World No.1 Serena Williams has sharply responded to controversial comments made by the CEO of Indian Wells regarding the WTA Tour.
Raymond Moore said during his Sunday morning media conference that male tennis players have ‘carried’ the sport and not Women. The Indian Wells CEO added that women tennis players should ‘get down on their knees every night and thank god that Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer was born’. The comments has sparked anger from people on the WTA tour and Moore has since apologized.
Nevertheless, Williams has attacked Moore’s comments and criticized his lack of knowledge. The world No.1 swiftly pointed out that the women’s final at the 2015 US Open sold out before the men’s final, which featured Novak Djokovic against Roger Federer. She also defended the state of the women’s game.
“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”. The world No.1 said.
“I think there is a lot of women out there who are very exciting to watch. I think there are a lot of men 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”.
Williams wasn’t the only person to voice her disappointment with Moore’s comments. Billie Jean King, the founder of the WTA, took to Twitter to condemn the comments.
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) 20 March 2016
Another senior tennis figure, Illana Kloss, release a formal statement regarding Moore’s comments. Kloss is the CEO of World Team Tennis, a professional tennis team tournament held annually in America.
Statement from Mylan WTT CEO/Commissioner Ilana Kloss regarding Raymond Moore’s comments in Indian Wells today: pic.twitter.com/PTo4Os8P2a
— Mylan WTT (@WorldTeamTennis) 20 March 2016
The full video of Williams’ comments regarding Moore’s statement can be seen below.
Serena Williams full response to Ray Moore really Effin up today #BNPPO16 pic.twitter.com/zQhtChMwvA
— Andrew Jerell Jones (@sluggahjells) 20 March 2016
Rest of Serena Williams words in response to Ray Moore’s really, really Effin up today #BNPPO16 pic.twitter.com/5c5I6vsX7B
— Andrew Jerell Jones (@sluggahjells) 20 March 2016
