American tennis great John McEnroe officially ended his pro career in 1992, but the former star of the '70s and '80s reckons he could defeat Serena Williams.

The seven-time major winner (three won at Wimbledon) was on US talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live last night and suggested that he could triumph over the leading women's players over the last decade and a half.

"I believe that I could still take her," the 56-year-old said, with a smile, adding that his own daughters' opinion differed markedly: