McEnroe says Williams would be ranked 'like 700' on men's tour
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Julian Finney
<p>LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 11: Serena Williams of the United States celebrates winning a point in the Final Of The Ladies' Singles against Garbine Muguruza of Spain during day twelve of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 11, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)</p>
LONDON (AP) — John McEnroe says Serena Williams would be "like 700" in the world tennis rankings if she played on the men's tour.
McEnroe, speaking to NPR about his memoir "You Cannot Be Serious," says Williams is the best female player ever, "no question." But when asked about her being the best ever, without gender qualifiers, McEnroe was clear that he didn't think so.
McEnroe says "if she played the men's circuit she'd be like 700 in the world."
The former tennis bad boy added that he thought Williams could beat some male players, "but if she had to just play the circuit -- the men's circuit -- that would be an entirely different story."
McEnroe won seven Grand Slam titles in his career. Williams has won 23.