Legend laments speculating on Williams' success against men

NEW YORK - John McEnroe said on Wednesday he would have been better off never trying to compare Serena Williams to men's players after the furor over his remark that she would rank "like 700 in the world".

Three days after his comments to National Public Radio were aired, the retired tennis great-turned-commentator tried to draw a line under the matter on an ESPN conference call ahead of Wimbledon.

"Maybe it was wrong," McEnroe said. "I'll agree, it would have been better not to have said it. I didn't realize it would create something like this."

The stir came after McEnroe called the 23-time Grand Slam champion the "best female player ever - no question". But asked if she was the best player ever, the American said his compatriot would ranked around 700 in the men's game, adding: "If she had to play the men's circuit, that would be an entirely different story."

The next day, Williams responded on Twitter. The long-time world No 1, who won this year's Australian Open while pregnant, is taking the rest of the year off to have her first child and revealed details of her past few months in a Vanity Fair story on Tuesday, also appearing nude on the magazine's cover.

"Dear John, I adore and respect you but please please keep me out of your statements that are not factually based," the 35-year-old 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."

McEnroe refused to apologize when asked on CBS television on Tuesday if he should. On Wednesday, he stressed his respect for Williams.

"Maybe it's better if it hadn't been said because I have a lot of respect for Serena," said McEnroe. "She has been great for the game. People that know me know that. I think that's really what it boils down."

McEnroe said he never thought his ideas of where women would rank on the men's tour would create the controversy they did.

"That's just my opinion," he added. "This is not something that has been earth shattering, that I feel there's a difference in the level of the women and the men."

McEnroe said he was flustered when the follow-up question came to him.

"When I was asked the question, I was just talking about Serena. I said if it wasn't for Serena, American tennis would even be in a lot deeper trouble.

"It sort of took me aback. I wasn't quite sure what she was saying. It would have been easier to leave it. Look, she's a great player and it's apples and oranges."

Retired women's star and fellow commentator Pam Shriver agreed, saying: "It's two different divisions. It's the women and the men, just like it's singles, doubles, mixed. You don't mix up the divisions. Great tennis matches are great tennis matches regardless.

"It's really not relevant where Serena would be ranked in the men's game. It's just not relevant."

Williams, 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 record.

Williams has won Wimbledon and the Australian Open seven times, the US Open six times and the French Open three times. McEnroe, 58, is a former world No 1. He won four US Open and three Wimbledon singles titles.

Agence France-presse