Serena pokes fun at complaining men players

Madrid: Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal and others who have complained about the blue clay at the Madrid Open are "weenies", according to former women's No 1 Serena Williams.

Asked about criticism from Djokovic and Nadal over the slippery surface on the Manolo Santana show court, Williams told a news conference that women were simply tougher than their male counterparts.

"Women are way tougher than men. That's why we have the babies, you guys could never handle kids," Williams said after thumping top seed Victoria Azarenka 6-1 6-3 to win the Madrid title on Sunday.

"We ladies don't complain, we just do our best. On the WTA [tour] we are real performers, we are not about going out there and being weenies."

Dictionary.com lists several definitions of "weenie" including "an insignificant, disliked person" or "a stupid and inept male".

Djokovic and Nadal have threatened to boycott the Madrid event next year unless the traditional red dirt is reinstated.

A 13-times grand slam singles champion who was last number one in October 2010, Williams is projected to rise to number six when the rankings are updated and said she had her eye on extending her overall tally of 123 weeks at the top.

"I don't play to be number two, I don't think Victoria plays to be number two," she said. "We all play to be the best."

Serena beat her sister Venus in the French Open final in her sole triumph at Roland Garros in 2002 but has not been past the quarter-finals since 2004, leading to a perception she is less comfortable on the dirt than grass or hardcourt.

"It's a big myth because I actually love the clay, I grew up on clay," Williams said.

"My results haven't been stellar but I have won the French Open, the ultimate claycourt tournament," she added. "Actually I like it more than the grass which is weird."

It was only Azarenka's third defeat in a year in which the 22-year-old won her first grand slam singles title at the Australian Open.