Serena asks McEnroe for respect

NEW YORK: Serena Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, fired back Monday at John McEnroe’s remark that she would only rank about 700th on the men’s tennis circuit.

On Monday, Serena responded in two Twitter postings.

“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.”

Serena, 35, won this year’s Australian Open for her seventh Melbourne crown and her 23rd Slam singles title, setting an Open Era record and moving one shy of Margaret Court’s all-time Slam singles title record.

In April, Williams announced that she was pregnant and would not compete for the remainder of the season.