Serena targets men; seeks wildcard in Stuttgart Open

The report said Williams, who yesterday lost to French player Sandrine Testud at the Filderstadt Grand Prix despite a 5-1 lead in the final set, had asked Stuttgart organisers for a wildcard.

Her mother, Orecene Williams, said they were confident of being accepted, and although Stuttgart tournament director Markus Guenthard was quoted as saying she will get the wildcard if she really wants it, others believe the issue is a simple PR gag.

Serena and her sister Venus played against male counterparts in an exhibition match at last year’s Australian Open, but crashed 1-6, 2-6 respectively to Karsten Braasch, a then 203rd-ranked German who had accepted the challenge to play them on an outside court.

Orecene Williams said the rules did not prohibit women from playing in the men’s game, but Eurocard Open organiser and former top player Ion Tiriac gave Serena virtually no chance.

“Way back, one woman was allowed to play in a men’s event in the United States. She was drawn against me and won a mere two points in the first set.”

Martina Navratilova failed in a Battle of the Sexes, losing 5-7, 2-6 to Jimmy Connors, although Connors was only allowed one serve and Navratilova could use the bigger doubles field for points.

The only woman to beat a man was Billy Jean King back in 1973. She won 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 against former Wimbledon champ Bobby Riggs — who was 55 at the time.

Connors was quoted by Bild as saying after the match with Navratilova: “You don’t lose such matches as a pro.”