INDIAN WELLS, March 21, 2016
Novak Djokovic and Victoria Azarenka captured the titles at the BNP Paribas Open on Sunday, but all the talk afterwards was of Indian Wells Tournament Director Raymond Moore’s astonishing comments about the women’s game, and a response from Novak Djokovic that reopened the equal prize money debate.
Here’s what Moore told via Ben Rothenberg’s twitter account.
Indian Wells CEO Raymond Moore’s remarks this morning not likely to delight the WTA, its players, or fans: pic.twitter.com/56zSV0SK2X
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) 20. März 2016
More from Indian Wells CEO Raymond Moore this morning, further down his remarks: pic.twitter.com/nXNATitvrR
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) 20. März 2016
Moore later issued a statement in which he apologised for his comments.
A hasty apology from Raymond Moore, on his “extremely poor taste and erroneous” comments from hours ago. pic.twitter.com/I4u935JRjJ
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) 20. März 2016
Novak Djokovic questions equal prize money in tennis, but described Moore’s comments as “not politically correct”.
Novak Djokovic weighs in on Ray Moore’s remarks, equal prize money, and…female hormones? This was…not his best work. pic.twitter.com/dauOSP7iru
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) 20. März 2016
Following Raymond’s Moore recent comments, ATP Executive Chairman & President Chris Kermode said:
“Ray Moore’s comments towards women’s tennis were disparaging and made in poor taste, as Ray has subsequently acknowledged. The ATP fully supports equality across society, while at the same time acknowledging that we operate in the sports & entertainment business. The ATP seeks to achieve fair compensation for its players by setting minimum prize money levels for ATP events in accordance with the revenues that are generated from men’s professional tennis. The ATP also respects the right of tournaments to make their own decisions relating to prize money for women’s tennis, which is run as a separate Tour.”
Two days after telling that male players have carried the sport of tennis, More has stepped down as Indian Wells Tennis Garden CEO.
“I’m proud to say that it is now a decade long tradition at our tournament at Indian Wells, and all the major tennis tournaments, to pay equal prize money to both the women and the men,” BNP Paribas Open owner Larry Ellison said in a statement. “I would like to personally thank all the great women athletes who fought so hard for so many years in the pursuit of equal prize money in professional tennis.
“I’d like to congratulate them on their success. All of us here at the BNP Paribas Open promise to continue working with everyone to make tennis a better sport for everybody.”
