Female players ride on men's coattails, says Indian Wells chief executive

"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."

Novak Djokovic with Indian Wells chief executive Raymond Moore.

Indian Wells chief executive Raymond Moore believes female players ride on the success of their male counterparts, stating they should be thankful for the likes of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Speaking ahead of the BNP Paribas Open finals on Sunday, Moore made a number of highly controversial statements regarding players on the WTA Tour. The executive expressed his opinion that the mens' game was far superior and has carried the sport for a number of years.

"You know, 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," said Moore. "They don't make any decisions and they are lucky. They are very, very lucky. 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."

"And now the mantle is being handed over to [Novak] Djokovic and [Andy] Murray and some others. You know, that's good. We have no complaints. You know, we pay equal prize money - do all those things. We don't have any complaints. But we are one of the four premier mandatory events. They haven't said anything about changing that system."

"I think the WTA have a handful – not just one or two – but they have a handful of very attractive prospects that can assume the mantle. You know, [Garbine] Muguruza, [Eugenie] Genie Bouchard. They have a lot of very attractive players. And the standard in ladies' tennis has improved unbelievably."

Asked to clarify whether he meant Muguruza and Bouchard were physically attractive or skilled, Moore responded: "They are physically attractive and competitively attractive. They can assume the mantle of leadership once Serena decides to stop."

"I think they really have quite a few very, very attractive players."