Raymond Moore resigns from Indian Wells

The director of the Indian Wells tournament who said women’s pro tennis players “ride on the coattails of the men” has resigned.

Tournament owner Larry Ellison announced today that Raymond Moore was quitting as chief executive officer and tournament director of the $US7 million ($A9.23 million) event in the California desert.

Ellison says Moore informed him of his decision to quit when they spoke earlier in the day.

“Ray let me know that he has decided to step down from his roles as CEO and tournament director effective immediately,” Ellison said. 

“I fully understand his decision.”

Moore apologised after he was roundly criticised by executives from the WTA Tour and ATP World Tour, players Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka and on social media for his comments on the tournament’s finals day yesterday.

The 69-year-old former touring pro from South Africa has been CEO of the tournament since 2012.

In the event’s early years, Moore and fellow ex-player Charlie Pasarell started PM Sports Management, which oversaw the tournament as it expanded.

“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,” Moore 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.”

He also referred to women’s players as “physically attractive and competitively attractive.”

Moore later apologised, calling his comments “in extremely poor taste and erroneous.”

“I am truly sorry for those remarks, and apologise to all the players and WTA as a whole,” the statement said. 

“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 clearly had no intention to leave his post based on comments he made to reporters on the last day of the two-week tournament. Before the backlash over his controversial comments began, he was asked how long he planned to remain in charge.

“Firstly, I love what I’m doing. I’m passionate about it. I enjoy it,” Moore said. “Who knows who the face of the tournament will be down the road. But I don’t think that, oh, I’m going to stop next year or three years.”