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    Jun 27th 2017, 9:02 AM

    @Jackie Caruana: exactly. Just making a bigger deal of it by sending a couple of tweets. Hence this article. She’s probably just bored.

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    Mute Jah
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    Jun 27th 2017, 9:05 AM

    @Jackie Caruana: I imagine she was contacted for comment

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    Mute Gillian Weir Scully
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    Jun 27th 2017, 9:09 AM

    @Jackie Caruana: I agree and her mentioning she was trying to get pregnant made it worse. Wrong feminist comment to make to a stupid comment in any case. I bet John wishes he did not make the comment men are generally stronger than women but I bet she is in the top ten for strength for both sexes.

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    Mute michael
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    Jun 27th 2017, 9:28 AM

    @Gillian Weir Scully: literally nothing you just said makes any sense

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    Mute John Buckley
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    Jun 27th 2017, 9:49 AM

    @Gillian Weir Scully: you are going to be broke if you are making feminist biased bets like that. The serve is probably the only stat that could be used to measure strength. At tournaments she only has a realistic chance of having a faster serve than 2 or 3 men (like David Ferrer).

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    Mute Joe Bloggs
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    Jun 27th 2017, 9:52 AM

    @Gillian Weir Scully: top 10 for strength? You are on some wind up.

    47
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    Mute Catherine Sims
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    Jun 27th 2017, 10:07 AM

    @Jackie Caruana: Well she has been drawn into a media storm that wasn’t if her making. Also the stress caused by this can’t help if she is trying to have a baby. Stress is a big enemy to that process.

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    Mute Nial D
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    Jun 27th 2017, 10:33 AM

    @Catherine Sims: stress my arse. Cop yourself on.

    47
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    Mute Philip Brady
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    Jun 27th 2017, 10:56 AM

    @Catherine Sims: you can’t be serious

    33
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    Mute Sharon B
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    Jun 27th 2017, 10:58 AM

    @Gillian Weir Scully: she is not trying to get pregnant, she already is pregnant, baby due end of August / early September.

    19
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    Mute Dermot Doheny
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    Jun 27th 2017, 1:28 PM

    @Catherine Sims: you are joking right? Right? Please tell me you’re joking…

    17
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    Mute P C
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    Jun 27th 2017, 8:37 AM

    There was a story about this in the journal yesterday. I made a comment that contained the word “feminazis” and the journal deleted it. Total snowflakes.

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    Mute beans not peas
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    Jun 27th 2017, 9:10 AM

    @P C: that’s probably because it wasn’t funny

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    Mute Stephen Coveney
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    Jun 27th 2017, 9:10 AM

    @P C:
    Hmm…you cry about not being allowed to complain. You’re an idiot

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    Mute P C
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    Jun 27th 2017, 9:52 AM

    @beans not peas: it wasn’t meant to be funny.

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    Mute Nucky
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    Jun 27th 2017, 9:57 AM

    @P C: just one comment! Find that hard to believe

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    Mute Rob Cahill
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    Jun 27th 2017, 10:10 AM

    @P C: Any comment using snowflake or feminazi or whatever other buzzwords the alt right webpages feed you should be deleted, Everyone is sick of it at this stage. The irony and projection is getting ridiculous.

    37
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    Mute michael
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    Jun 27th 2017, 10:29 AM

    @Rob Cahill: comments with those words shouldn’t be deleted, just ridiculed

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    Mute P C
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    Jun 27th 2017, 12:14 PM

    @michael: I was only trying to fit in.

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    Mute Sean
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    Jun 27th 2017, 1:34 PM

    @P C: f

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    Mute Lord Trollington
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    Jun 27th 2017, 8:40 AM

    Respect her privacy?

    138
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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Jun 27th 2017, 9:50 AM

    @Lord Trollington: imagine a woman insulted a man to promote her book? She’d be destroyed on here!! She doesn’t want any part of this. He knows he’s irrelevant and mentioning her is the only way to get publicity. Sad.

    49
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    Mute Link
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    Jun 27th 2017, 2:25 PM

    John McEnroe, irrelevant to tennis?
    What are you on about?

    34
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    Mute Awkward Seal
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    Jun 27th 2017, 9:08 AM

    It’s a well known fact. There’s nothing controversial about it. There probably isn’t a single female player who could play in the premiership. Tennis isn’t any different. Male coaches regularly beat their top seeded female players in practice matches.

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    Mute Brian O Reilly
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    Jun 27th 2017, 8:47 AM

    “You can’t be serious “

    65
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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jun 27th 2017, 8:51 AM

    @Brian O Reilly: *cannot

    71
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    Mute Minom Pnom
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    Jun 27th 2017, 8:54 AM

    @Brian O Reilly: cannot

    21
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    Mute Alan O'Rourke
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    Jun 27th 2017, 9:09 AM

    She’s a dope

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    Mute Shane Kinsella
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    Jun 27th 2017, 9:14 AM

    @Alan O’Rourke: she’s a feckin eejet

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    Mute Alan O'Rourke
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    Jun 27th 2017, 10:53 AM

    @Peedur Dante: and what of yours Peedur? If your life flashed before your eyes, how much of it would be of you practising with yourself?

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    Mute Veronica
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    Jun 27th 2017, 10:59 AM

    @Peedur Dante: I really find it funny that the same men comment on all these articles all the time going on about how useless women are (which is normally the gist of what they’re saying). You’re totally right Preedur, if you compared any of those highly successful women to these losers their achievements would likely look like very little.

    It just makes them look so small and bitter.

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    Mute Alan O'Rourke
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    Jun 27th 2017, 12:32 PM

    @Veronica: you’ve put 2 and 2 together and gotten 9. I played tennis once in leopardstown and I’d say they had to patch the roof. That’s up there with the rest of my ‘high’ achievements. I was referring to the tweet in the article. Keep reading between the lines. Make sure to wear your glasses when you do so!

    16
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    Mute Alan O'Rourke
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    Jun 27th 2017, 12:51 PM

    @Peedur Dante: you’re a dope too

    12
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    Mute James Dunne
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    Jun 27th 2017, 9:01 AM

    “In an interview on Sunday to promote his new book” quelle surprise McEnroe says something to generate a bit of controversy ergo publicity and the media jump all over it. Williams is one of the greatest athletes ever let alone the greatest tennis player ever, her record speaks for itself. Enough of the faux outrage please.

    55
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    Mute Shane Kinsella
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    Jun 27th 2017, 9:12 AM

    @James Dunne: greateat athlete ever is just nonsense though. She is the best “women” tennis player but no where near the best tennis player.

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    Mute Dave Murray
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    Jun 27th 2017, 9:22 AM

    @James Dunne: The greatest tennis player ever she most definitely is not.

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    Mute James Dunne
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    Jun 27th 2017, 9:25 AM

    @Shane Kinsella: you left out that I actually said “one”of the greatest athletes ever, not the greatest. Certainly the best tennis player ever but hey I’m not a professional armchair commentator!

    11
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    Mute Joe Bloggs
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    Jun 27th 2017, 9:54 AM

    @James Dunne: best tennis player ever? Clearly you’re trolling.

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    Mute Dave McCrea
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    Jun 27th 2017, 8:12 PM

    @James Dunne: eh that’s what armchair commentator means, you’re not professional because you are simply sitting in your armchair observing..

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    Mute Dave McCrea
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    Jun 27th 2017, 8:14 PM

    @Shane Kinsella: I’m not a Serena fan at all… but saying she is nowhere near the best tennis player tells me you don’t know anything about tennis. She’s easily the best female tennis player of all time. If I had to pick the top 5 tennis players of all time, it would be maybe Serena, Federer, Sampras, Nadal and Navratilova..

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    Mute Laura Walsh
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    Jun 27th 2017, 8:58 AM

    Classy response from a wonderful athlete!

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    Mute Shane Kinsella
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    Jun 27th 2017, 9:03 AM

    @Laura Walsh: McEnroe is a legend alright!

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    Mute Titus Groan
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    Jun 27th 2017, 9:19 AM

    @Shane Kinsella: She said response. He didnt respond. That makes no sense. And he’s hardly as big a deal as Serena is.

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    Mute Jah
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    Jun 27th 2017, 9:02 AM

    Kind Madame, the Dear Sir is not on Twitter, most sincerest regards

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    Mute Declan O'Neill
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    Jun 27th 2017, 8:56 AM

    I hope this turns into a challenge. Serena would be more than capable of taking a set off of him IMHO…

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    Mute Andrew Mac Mahon
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    Jun 27th 2017, 8:58 AM

    @Declan O’Neill: guy is nearly 60, most pro tennis players male or female in their 30′s should be able to win a set over him

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    Mute Awkward Seal
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    Jun 27th 2017, 9:05 AM

    @Declan O’Neill: not in his prime though.

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    Mute Bewarethebeardz
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    Jun 27th 2017, 9:31 AM

    Even at his peak, McEnroe probably wouldn’t have ranked in the top 700 either in today’s game. As he said himself ‘the older I get the better I was’..

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    Mute Nial D
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    Jun 27th 2017, 10:36 AM

    @Bewarethebeardz: easily the stupidest comment on this thread. He was so supremely talented that with today’s technology and fitness he’d have been a top 5 player for a decade.

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    Mute Austin Rock
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    Jun 27th 2017, 7:46 PM

    @Nial D: No he wouldn’t because of the very same technology and fitness regimes.

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    Mute barry collins
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    Jun 27th 2017, 1:54 PM

    it sounds to me like he was asked a question and he answered it,people on here are making out he just came out with this.

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    Mute KSI
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    Jun 27th 2017, 9:19 AM

    Is the “Gland” slam a new tennis competition? And who is McEnore?

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    Mute A H
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    Jun 27th 2017, 1:55 PM

    @KSI: Mind yer won beeskness

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    Mute Catherine Sims
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    Jun 27th 2017, 10:03 AM

    He was a bad tempered foul mouthed player and it seems that was just his personality. He is just trying to create controversyabd publicity for his book by attacking a powerful female athlete. He has all the class of a turd. Williams is trying to have a baby. Stress is a definite enemy to that process. She doesn’t need the stress of his attacks. Otherwise though his comments and his opinions aren’t her issue they are his. If he needs to attack others in order to draw attention to his book then it’s likely not to be a good read. He might be as bad tempered as an author as he was as a player. Seems like he is.

    12
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    Mute paddy
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    Jun 27th 2017, 11:42 AM

    @Catherine Sims: whats all his “trying to have a baby nonsense” will it not come out if shes stressed?

    26
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    Mute Catherine Sims
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    Jun 27th 2017, 12:24 PM

    @paddy: Paddy go away and educate yourself!!! Stress during pregnancy is bad for both mother and baby !!! That’s what it’s all about !!!!

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    Mute Austin Rock
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    Jun 27th 2017, 7:48 PM

    @Catherine Sims: I agree listenign to the drivel he spews at wimbeldon he is as commentator well past it game is way too fast for him even if it is merely women playing it.

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    Mute Dave McCrea
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    Jun 27th 2017, 8:08 PM

    @Catherine Sims: who cares if she is trying to have a baby. He was asked a question and answered it. She is in the public eye and it may happen that someone is asked about her, gives a response, it’s published and she can either not turn on the news while she has her baby or just DEAL with it…

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    Mute Eugene Comaskey
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    Jun 27th 2017, 10:58 AM

    What a Muppet that McEnroe is, of course he was never anything else.

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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello.
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    Jun 27th 2017, 9:16 AM

    What the hell did I just read?

    11
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    Mute Michael
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    Jun 28th 2017, 7:39 PM

    THIS article is Fake News! John McEnroe stated in an interview that Serena Williams was the best women’s tennis player ever. The interviewer pressed him by saying ” Why didn’t you say BEST TENNIS PLAYER EVER”. He replied that she wasn’t and that he believed she wouldn’t make into the top 700. She’s already been beaten by a guy rated in the 200′s .A month later he was rated in the 300′s. To have competitions which exclude participants by gender is the definition of sexism. So the gender classifications should scrapped .

    1
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    Mute Elizabeth Barry
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    Jun 28th 2017, 12:17 AM

    Well if a man can win a grand slam while pregnant then fair play to them.

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    Mute Maire
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    Jun 27th 2017, 7:34 PM

    Hey John, You can not be Serious!

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