Serena Williams’ husband Alexis Ohanian has accused Madrid Open owner Ian Tiriac of being racist and sexist after he told the American athlete to retire.
The former Olympic tennis star turned billionaire Tiriac urged the 39-year-old to retire due to her age and weight.
“At this age and the weight she is now, she does not move as easily as she did 15 years ago,” Tiriac said on Romanian TV. “Serena was a sensational player. If she had a little decency, she would retire.”
This isn’t the first time Tiriac has taken aim at Serena’s weight.
In 2018, when asked about the state of women’s tennis, he took aim at the champion by saying: “With all due respect, 36 years old and 90kg …”
Serena then responded: “It’s an ignorant comment and it’s a sexist comment. Maybe he’s an ignorant man.”
And now, after Tiriac’s most recent comments, William’s husband and father to their three-year-old daughter Alexis Olympia, has hit back on Twitter.
Co-founder of Reddit Ohanian mocked 81-year-old Tiriac.
After a quick Google search, Ohanian discovered Tiriac had not won a single Grand Slam single, tweeting: “Safe to say no one gives a damn what Ion Tiriac thinks.”
Ohanian added: “Had to Google it … turns out my 3 year old has more Grand Slam victories than this.”
He then responded to a fellow Twitter user, who tried to defend Tiriac.
Ohanian wrote: “Keep defending your racist, sexist clown.”
He later added: “2021 and no holding back when a racist/sexist clown with a platform comes for my family.”
Williams needs just one more Grand Slam title to equal Margaret Court’s incredible record.
She also boasts 16 Grand Slam doubles titles and four Olympic gold medals.
Tiriac, meanwhile, never made it past the fourth-round at a Grand Slam in singles.
He did win the 1970 French Open doubles title, however.
This article originally appeared on Over60.