The world of tennis can get pretty intense, and players sometimes let their emotions get the best of them. Back in 2018, during the US Open final, tennis superstar Serena Williams had a heated exchange with the umpire Carlos Ramos, which caused quite a stir. Recently, tennis legend John McEnroe provided his two cents in regard to that incident.

During the US Open final, Serena Williams faced off against Naomi Osaka, and things got heated on the court when she clashed with the umpire, Carlos Ramos. Williams threw accusations toward the umpire which resulted in three code violations and a point penalty. Things then took a turn for the worse for the celebrated American.

John McEnroe on Serena Williams’ emotional outburst

Serena Williams accused Ramos of being a “liar” and a “thief,” adding salt to injury, this behavior resulted in three code violations and a point penalty. She later contended that the umpire’s actions were “sexist.” The incident caused a massive stir in the tennis community and led to a heated debate about the treatment of female players compared to their male counterparts. Serena Williams has largely remained silent about the episode, but John McEnroe, who knows a thing or two about on-court outbursts, recently spoke up in her defense.

McEnroe, who is known for his own fiery moments on the court, believes that Williams has no need to apologize for her actions during the US Open. He said, “If thief is the worst word she used, I have got some bad news for you. There are a lot of other players, including myself, in a lot of other sports, that have done far worse. Come on.” McEnroe’s history of fiery confrontations on the court, including his disqualification from the 1990 Australian Open, gives him a unique perspective on the matter. He admitted, “If I use a four-letter word and say that you are a ‘blanking blank,’ which let’s say hypothetically I have used in the past, do you think that would be worse than saying that you are a thief?” It was reported by Mirror UK.

In a different interview, and a lot of other times as well, McEnroe has claimed that even though he was labeled brash, he has always maintained that, to him, he was always under control; he was just a little loud, and he has got defaulted once in 15 years only because the rules were changed.

McEnroe’s shifting views on Serena Williams

In support of Serena’s stance, he acknowledged, “She was absolutely right to say men have got away with worse. I am surprised she didn’t invoke my name there. I wasn’t disappointed, just surprised!” This news however was in contrast to what he had previously once claimed regarding Serena Williams. While McEnroe offered support to Williams over her US Open meltdown, he had previously stirred a different kind of debate when he commented on her hypothetical ranking in men’s tennis. In an interview, McEnroe suggested that Serena would be ranked around 700th if she played on the ATP World Tour back in 2017, as reported by Bleacher Report.

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This comment sparked controversy, as many argued that comparing male and female athletes based on rankings isn’t fair. It’s not about a battle of the sexes, but about exceptional performance. Serena Williams’ incredible achievements, with an unmatched 23 Grand Slam singles titles and her remarkable longevity, speak volumes about her greatness in women’s tennis. It is worth noting that Serena Williams nearly earned her Calendar Year in 2015 and won her 2017 Australian Open title whilst being pregnant.

John McEnroe siding with Serena Williams is a reminder that emotions run high in sports, and sometimes, players say things they later regret. Serena’s US Open meltdown may have been a controversial moment, but it should not define her legacy.

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