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[–]mugenhunt 6 points7 points  (0 children)

McEnroe is likely correct. While Serena would mop the floor with an average man playing tennis, against actual male professionals, who have greater strength and speed due to their higher testosterone levels, she wouldn't place well.

[–]Marlsfarp 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Impossible to assign a ranking because they play separately. However, it's not entirely untested. From Wikipedia:

Another event dubbed a "Battle of the Sexes" took place during the 1998 Australian Open[56] between Karsten Braasch and the Williams sisters. Venus and Serena Williams had claimed that they could beat any male player ranked outside the world's top 200, so Braasch, then ranked 203rd, challenged them both. Braasch was described by one journalist as "a man whose training regime centered around a pack of cigarettes and more than a couple of bottles of ice cold lager".[57][56] The matches took place on court number 12 in Melbourne Park,[58] after Braasch had finished a round of golf and two shandies. He first took on Serena and after leading 5–0, beat her 6–1. Venus then walked on court and again Braasch was victorious, this time winning 6–2.[56] Braasch said afterwards, "500 and above, no chance". He added that he had played like someone ranked 600th in order to keep the game "fun"[59] and that the big difference was that men can chase down shots much easier and put spin on the ball that female players can't handle. The Williams sisters adjusted their claim to beating men outside the top 350.[56]

[–]BmoreisapunkrocktownApprox knowledge of many things 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Currently, probably not very high.

[–]Really_its_mike 1 point2 points  (2 children)

The record men's service speed is 167 The record women's service speed is 136 Serena's average is 128

You do the math

[–]DrColdReality 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Many years ago, a friend of mine who was a major tennis bum told me a story about when the Williams sisters were just catching fire, one of them was at some tournament and was bragging that she could beat any man there. So some 25th-seeded no name guy decided to take her up on it, and mopped the court with her ass.

Of course, back in the 70s, Bobby Riggs played a major "male chauvinist pig" shtick and claimed that even at 55, he could beat any female tennis player. He goaded Margaret Court, then the top female player in the world, into a match and beat her easily.

But he did that by getting her worked up emotionally, and then playing her for a chump in the early part of the match, making her chase all over the court after wild shots. When she finally got tired out, Riggs started playing for real, and beat her.

Then he tried the same thing on Billie jean King, but King didn't fall for his theatrics and bullshit, and wiped him out.

I knew Riggs slightly, he used to pal around with Don Gale who was the tennis pro at a tennis club I did the PR photography for.

[–]deep_sea2 0 points1 point  (1 child)

The follow that beat the Williams sister was not seeded 25th-ish, he was seeded 203rd.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's immaterial, she'd not break the top 700.