She’s the world’s No. 1 ranked tennis player – he’s the greying host of The Late Show.
So no prizes for guessing who won when David Letterman played Serena Williams on a hastily constructed court outside the Ed Sullivan Theatre in New York on Wednesday afternoon.
The 42-year-old showed off her fabulous six-pack tummy in a black cropped top and figure-hugging white skirt with horizontal thin black lines.
She’s a good sport: David Letterman challenged Serena Williams to a tennis game outside the Ed Sullivan Theatre in New York before The Late Show
Such a gent: The 67-year-old TV host gallantly kissed the tennis champ’s hand on court
Not even the perilously high, spiked-heel shoes that wrapped above her ankles stopped Serena from displaying the form that has made her a champion.
Infact, she got so into the show game with her powerful strokes that one of her balls flew off the court and broke the window of the nearby Hello Deli.
With her long hair styled in waves, the tennis star accessorised with large hoop earrings and a long chain that she tucked inside her top for the game.
She’s got skills: The 32-year-old showed off her forehand, backhand and her fab abs in a crop top
Is he hailing a cab? Looked like Letterman needed a couple of coaching sessions to hone his game
David took off his sports jacket and played in his shirt, tie and smart black trousers. After their knock-about, the 67-year-old gallantly kissed the tennis champ’s hand before they walked into the theatre.
Serena is a regular guest on The Late Show With David Letterman at this time of year in the media blitz that heralds the run up to the U.S. Open tennis championships when the top players take over New York.
She first won the US Open as a 17-year-old in 1999 and is set to push for a third consecutive and sixth overall win at her home Grand Slam.
She’s a smash: The champ celebrated a killer shot as she ran around the court on her spikey high heels
Nooo! The Late Show host registered a protest against a point
After winning the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati for the first time on Sunday, Serena told the press: ‘This is definitely a level that can take me to the (U.S. Open) title. I still have a lot of work to do. It’s definitely a better level than I’ve played all year, to be honest.’
Meanwhile, Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic dropped by The Late Show on Tuesday for a wide-ranging interview with Letterman that covered everything from growing up in his war-torn homeland to his rivalries with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
The US Open, held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at Flushing Meadow in New York City, runs from August 25 to September 8.
It’s all a bit of fun: The couple hugged after their game as fans took snaps on the sidelines
Meanwhile, Serena later changed into a blue fit-and-flare mini-dress which she unbuttoned to reveal her black lacey bra at her Karaoke A-Game at the Delta Open Mic at the Arena nightclub in New York.
The star accessorised with white pointy-toed high heels, a white watch and white nail polish and later performed Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend during the show.
She danced and swayed her hips in a mini dress as she sang the song in falsetto and attempted high notes.
Fit and flare: The tennis champ looked fab in a blue mini-dress at her Karaoke A-Game at the Delta Open Mic at the Arena nightclub in New York
Singalong: Serena says that karaoke is one of her favourite past time
Serena told the crowd before she began: ‘I’m really nervous.’
She was joined by fellow tennis player Jack Sock, Orange Is The New Black stars Laverne Cox and Uzo Aduba, Glee actor Darren Criss and comedian Kathy Griffin at the event for Delta Airlines.
Serena, a karaoke enthusiast, called the singing sport ‘my favourite thing.’
Belting out the tunes: Kathy Griffin took the mic before Orange Is The New Black star Laverne Cox sang
Orange is the new casual: Uzo Aduba arrived to show her support at the event but did not sing on stage
‘I do like 80s, 90s rock because it’s good for my voice,’ she said before she performed. ‘The thing about karaoke is picking a song that works for your voice, that way if you sing like a cat – like I do – you can still sound pretty good.’
Meanwhile Sock, 21, sang a lively rendition of R. Kelly’s Ignition.
Uzo, who recently won a Creative Emmy, didn’t take the stage, but her co-star Laverne drew in the small crowd at the private event with a rendition of Whitney Houston’s One Moment In Time.
The white stuff: 30 Rock star Katrina Bowden sported a lacy look mini dress and strappy sandals
Nights in grey silk: Kathy Griffin sported a silver dress with black sash
‘Please don’t put this on YouTube,’ she said, laughing.
Laverne joined Glee star Darren and Kathy onstage when they sang Say My Name by Destiny’s Child.
‘Everybody, Beyonce Knowles!’ Darren yelled, introducing Kathy.
Gleeful: Darren Criss took the karaoke challenge, arriving in red trousers and a dark blue shirt
