Serena Williams took to Centre Court on Saturday, hoping to beat Simona Halep to clinch her eighth Wimbledon singles title.
The American tennis star was beaten in two sets, but had she succeeded she would have joined current record-holder Margaret Court in having won more Grand Slams than any other tennis player in history, male or female.
Despite the result, a staggering 12 per cent of British men believe that given the chance to challenge her to a game they could score a point against her, according to a YouGov poll of 1,732 adults, published before Saturday's contest.
One in eight men (12%) say they could win a point in a game of tennis against 23 time grand slam winner Serena Will… https://t.co/mTfKNGV41V— YouGov (@YouGov) 1562944694
This sat in comparison to three per cent of women who said the same.
The 23-time Grand Slam winner has been known to serve at 128.6 miles per hour.
While she could technically double fault, granting her opponent a point in this hypothetical game, the question is more framed to ask respondents if they think they could actively win a point.
Anyone looking to analyse the motivations driving those still hoping for a no-deal Brexit need look no further than this stunning mix of optimism and delusion.
Twitter had a field day.
Seriously men for the vast majority of you if you’re playing against Serena Williams, absolute best case scenario w… https://t.co/GhUIdObqQP— James Felton (@James Felton) 1562958890
@ajplus @jols98 @YouGov The only way i could win a point of off Serena is if i told her that, and then she fell to… https://t.co/XEgQTcsEUJ— Chris O'Day (@Chris O'Day) 1562962465
Image of Serena Williams just fucking launching bombs at over confident men. 100 mile an hour serves straight in th… https://t.co/LGNbg4tuGU— Lee Harvey (@Lee Harvey) 1562959342
Confident in my ability to properly tennis, I take the court. I smile at my opponent. Serena does not return the ge… https://t.co/2liwy3wpzb— Jason (@Jason) 1562951215
please @serenawilliams WE NEED TO SEE THIS please please please I would like to cry of laughter https://t.co/DL5blewKQK— chrissy teigen (@chrissy teigen) 1562950213
@BeardedCaviar @MattSeg09 @YouGov She'd beat most doing it underarm.— David Burnell (@David Burnell) 1562955156
Sure, if she were asleep, face down on the court https://t.co/ZzV5kEBSVu— Greg Jenner (@Greg Jenner) 1562953589
Framing it like this makes the poll results seem even more astounding.
@YouGov I'm pretty sure 12% is considerably higher than the number of men who play tennis regularly.— I'm probably not cake. (@I'm probably not cake.) 1562954062
From here on out when I’m unsure if I’m qualified to go for a job, I’ll think to myself “what would one in eight me… https://t.co/WyE9FAha72— Bethany Black twitch.tv/beffernieblack (@Bethany Black twitch.tv/beffernieblack) 1562953096
Or not so much...
@YouGov One in eight men are completely deluded shocker.— Ann Coates will not remove the dinosaur 🦕🦖 (@Ann Coates will not remove the dinosaur 🦕🦖) 1562966226
Every single one of these men also thinks we can solve Brexit if we stop being defeatist https://t.co/ialPoPFtwj— Alan White (@Alan White) 1563000806
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