Paul Scholes called out by ex-British No.1 over bold claim about football and tennis

Paul Scholes has been challenged to a tennis match by former British No.1 Greg Rusedski.

The 1997 US Open finalist called for the duel as he hit back at Manchester United legend Scholes’ claim that football is a more demanding sport than tennis.

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Scholes enjoyed a 20-year senior career spent entirely with the Red Devils.

During that time he won 25 trophies, including 11 Premier League titles and twice lifted the Champions League.

He also made 499 Premier League appearances for United, scoring 107 goals from midfield in the process. At international level, Scholes was capped 66 times by England.

What did Scholes say?

During an episode of The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast, a debate broke out over the demands of football and tennis.

Scholes was joined on the show by co-hosts Paddy McGuinness and Nicky Butt.

Whilst they argued tennis can be hard work due to the constant high intensity movements, Scholes joked: “Every two minutes you go and have your nice little glass of orange juice.

“You can play it when you’re 50, tennis. Play it when you’re 70, tennis.”

As the discussion continued, he added: “Football is much more demanding than tennis.”

Rusedski responds

However, Rusedski has dismissed Scholes’ argument that football is a harder sport than tennis.

Speaking on his Off Court podcast with talkSPORT, the former world No.4 explained: “You can’t compare football to tennis. There’s no question about it.

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“I was watching Paul Scholes saying, ‘oh, football’s so much harder than tennis.’ I’ve never heard a bigger load of rubbish life.

“Come on, Scholesy, let’s go play some tennis and see how long you can last out there. Having to move directions, no substitutions.

“There is no question, physically, tennis is much more demanding. With the travel schedule, with competing, with having to support and fund your own team.

“There’s so many more things which makes tennis a much more difficult sport.”

Off Court

Rusedski won 15 singles titles during his professional tennis career.

Despite being born in Canada, he represented Great Britain from 1995 through to his retirement in 2007.