Rios labels women's tennis 'a joke'

Chile's former world number one Marcelo Rios, who believes he is now more mature than in his erratic past, described women's tennis as a joke in a surprising attack on Saturday.

Unseeded Rios beat Spaniard Alberto Martin 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open and afterwards was asked if he regarded himself as a potential title contender.

He said that the depth of talent in men's tennis meant players could win from almost any position.

"It's not like girls, where they win one and love until they're in the quarters (quarter-finals)," Rios told reporters.

"Like, a girl that is (ranked) 40 is now going to beat (Martina) Hingis?"

Rios used as an example third seed Hingis's third round match against unseeded German Barbara Rittner on Friday. Hingis beat Rittner 6-1, 6-0 in just 46 minutes.

"It's like a joke," Rios said.

"And I think in men's, that's not going to happen. Everybody is tough...You never know, even if you have a bad ranking, anybody can beat you."

The often prickly Rios said he had become more relaxed and mature since he married his wife Juliana in December 2000 and the couple had their first child, daughter Constanza, last June.

"I think you get more mature. Maybe when I was starting to tour...my life was tennis and tennis," the 26-year-old said.

"Now my life has become more and more relaxed maybe. My daughter, my wife, I enjoy doing other things now."

Rios however was adamant that his daughter would not follow in his footsteps.

"No chance. She's not going to be a tennis player," he said.