Serena Williams Calmly Schools John McEnroe After His Rude Sexist Comment

From ELLE UK

Serena Williams has won 23 grand slam titles. She is also the world record holder for winning the most grand slams ever in the open era of both male and female tennis. Last year, she overtook Roger Federer's record after winning her 308th Grand Slam match. In 2015, she was also crowned Sportsperson of the year by Sports Illustrated.

Have we listed enough achievements yet? Probably not. But it seems like we might have to keep trying because despite everything the 34-year-old sports superstar has achieved, people are apparently still trying to question her dominance in the world of tennis.

On Wednesday, former American tennis champion John McEnroe told US radio station NPR Williams was the 'best female player ever – no question.'

Fair enough. But, he was then asked whether Williams was actually the best player in the world – male or female.

'She's not, you mean, the best player in the world, period?' he asked.

'[…] If she played the men's circuit she'd be like 700th in the world,'McEnroe answered.

Right. Naturally, people had a lot of feelings about this outlandish statement:

The comments then made their way to Williams who voiced on twitter just exactly what she thought of McEnroe's 'statements that are not factually based.'

Williams is currently taking time away from tennis as she prepares for her first child with her fiancé the co-founder of Reddit Alexis Ohanian.

After she accidentally announced her pregnancy on Snapchat in April, fans quickly calculated that this had meant Williams was roughly eight weeks pregnant when she won the Australian Open earlier this year.

Unfortunately, during her 15-year career, Williams has had to get used to routinely schooling society and the media when sexism and ignorance rear their heads.

At a press conference during last year's Wimbledon, Williams was asked how she felt about being considered 'one of the greatest female athletes of all time.'

'I prefer the words 'one of the greatest athletes of all time,'' she replied. Naturally.

She also famously shut down a reporter who asked her to smile after she had just played a gruelling match at the 2015 US Open.

'It's 11.30. To be honest with you, I don't want to be here,' she said bluntly while women across the world cheered in unison. 'I just want to be in bed right now. I have to wake up early to practice. I don't want to answer any of these questions and you keep asking me the same questions.'

However, now and again, a good egg like Andy Murray comes along to also drill home the message that women can dominate an entire field just like men can.

After winning gold at the Rio Olympics, the British male number one was asked by BBC reporter John Inverdale how it felt to be "the first person ever to win two Olympic tennis gold medals".

'To defend the singles title. I think Venus and Serena have won about four each,' he responded.

YES Andy.

You Might Also Like

• All the Ridiculous Things Celebrities Have Done in Heels

• What 29 Orange Is the New Black Characters Look Like in Real Life

• 12 Times Kendall Jenner Channeled Paris Hilton's Style