Kin Cheung/AP
Serena Williams did not appreciate John McEnroe's comments about where she'd rank among men's players.
On Sunday, during an interview on NPR, McEnroe said he believes Williams would rank "like 700" in the world if she played on the men's circuit.
While McEnroe called Williams the greatest women's player ever, he thought she couldn't match up physically with men.
On Monday, Williams issued a calm, but forceful response.
McEnroe, however, did not apologize for the comment.
On Tuesday, McEnroe appeared on CBS This Morning and said he didn't intend to cause a controversy with his remarks, then retroactively ranked Williams the fifth greatest player of all time.
McEnroe also said he would be ranked 1,200th in the world if he were playing today.
Perhaps the only way to resolve this issue to is finally get McEnroe and Williams on the court together to play each other.
Dear John, I adore and respect you but please please keep me out of your statements that are not factually based.
- Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) June 26, 2017I'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 Williams (@serenawilliams) June 26, 2017"It wasn't necessary.... I didn't know it would create controversy." -- John McEnroe on his Serena Williams comments pic.twitter.com/6YAPtZ80mp
- CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) June 27, 2017
WATCH: John McEnroe *re-ranks* the world's best tennis players, ranking @SerenaWilliams at 5 pic.twitter.com/l72JPrNDje
- CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) June 27, 2017