This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/jun/27/murray-williams-vegas-tennis-match

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Andy Murray challenges Serena Williams to Vegas exhibition match Andy Murray challenges Serena Williams to Vegas exhibition match
(3 months later)
Las Vegas has witnessed its share of heavyweight bouts in the past, but Andy Murray held out the prospect of a tantalising sporting contest to rival any staged in Sin City, challenging Serena Williams to a competitive tennis match which she later agreed "would be fun".Las Vegas has witnessed its share of heavyweight bouts in the past, but Andy Murray held out the prospect of a tantalising sporting contest to rival any staged in Sin City, challenging Serena Williams to a competitive tennis match which she later agreed "would be fun".
Murray first made the suggestion in response to a tweet from a tennis fan on Wednesday, when user @tomcarswell1 wrote: "I reckon Serena Williams could beat u on grass … And I'm not even joking." "Me too!" replied the player. "Maybe we can set it up one day and see how close I get."Murray first made the suggestion in response to a tweet from a tennis fan on Wednesday, when user @tomcarswell1 wrote: "I reckon Serena Williams could beat u on grass … And I'm not even joking." "Me too!" replied the player. "Maybe we can set it up one day and see how close I get."
After sleeping on it, Murray seemed even more serious, repeating his offer in a column for the BBC website – and suggesting the Nevada gambling capital as a suitable venue for the showdown.After sleeping on it, Murray seemed even more serious, repeating his offer in a column for the BBC website – and suggesting the Nevada gambling capital as a suitable venue for the showdown.
"I've never hit with her but she's obviously an incredible player," he wrote, "and I think people would be interested to see the men play against the women to see how the styles match up. It's happened in the past with Jimmy Connors and Martina Navratilova. How about Las Vegas as a venue?""I've never hit with her but she's obviously an incredible player," he wrote, "and I think people would be interested to see the men play against the women to see how the styles match up. It's happened in the past with Jimmy Connors and Martina Navratilova. How about Las Vegas as a venue?"
"He's challenged me?" Williams asked journalists after her second-round defeat of France's Caroline Garcia. "That would be fun. I doubt I'd win a point, but that would be fun.""He's challenged me?" Williams asked journalists after her second-round defeat of France's Caroline Garcia. "That would be fun. I doubt I'd win a point, but that would be fun."
Murray, she said, was "probably one of the top three people I definitely don't want to play. But yeah, maybe we can have a little bit of a showdown. That would be fine."Murray, she said, was "probably one of the top three people I definitely don't want to play. But yeah, maybe we can have a little bit of a showdown. That would be fine."
Connors and Navratilova staged an exhibition match in Las Vegas in 1992, which was narrowly won in two sets by Connors, though he played with a number of handicaps. But while both players in that contest were past their prime, both Murray and Williams are reigning Grand Slam champions, raising the prospect of a fascinating head-to-head between men's and women's tennis at its best.Connors and Navratilova staged an exhibition match in Las Vegas in 1992, which was narrowly won in two sets by Connors, though he played with a number of handicaps. But while both players in that contest were past their prime, both Murray and Williams are reigning Grand Slam champions, raising the prospect of a fascinating head-to-head between men's and women's tennis at its best.
Williams jokily stressed, however, that if the match were staged, she would insist on being allowed to hit into the "alleys", or tramlines, using the full width of the doubles court, while Murray should be denied serves, or even the use of his legs. As for her favoured surface, she initially suggested an indoor grass court, before changing her mind and opting for clay. "He loves grass. I do, too. But I'm going to definitely go clay."Williams jokily stressed, however, that if the match were staged, she would insist on being allowed to hit into the "alleys", or tramlines, using the full width of the doubles court, while Murray should be denied serves, or even the use of his legs. As for her favoured surface, she initially suggested an indoor grass court, before changing her mind and opting for clay. "He loves grass. I do, too. But I'm going to definitely go clay."
It would not be Williams's first male-female contest, after she and her older sister Venus were defeated one after another by the German Karsten Braach in 1998, when they were 16 and 17 respectively.It would not be Williams's first male-female contest, after she and her older sister Venus were defeated one after another by the German Karsten Braach in 1998, when they were 16 and 17 respectively.
Referring to that defeat Williams told reporters: "I probably would still lose to Karsten."Referring to that defeat Williams told reporters: "I probably would still lose to Karsten."
The most celebrated tennis battle of the sexes took place in 1973 between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, months after the 55-year-old Riggs had defeated Margaret Court, at 30 the leading female player in the world. King, who was 29, avenged Court's defeat with a crushing 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 win, pocketing the $100,000 purse for her efforts.The most celebrated tennis battle of the sexes took place in 1973 between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, months after the 55-year-old Riggs had defeated Margaret Court, at 30 the leading female player in the world. King, who was 29, avenged Court's defeat with a crushing 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 win, pocketing the $100,000 purse for her efforts.
"In a single tennis match" said a New York Times editorial at the time, "Billie Jean King was able to do more for the cause of women than most feminists can achieve in a lifetime.""In a single tennis match" said a New York Times editorial at the time, "Billie Jean King was able to do more for the cause of women than most feminists can achieve in a lifetime."
A documentary about the contest, entitled Battle of the Sexes, is released this week.A documentary about the contest, entitled Battle of the Sexes, is released this week.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.