Tennis: Williams sisters sued

Tennis sisters Venus and Serena Williams have been sued for allegedly backing out of a match against John and Patrick McEnroe that was to be billed as the ‘‘Battle of the Sexes II.’’

The suit, by a non-operating Website called Women’s Sports Zone, estimated potential profits from the exhibition at £31.5m (€51.5m). The company could not get started without those funds, lawyer Abbey Kaplan said.

The suit, filed in Palm Beach, Florida, accused the sisters and their father, Richard, of breach of contract.

It said Richard Williams acted as his daughters’ agent and signed a contract for the match. The match was agreed to but never was scheduled, Kaplan said.

The suit does not specify damages.

Keven Davis, a New York lawyer for the sisters, said they never authorised the deal with Women’s Sports Zone.

‘‘They know they are wrong, and we are going to have to prove it in court, unfortunately,’’ he said.

‘‘Battle of the Sexes’’ was a 1973 exhibition match in which Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs.