Tennis legend John McEnroe still loves a good tennis battle at age 67 and he got one this week at Malibu Racquet Club.
The former ATP world no. 1 in singles and doubles and winner of 77 ATP titles each in both singles and doubles, hit this week with WTA player Carson Branstine. The workout included a game to 21 which Branstine revealed to me on X that she won 21-9 and that a rematch has been scheduled for next week.
Another former ATP player who was present told me about the “battle of sexes” clash however he would not share the score or who won. That’s when Branstine stepped up and reported the result after somehow seeing my original post on X about the intriguing match-up.
The 25 year old Canadian who won a national title with Texas A&M in 2024 is currently ranked at 536 due to injury inactivity. Her career high ranking was 172 in October 2025. Branstine is also a model for Wilhelmina Models and she’s the cousin of Los Angeles Dodgers star first baseman Freddie Freeman.
McEnroe appeared to be using an orange Head Radical tennis racquet vs Branstine in the video she shared on X.
I won our game to 21. Carson d. Jmac 21-9. Rematch is next week https://t.co/YKDPNTLbDZ pic.twitter.com/gPTtKChLGB— Carson Branstine (@carsonbranstine) July 30, 2026
Branstine has not played since January. Her only three matches this year were a loss in Canberra to Vera Zvonareva and then at AO qualies she beat Astrid Sharma in three sets before losing to Daria Snigur in 2R 46 24 ret.
Malibu Racquet Club painting by Jake Sheiner
McEnroe oil painting by Scoop Malinowski
Malibu Racquet Club sketch by Jake Sheiner
Carson Branstine · John McEnroe · Malibu
Scoop Malinowski · July 30, 2026 at 7:22 am
Steve · July 31, 2026 at 11:28 am
Nice looking club but Overpeck is greater. 🙂 Mac should play there.
Scoop Malinowski · July 31, 2026 at 12:20 pm
McEnroe moves so well still at 67 but not sure if he would dominate. He lost a 21 earlier this year to Callum Markowitz who plays D1 at Penn, who is about similar level to Alex Merson who just finished his career at D3 Babson and was hitting partner at Newport. Merson and Markowitz are similar level. Merson pretty much dominates when he’s at Overpeck but sometimes not. Would be fascinating to see. Might take $25,000 for Mac to make that appearance though )