Aryna Sabalenka or Serena Williams at their best? John McEnroe says only one answer in comparison
WTA
Aryna Sabalenka is no match for a prime Serena Williams admits John McEnroe. This is despite the groundstrokes of the World No.2 being comparable not only to the legendary American but some of the best male players in the world.
Sabalenka's speed hits 129km/h putting her ahead of Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner on groundstroke metrics. With improved racquet technology, it is hard to gauge differences.
But according to the legendary tennis star, the 23-time Grand Slam winning legend would've been no match for Sabalenka in her prime and he doesn't believe the Belarusian scales the heights she did. She faces Jessica Pegula tonight in the US Open final.
“Sabalenka has improved her movement, but I don’t think that she is at the same level as Serena when she was at her best,” said McEnroe to Eurosport at an event during the US Open.
“Obviously, we are talking about two of the biggest hitters that have ever been in the women’s game, but I would take Serena to beat her still.
“I have a huge amount of respect for Sabalenka. She has improved her game and that is why she is finally winning majors and contending in every event she is in.”
But he admits himself that the game is very different now compared to his day with the heightened use of technology as well as players understanding fitness and how to get the most out of their bodies more.
“Obviously the game was a lot slower when I played,” he reflected. “The game got quicker because of technology and the players are just bigger now, they understand more about fitness.
“It was different in the past because you could see players trying to work out their strategy on the court and that was interesting, but I see lots of positives here as well.
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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