Patrick McEnroe Claims He Could Beat World No. 1 Sabalenka at 59

The former pro tennis player says the gap between men's and women's tennis is too wide for the top-ranked woman to compete.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 6:34am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Former professional tennis player Patrick McEnroe, now a broadcaster, claimed that he could beat current world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka even at the age of 59. McEnroe argued that the gap between men's and women's tennis is so significant that the top junior boys' player in the world would easily defeat Sabalenka. While he praised the entertainment value of the WTA, McEnroe insisted that the power metrics of top women's players are deceiving compared to their male counterparts.

Why it matters

McEnroe's comments reignite the long-standing debate about the differences between men's and women's tennis, and whether top female players could compete with elite male players. This discussion has surfaced repeatedly over the years, with figures like John McEnroe making similar claims. Sabalenka's recent 'Battle of the Sexes' exhibition loss to Nick Kyrgios also fueled this controversy, and Patrick McEnroe's latest remarks add further fuel to the fire.

The details

During a recent episode of his SiriusXM radio show, Patrick McEnroe dismissed Sabalenka as a legitimate threat, citing the gap between men's and women's tennis. McEnroe, who peaked at No. 28 in the ATP rankings in 1995 and won one tour-level singles title, argued that the top 17-year-old junior boy would easily defeat the four-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka, 6-1, 6-1. While he praised the entertainment value of the WTA, McEnroe insisted that the power metrics of top women's players like Sabalenka and Madison Keys are deceiving compared to their male counterparts.

  • In late December 2025, Sabalenka squared off against Nick Kyrgios in a highly publicized 'Battle of the Sexes' exhibition in Dubai, where Kyrgios secured a comfortable 6-3, 6-3 win over the World No. 1.

The players

Aryna Sabalenka

A four-time Grand Slam singles champion and the current world No. 1 women's tennis player.

Patrick McEnroe

A former professional tennis player who peaked at No. 28 in the ATP rankings in 1995 and won one tour-level singles title. He is now a broadcaster.

Nick Kyrgios

A professional male tennis player who defeated Sabalenka in a 'Battle of the Sexes' exhibition match in 2025.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It doesn't matter to me because it's just a different game. The short answer is that I was a decent pro as a journeyman type player, ranked most of my career between 30, 75, 100, whatever it was. But if you took the top junior player in the world, the top 17 year-old and put him up against Sabalenka, they beat her 6-1, 6-1 or something. But again to me it's irrelevant.”

— Patrick McEnroe, Broadcaster

“I don't say that to denigrate women's, I love women's tennis. I'll watch that if there's a great matchup more than I'll watch a men's blowout match. It's just a totally different game. And tennis for some reason, people don't look at it the same way because they see Madison Keys or Sabalenka hit their forehand as hard as Sinner. Well, they're not hitting it with the same spin and the movement's different.”

— Patrick McEnroe, Broadcaster

What’s next

Sabalenka has expressed interest in a rematch against Kyrgios to try and avenge her previous loss in the 'Battle of the Sexes' exhibition.

The takeaway

McEnroe's comments reignite the long-standing debate about the differences between men's and women's tennis, and whether top female players could compete with elite male players. This discussion has surfaced repeatedly over the years, with figures like John McEnroe making similar claims. While McEnroe praised the entertainment value of the WTA, his dismissal of Sabalenka's abilities compared to junior boys highlights the persistent gender biases that still exist in the sport.