Serena Williams Responds to Indian Wells CEO After His Controversial Remarks About the WTA

Following her 6-4 6-4 defeat to Victoria Azarenka in the finals of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells on Sunday, WTA’s Superstar Serena Williams was rightfully not in the best of moods. When she heard the comments made by Indian Wells CEO Raymond Moore right before her match began, this mood did not get any better.

"“When I come back in my next life 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 … 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.”"

Ruh Roh.

After the match concluded, Serena was asked to giver her opinion of the executive’s remarks — and, well, there was some venom…

"“Obviously, I don’t think any woman should be down on their knees thanking anybody like that … I think Venus [Williams], myself, a number of players have been — 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. I think there is a lot of women out there who are more … are very exciting to watch. I think there are a lot of men out there 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.”"

When asked if these comments were taken “out of context”, Williams responded…

"“Well, if you read the transcript you can only interpret it one way. I speak very good English. I’m sure he does, too … You know, there’s only one way to interpret that. Get on your knees, which is offensive enough, and thank a man, which is not … we, as women, have come a long way. We shouldn’t have to drop to our knees at any point.”"

Quickly after Serena’s evisceration, Moore delivered a public apology citing “extremely poor taste”

Long story short: Serena’s backhand is dominant in more ways than one.