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In an interview with National Public Radio on Sunday, McEnroe said 23-times grand slam champion Williams was "the best female player ever" but declined to label her the best

overall. "If she played the men's circuit she'd be like 700 in the world," he said. "That doesn't mean I don't think Serena is an incredible player. I do.

"And on a given day, Serena could beat some players... But if she had to just play the circuit - the men's circuit - that would be an entirely different story." Former world

number one Williams, who has taken time off to have a baby, responded on Twitter. "Dear John, I adore and respect you but please please keep me out of your statements that are not

factually based," she wrote. "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." Williams has won the most grand slam singles titles in the professional era, five more than Swiss Roger Federer, the most prolific winner in the men's game. She is one short

of Australian Margaret Court's overall record of 24 grand slam titles, which were split between the professional and amateur eras. But Dmitry Tursunov, currently ranked 701 on the men’s

tour, admits he’d hope to beat her if they ever played. "I would hope that I would win against Serena," he told BBC World Service Sport. "It would be a similar argument to:

who would run faster, the fastest woman or the fastest man? Tennis is becoming more and more a physical sport, so it's going to be hard for a woman to beat the men. "It's not

black and white, there are lots of factors to take into account. Physically I might not be in the best shape of my life but as an overall package I'm much better than my ranking would

suggest. She is pregnant, and I'm not. "I've never heard John say anything absolutely stupid - he knows his stuff. What he said about her being an incredible player is correct

- explosive, powerful and she puts in a lot of work. But I would hope that I would win."