In the 1998 Australian Open, an exhibition match dubbed the “Battle of the Sexes” unfolded between Karsten Braasch and the Williams sisters. Venus and Serena had confidently claimed they could beat any male player ranked outside the top 200. Braasch, then ranked 203rd, stepped up to challenge them. Braasch was far from a peak-conditioned athlete. One journalist described him as “a man whose training regime centered around a pack of cigarettes and more than a couple of bottles of ice-cold lager.” Yet, even with that lifestyle, he dominated both sisters. He took down Serena Williams 6–1 before defeating Venus 6–2. Afterward, he gave a blunt assessment: “500 and above, no chance.” He even admitted to playing at the level of a 600th-ranked player just to keep things “fun.” Years later, in 2013, Andy Murray had sent her a proposal for a match. But Serena Williams openly acknowledged the vast difference between men’s and women’s tennis. And now her ex-coach, Patrick Moroutglou, is determined to make it happen!

Serena Williams had highlighted the difference between the two genders on ‘The Late Show with Davis Letterman’ and said, “The men are a lot faster, they serve harder, and they hit hard. It’s just a different game.” Her former coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, backed her stance. In an Instagram clip, he reflected on her statement, saying, “It’s funny that it’s coming from Serena and that she says men’s and women’s tennis are two different sports. I think it is. That’s true, mainly for one reason: It’s the fact that men are so much faster than women, movement-wise. Serena is talking about the power of men but Serena was hitting with guys. When I was coaching her, she played many times with Grigor Dimitrov, (Stefanos) Tsitsipas. There was 0 problems. Hitting from the centre of the court, hitting crosscourt. No problem. They were impressed. When the movement was involved, then it was different and this I agree with her.”

Andy Murray had once entertained the idea of a match against the 23-time Grand Slam champion. In 2013, a Twitter user asked him if he’d challenge her, and he replied, “I’d be up for it. Why not?” Serena responded playfully, saying, “That would be fun. I doubt I’d win a point, but that would be fun.” Later, on ‘The Late Show with Davis Letterman,’, she added, “If I were to play Andy Murray, I would lose 6-0, 6-0 in 5 to 6 minutes, maybe 10 minutes.”

However, Mouratoglou has a plan to make such a match competitive. In the Instagram clip, he said, “We had the idea for Serena to play a match against Andy Murray and then we had an idea on how to reduce the difference between men and women to make this match extremely competitive. I am not saying what because I want to do it one day.”

Serena’s serve remains one of the most feared weapons in tennis. Mouratoglou once called it “the greatest of all time.” The American tennis legend averaged 106 mph, and her fastest recorded serve hit 128.6 mph in 2013. At the 2021 Australian Open, her fastest serve of 125.5 mph matched Rafael Nadal’s top speed at the tournament and surpassed 52 men in the draw. But the game isn’t just about power. Men move faster, chase down shots with ease, and generate spin that disrupts female opponents in ways they aren’t used to handling. But the idea of a Serena vs. Murray showdown still sparks curiosity.

Murray, a three-time Grand Slam champion, has long been a vocal advocate for women’s tennis. Serena Williams made sure everyone knew that as he said goodbye to the courts.

When Serena Williams paid tribute to Andy Murray

At Wimbledon 2024, Andy Murray bid farewell to the sport with an emotional on-court tribute following his first-round doubles loss with his brother, Jamie. In his illustrious career, he won two Wimbledon titles, one US Open title, and two Olympic gold medals.

As he stepped off the court for the last time as a pro tennis player, Serena Williams sent him a heartfelt video message. “You always speak out so much for women and everything that women deserve, and you were the leader in that,” she said. “The things you said about myself and Venus, so many things about how we were always so inspiring, and what we meant to you, it really went such a long way in my heart, and I will always be grateful for that.” Serena’s gratitude was a fitting tribute to a player who never hesitated to stand up for equality. The duo have even played mixed doubles together at Wimbledon. Murray has been more than a champion—he’s been a voice for change. And it looks like the British legend couldn’t stay too far from tennis anyway. Now, he’s coaching his former rival, Novak Djokovic.

Even though both the players are retired, would you still want to see Serena and Murray face off in a true battle of the sexes? Let us know in the comments below!