Serena Williams accepts Andy Murray’s invitation

After being challenged on Twitter to take on the 16-time grand slam winner, Murray revealed he was interested in taking part in such an exhibition.

The mere suggestion that the pair could play each other has echoes of the time the then 55-year-old Bobby Riggs, a tennis superstar of the 1930s and 1940s, took on Margaret Court and Billie Jean King.

Those matches in 1973 drew huge worldwide attention, particularly the latter, in Houston, that was dubbed the Battle of the Sexes.

Riggs overcame Court but was beaten by King, with their match the central act in a new documentary film, while Jimmy Connors defeated Martina Navratilova in Las Vegas in 1992.

Williams said: “He’s challenged me? Really? He wants to play me? Is he sure?” she said with a laugh.

“That would be fun. I doubt I’d win a point, but that would be fun. He’s 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.”