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7 of Serena Williams' best verbal volleys under fire

Serena Williams  - Getty Images Europe
Serena Williams - Getty Images Europe

Serena Williams has fired back at John McEnroe for suggesting she might not beat the 700th seed on the men's circuit. In a thinly veiled tweet to the former champion she told him to "keep me out of your statements that are not factually based". 

During an NPR interview on Sunday to promote his memoir, But Seriously, McEnroe suggested if Williams were to play against men her career "would be an entirely different story" and that she might "be like 700 in the world".

“That doesn’t mean I don’t think Serena is an incredible player,” he added hastily, before saying she is the “best female player ever — no question”.

Williams, not one to let volleys go unreturned, was quick to reply. The 23 time grand slam champion, currently on maternity leave before she has her first child, wrote back on Twitter:

“Dear John, I adore and respect you but please please keep me out of your statements that are not factually based. I’ve never played anyone ranked ‘there’ nor do I have time. Respect me and my privacy as I’m trying to have a baby. Good day sir”.

Not long ago she also made her feelings crystal clear after former world number one Ilie Nastase made seemingly racist comments about her unborn baby in April. 

The Wimbledon champion did not hold back when Nastase - the Romanian Fed Cup captain who won two grand slam titles in the 1970s - was caught on tape at a press conference saying in response to Williams’s pregnancy announcement: “Let’s see what color it has. Chocolate with milk?”

To which Williams fired back an ace on her Facebook page: 

"It disappoints me to know we live in a society where people like Ilie Nastase can make such racist comments towards myself and unborn child, and sexist comments against my peers. 

“I am not afraid unlike you. You see, I am no coward. Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? You may shoot me with your words ... you may try to kill me with your hatefulness, but still like air I will rise.”

She added that she supported an investigation by the International Tennis Federation into the incident. 

Serena Williams - Credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty
Serena Williams Credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty

In homage to the seven times Wimbledon singles champion, we recap some of her best verbal returns that prove she is just as devastating off-court. 

1. THE SHOT

Last year Indian Wells CEO Raymond Moore made sexist comments about female players in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA). He said: “If I was a lady player, I’d go down every night on my knees and thank god that Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal were born, because they have carried this sport. They really have.”

SERENA’S RETURN

Williams reply was to the point: “If I could tell you every day how many people say they don't watch tennis unless they're watching myself or my sister, I couldn't even bring up that number. So I don't think that is a very accurate statement.'

'You know, there's only one way to interpret that. Get on your knees, which is offensive enough, and thank a man, which is not - we, as women, have come a long way. We shouldn't have to drop to our knees at any point.' 

2. THE SHOT

Williams was once asked by a journalist what she thought about “going down as one of the greatest female athletes of all time” in a press conference last year.

SERENA’S RETURN

To which the 23 time Grand Slam winner corrected, “I prefer the word ‘one of the greatest athletes of all time.”

Tennis great Serena Williams is expecting her first child this year - Credit: KENA BETANCUR/AFP
Tennis great Serena Williams is expecting her first child this year Credit: KENA BETANCUR/AFP

3. THE SHOT

Having won Wimbledon in 2015, Williams was deplorably body-shamed by online trolls who commented on her size, causing Harry Potter author JK Rowling to come to the athlete's defence.

SERENA’S RETURN

She didn't need it. In an interview with Good Morning America she fired back, “I've been like this my whole life, and I embrace me and I love how I look. I love that I am a full woman, and I'm strong and I'm powerful and I'm beautiful at the same time. And there's nothing wrong with that. I just don't have time to be brought down. I have too many things to do, you know. I have Grand Slams to win. I have people to inspire. And that's what I'm here for.”

4. THE SHOT 

During a late night TV Russian talk show in 2014, the head of the Russian Tennis Federation Shamil Tarpischev made an off-the-cuff remark calling Serena and Venus “The Williams Brothers”.   

SERENA’S RETURN 

She countered: “I thought his comments were very insensitive. I thought they were extremely sexist, as well as racist at the same time. I thought they were in a way bullying.” The WTA banned Tarpischev for a year and fined him $25,000.”

5. THE SHOT

During an interview with ESPN Williams was asked about her career and the role luck might have played in it. 

SERENA'S  RETURN

“Luck has nothing to do with it, because I have spent many, many hours, countless hours, on the court working for my one moment in time, not knowing when it would come.”  

Serena Williams fired back this week at former world number one Ilie Nastase after he made racist comments about her unborn baby - Credit: Getty Images
Serena Williams Credit: Getty Images

6. THE SHOT

In 2015 an exuberant crowd at Wimbledon were putting off the American ace during a match against home favourite Heather Watson by cheering during play. 

SERENA'S RETURN

She returned order in seconds with a waggle of her index finger warning spectators, "Don't try me."

7. THE SHOT

To any doubters left out there who question Serena Williams’s worldwide dominance.

SERENA’S RETURN

She said, "We all know who the real number one is. Quite frankly, I’m the best in the world.”