Wimbledon 2019: 12% of men think they could win a point against Serena Williams, poll shows

The American is in the hunt for a record-equalling 24th grand slam, as she faces Simona Halep in today's women's Wimbledon final

Tom Pilgrim
Saturday 13 July 2019 11:47 BST
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Wimbledon Championships in numbers

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Serena Williams is one of the most successful tennis players of all time but some men still believe they could match the grand slam champion on court, a survey has suggested.

According to a YouGov poll, around one in 10 men (12 per cent) think they could win a point off the 23-time grand slam winner.

Just 3 per cent of women among the 1,732 British adults polled feel confident of securing a point against Williams.

Survey respondents were asked: “Do you think if you were playing your very best tennis, you could win a point off Serena Williams?”

The American is in the hunt for a record-equalling 24th grand slam, as she faces Simona Halep in today’s Wimbledon final.

Two years ago, female players backed Williams in the row over whether women tennis players could compete with the men’s game.

Ex-player and commentator John McEnroe claimed Williams would barely scrape the top 700 on the men’s tour.

At the time, former world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki said the only player in the men’s game that Williams should be compared against was Roger Federer.

At Wimbledon this year Williams has addressed the challenges female tennis players face.

She argued that “women’s matches aren’t pushed as much as the men’s matches to be on the marquee courts” and called for “equality” in tennis.

PA

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