“I refuse to see these kids for what? Because I’m a hothead? Not correct,” John McEnroe criticises Venus and Serena Williams for his portrayal in ‘King Richard’
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John McEnroe, Christopher Wallinger as John McEnroe in 'King Richard, Serena Williams and Venus Williams
Former World No. 1 John McEnroe has been one of the most active former players with the 7-time singles major winner voicing his opinions in and around the tennis world as an analyst at the big events. McEnroe’s work as an analyst is no different than his career as a Pro player, brutal, honest and candid in speaking about the matters that are happening on and off the air.
With the release of ‘King Richard‘, the biopic based on the life of Richard Williams, father of Venus and Serena Williams and also the most successful tennis coach ever, a lot of information about the early days of the Williams family is portrayed in it. McEnroe also makes an appearance in the movie where he has been portrayed by Christopher Wallinger in the movie.
“I didn’t walk away in disgust, refuse to see Serena. I was there. Saw them,”: John McEnroe on the incident in ‘King Richard’
During a scene when Serena and Venus are pre-teens, the movie shows McEnroe refusing to meet the two girls and ignoring them. John has however cleared the air around the incident and criticised the movie makers (including the two sisters) for the poor portrayal of him in the movie.
“It wasn’t accurately totally portrayed in the movie, [but it was] a great movie. When she was brought to the court I was practising on, I was being told by my then-coach Paul Cohen and Richard Williams that her and Venus were going to be the two best players in the world. It was like, ‘Call me in 10 years, we’ll see what’s happening.’ I didn’t walk away in disgust, refuse to see Serena. I was there. Saw them.
“Why would I walk away after being told that I’m going to see two kids, 8 and 9, that are going to be future No. 1s? I refuse to see these kids for what? Because I’m a hothead? Not correct. That all you need to say about Serena is that she’s put herself in that pantheon of GOATs, She’s up there with Billie Jean King. You mentioned Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, and Tom Brady. That’s where Serena is,’’ said McEnroe in comments reported by the New York Post.
While McEnroe and the Williams sisters have had a rough bit of history between them over the years, John has lately praised Serena as she is about to hang up her racket at the end of the 2022 US Open after a glorious career of 28 years.
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Sarthak Shitole
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