Mac renews Williams attack

The Williams sisters have infuriated John McEnroe

John McEnroe has continued his war of words with America's leading tennis family after accusing the current Wimbledon singles champion Venus Williams of "insulting him".

McEnroe and the Williams sisters - Venus and former US Open Champion Serena - have been involved in a series of public slanging matches ever since they insisted they could win on the men's tennis circuit.

McEnroe, four-time US Open singles champion and three-time winner at Wimbledon, responded by saying that the sisters could not beat a good college player.

American billionaire Donald Trump last year offered $1m to promote a McEnroe-Williams clash but the sisters did not take up the proposal.

If they think that they should go and play in the men's tournaments, step up and play somebody

  John McEnroe

"I didn't hear Marion Jones saying she could beat Maurice Greene at the 100 metres. It only seems to happen in tennis," said McEnroe.

"Why in tennis do the women think they can beat the men.

No showdown

"If they think that they should go and play in the men's tournaments, step up and play somebody."

McEnroe is in London preparing for the Honda Challenge men's seniors tournament at the Royal Albert Hall.

The American was quick to quash suggestions of issuing a challenge to the sisters.

"I wouldn't waste my breath. Many times I've been asked if I'd play Steffi Graf or Martina Navratilova. It's not something that interests me.

"But it's OK for her (Williams) to insult me and call me an old man. She's too great a player to insult somebody."

McEnroe is scheduled to meet old rival Bjorn Borg on Friday in what could be their last encounter on British soil.

Their clash at Wimbledon in 1980 is widely regarded as one of the finest men's singles finals ever played.