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'Are you serious?': Serena channels McEnroe after journo questions 'scrappy' win

Liam Mannix
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Don't call Serena Williams' performance "scrappy". At least not to her face.

This is a woman who is part of the greatest-athlete-of-all-time conversation – and she knows it.

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Serena Williams tells reporter to apologise

Serena Williams bristles after a reporter asks about her 'scrappy performance' against Lucie Safarova, whom she beat in straight sets on Thursday.

One journalist made that mistake overnight.

Williams had just beaten off a challenge from Czech Lucie Safarova​ in two sets at Rod Laver Arena, the number two seed prevailing 6-3 6-4.

Safarova is not typical cannon-fodder for the Williams backhand – she's a former top-10 player who made the final of the 2015 French Open.

That wasn't good enough for one hack, though. When Serena sat down for the post-match press conference, he was first up to the mike.

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Press Looked a little bit of a scrappy performance. A few more unforced errors, a few double-faults.

Williams, who has 71 singles titles including six Australian Open championships, looked stunned.

Serena Williams I think that's a very negative thing to say. Are you serious?

Press Just my observation.

Serena Williams Well, you should have been out there. That wasn't very kind. You should apologise. Do you want to apologise?

At this point the journalist could see his race was run.

Press I do. I'm sorry.

Serena Williams Thank you very much. That was a great performance. I played well. She's a former top-10 player. The last time we played together was in the finals of a Grand Slam. You know, it's not an easy match. She's a really good player. You have to go for more, which obviously makes a few more errors.

Another journalist was more keen to get on Williams's good-side, later throwing up this comment-pretending-to-be-a-question.

Press I thought you played very well tonight.

Serena Williams Thank you.

Williams will now play compatriot Nicole Gibbs, who has defeated fellow American Irina Falconi to reach the third round.

- With AAP