Raymond Moore buries himself with harsh comments

On Sunday, without any provocation, Indian Wells tournament director Raymond Moore launched a critical attack on WTA players.

Amongst other things, he said that female players “ride on the coattails of the men''and are ''physically attractive and competitively attractive.”

The reporter’s question was about raising the designation of the WTA event at the BNP Paribas Open.

“In my next life when I come back I want to be someone in the WTA because they ride on the coattails of the men. They don't make any decisions and they are lucky.They are very, very lucky,'' the 69-year-old said. ''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.''

Needless to say, a number of WTA players were not amused and shared their thoughts. Serena Williams, who fell in the final to Victoria Azarenka, had a few things to say:

Williams calls Moore’s statements a disservice to WTA pioneer Billie Jean King and a disservice to “every woman on the planet.” King was understandably disappointed with the whole ordeal.

Tournament champion Azarenka had a poignant retort for Moore:

While Novak Djokovic did not approve of Moore’s comments, he did add a little controversy himselfsaying men should get more prize money since they attract more spectators. He also mentions female hormones… because that’s relevant?

Moore soon realized the enormity of the mess he had made, and released a statement:

So did WTA CEO Steve Simon:

Many called for Moore to be fired, including Patrick McEnroe. Moore stepped down within days of the controversy.

This incident certainly comes on the “coattails” of a rough few weeks for tennis.