Cape Town - Perhaps unsurprisingly, John McEnroe doesn't think Serena Williams needs to apologise for her actions in the US Open final.
Williams drew widespread support and criticism for her dramatic meltdown in New York, as she labelled umpire Carlos Ramos a “liar” and a “thief” and claimed sexism after she received three code violations.
The American has not played or spoken out the incident since, but McEnroe - obviously mindful of the proverb that says people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones - doesn't think she has anything to atone for.
“If thief is the worst word she used, I have got some bad news for you. There are a lot of other players, including myself, in a lot of other sports, that have done far worse. Come on," said McEnroe, who was famously disqualified from the 1990 Australian Open after a meltdown of his own.
“If I use a four-letter word and say that you are a “blanking blank”, which let's say hypothetically I have used in the past, do you think that would be worse than saying that you are a thief?
“She was absolutely right to say men have got away with worse. I am surprised she didn't invoke my name there. I wasn't disappointed just surprised!”
McEnroe continued: “The way it panned out with Serena, she was wrong and so was the umpire.
“Maybe she just wanted it too bad. In the end, she shot herself in the foot.”