Victoria Azarenka pulled off a shock in the Indian Wells women’s final as she beat the world No1 Serena Williams in straight sets. That, however, was overshadowed by events earlier in the day when the CEO of Indian Wells Tennis Garden, which hosts the tournament, said he believes the WTA rides on “the coat-tails” of the men’s game. Raymond Moore later admitted his comments were “in extremely poor taste”. 
 
 “When I come back in my next life I want to be someone in the WTA because they ride on the coattails of the men,” said Moore on Sunday. “They don’t make any decisions and they are lucky. They are very, very lucky. 
 
 Novak Djokovic the slick diplomat gets equality debate horribly wrong | Kevin Mitchell Read more 
 
 “If I was a lady player, I’d go down every night on my knees and thank God that Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal were born because they have carried this sport. They really have.” 
 
 Moore wasn’t finished there, however. After describing Eugenie Bouchard and Garbiñe Muguruza as “attractive prospects”, he was asked whether he meant they were impressive physically or competitively. 
 
 “I mean both,” Moore said. “They are physically and competitively attractive. They can assume the mantle leadership once Serena decides to stop. I think they’ve got … they really have quite a few very, very attractive players.” 
 
 Williams was asked about the remarks after the final and was unequivocal in her response. “Obviously I don’t think any woman should be down on their knees thanking anybody like that,” she said. “I think Venus [Williams], myself, a number of players have been – if I could tell you every day how many people say they don’t watch tennis unless they’re watching myself or my sister, I couldn’t even bring up that number. 
 
 “So I don’t think that is a very accurate statement. I think there is a lot of women out there who are more – are very exciting to watch. I think there are a lot of men out there who are exciting to watch. I think it definitely goes both ways. I think those remarks are very much mistaken and very, very, very inaccurate.” 
 
 Facebook Twitter Pinterest Victoria Azarenka laughs with the Serena Williams after their final. Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images 
 
 The men’s world No1, Novak Djokovic, said that female players “fought for what they deserve and they got it” but added that the men on the ATP tour should “fight for more”. 
 
 “Stats are showing that we have much more spectators on the men’s tennis matches,” he said. “I think that is one of the reasons why maybe we should get awarded more. 
 
 “As long as it is like that and there is data and stats available and information ... upon who attracts more attention, spectators, who sells more tickets and stuff like that, in relation to that it has to be fairly distributed.” 
 
 Williams added she was surprised by Moore’s remarks. “Yeah, I’m still surprised, especially with me and Venus and all the other women on the tour [who have] done well,” she said. 
 
 Novak Djokovic: men’s tennis should fight for more prize money than women Read more 
 
 “Last year the women’s final at the US Open sold out well before the men. I’m sorry, did Roger play in that final or Rafa or any man play in that final that was sold out before the men’s final? I think not. So I just feel like in order to make a comment you have to have history and you have to have facts and you have to know things. You have to know of everything. 
 
 “I mean, you look at someone like Billie Jean King who opened so many doors for not only women players but women athletes in general. So I feel like, you know, that is such a disservice to her and every female, not only a female athlete but every woman on this planet, that has ever tried to stand up for what they believed in and being proud to be a woman.” 
 
 Moore subsequently apologized for his remarks, which he says were “in extremely poor taste”. 
 
 “At my morning breakfast with the media, I made comments about the WTA that were in extremely poor taste and erroneous,” said Moore. “I am truly sorry for those remarks, and apologize to all the players and WTA as a whole. We had a women’s final today that reflects the strength of the players, especially Serena and Victoria, and the entire WTA. Again, I am truly sorry for my remarks.” 
 
 Moore’s apology did not hold much weight with a number of players. Anne Keothavong, the former British No1, was swift in her response on Twitter. 
 
 Anne Keothavong (@annekeothavong) Not buying it https://t.co/p24BSWF3bB 
 
 King, a pioneer in winning equality for women in tennis, was also dismissive: 
 
 Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) Disappointed in #RaymondMoore comments. He is wrong on so many levels. Every player, especially the top players, contribute to our success 
 
 Chris Evert said that while the men’s tour is the bigger draw for fans at the moment, it has not always been the case: ||||| Disappointed in # RaymondMoore comments. He is wrong on so many levels. Every player, especially the top players, contribute to our success ||||| Play Facebook 
 
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 The head of a major professional tennis tournament came under fire Sunday for disparaging comments about women in the sport, which he later admitted were "in extremely poor taste" and "erroneous." 
 
 Serena Williams with Raymond Moore. DANIEL MURPHY / EPA 
 
 BNP Paribas Open tournament director Raymond Moore said during a morning news conference with reporters Sunday that players in the Women's Tennis Association were "lucky" and that they "ride the coattails of the men." The comments were made during a discussion about the distribution of money between the men's and women's tennis. 
 
 "If I was a lady player, I would go down every night on my knees and thank God that Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal were born, because they've carried this sport," Moore said. 
 
 The comments came on the final day of the tournament in Indian Wells, California — one of the premier tennis events outside of the four grand slam tournaments — in which top-ranked Serena Williams fell to Victoria Azarenka. Last year was Williams' return to the tournament for the first time since 2001, when she and sister Venus Williams were jeered by the crowd. 
 
 Following the women's final match Sunday, Williams and Moore, unaware of the new controversy brewing, shared a celebratory moment on the court. But just an hour later, Williams was addressing Moore's comments. 
 
 "There's only one way to interpret that. 'Get on your knees,' which is offensive enough, and thank a man," Williams said. "That is such a disservice to ... every female, not only a female athlete, but every woman on this planet that has ever tried to stand up in what they believe in." 
 
 The comments drew immediate backlash from across the sport, including from women's tennis legend Billie Jean King, who tweeted her disappointment. 
 
 Disappointed in #RaymondMoore comments. He is wrong on so many levels. Every player, especially the top players, contribute to our success — Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) March 20, 2016 
 
 Women's Tennis Association CEO Steve Simon was also quick to condemn the comments as "extremely disappointing and alarming." 
 
 "The WTA stands on its own and was founded on the principles of equality and empowerment," Simon said. "Tennis as a whole is enriched by the contributions and accomplishments of every player, both female and male." 
 
 Moore later apologized for his comments. "At my morning breakfast with the media, I made comments about the WTA that were in extremely poor taste and erroneous," he said in a statement. "I am truly sorry for those remarks, and apologize to all the players and WTA as a whole. We had a women's final today that reflects the strength of the players, especially Serena and Victoria, and the entire WTA. Again, I am truly sorry for my remarks."
– It took Serena Williams 15 years to return to the BNP Paribas Open after she was booed in 2001. She might never return again. While discussing how money is awarded in men's versus women's tennis on Sunday, tournament director Raymond Moore said female players "ride the coattails of the men. They don't make any decisions and they are lucky," per the Guardian. "If I was a lady player, I would go down every night on my knees and thank God that Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal were born, because they've carried this sport," he added, per NBC News. "There's only one way to interpret that. 'Get on your knees,' which is offensive enough, and thank a man," responded Williams, who was defeated in the final match in Indian Wells, Calif. "That is such a disservice to … every woman on this planet that has ever tried to stand up for what they believe in." A "disappointed" Billie Jean King soon tweeted that Moore was "wrong on so many levels. Every player, especially the top players, contribute to our success." The CEO of the Women's Tennis Association added the comments were "extremely disappointing and alarming." Moore apparently agreed in hindsight. The comments were "in extremely poor taste and erroneous," he said in a statement later Sunday. "I am truly sorry for those remarks, and apologize to all the players and WTA as a whole. We had a women's final today that reflects the strength of the players, especially Serena and Victoria [Azarenka], and the entire WTA." Novak Djokovic, commenting on the controversy, said female players "fought for what they deserve and they got it," but he added male players should perhaps be awarded more money because "we have much more spectators on the men's tennis matches."