Tennis fans were quick to criticize former World No.1 Martina Navratilova for refusing to include retired Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova in a poll for the greatest women's tennis player of all time.

A poll on Twitter asked fans to vote for the best women's player of all time, listing Serena Williams, Steffi Graf, Sharapova and Navratilova. The 66-year old Navratilova showed her dismay at having Sharapova included in the list, calling it a joke.

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Tennis fans come to Sharapova's defense, blast the retired American

"What a joke- I mean Maria? Really? Don’t even bother voting," said Navratilova.

Several fans did not approve of the retired WTA star's statement, with some saying Sharapova would easily defeat her on the Russian's worst day.

"Maria would smoke you on her worst day anytime. Be happy you played tennis in slow motion era. You wouldn't last a set with these new girls now," a fan said.

"You played tennis with a wooden racket hun and you want to talk down on someone from a whole different era? Shame on you for comparing yourself to someone who played in a time where we had actual athletes and not housewives who played for fun. GROW UP or not cuz ur v old," another fan's post read.

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"You're older than the iphone, twitter and facebook combined and yet you're worried about this ? You are NOTHING compared to Maria Sharapova, you need a reality check. Being THAT bitter at your old age... Just go to bed grandma," said one user.

"Someone needs to get other women down to feel she has achieved something," wrote another insightful fan.

Martina Navratilova

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What a joke- I mean Maria? Really? Don’t even bother voting…

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