Serena Williams has hit back at John McEnroe after the retired tennis star said she was only as good as the world’s 700th-best male player.
In an interview with NPR on Sunday, McEnroe said that Williams, the highest-ranked female tennis player, would place “like number 700 in the world” if male players were included.
The harsh assessment sparked debate in the sporting world and prompted a response from Williams. On Monday she tweeted: “Dear John, I adore and respect you but please please keep me out of your statements that are not factually based.”
“Respect me and my privacy as I’m trying to have a baby,” she continued in a subsequent tweet.
McEnroe’s comment stood in stark contrast to praise he has heaped on Williams in the past. Following her 2015 Wimbledon win, he said that Williams was “arguably the greatest athlete of the last 100 years,” according to ESPN.
Williams has won 23 singles Grand Slams and 14 more in doubles — the most Grand Slam wins by any individual since professionals were welcomed to compete with amateurs.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Welcome to the Noah Lyles Olympics
- Melinda French Gates Is Going It Alone
- What to Do if You Can’t Afford Your Medications
- How to Buy Groceries Without Breaking the Bank
- Sienna Miller Is the Reason to Watch Horizon
- Why So Many Bitcoin Mining Companies Are Pivoting to AI
- The 15 Best Movies to Watch on a Plane
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Contact us at letters@time.com