Martina Navratilova: 'Women could boycott Indian Wells if Raymond Moore in charge'

Eighteen-time Grand Slam champion Martina Navratilova has suggested that women could boycott the Indian Wells tournament in California as long as Raymond Moore is its chief executive.

Moore sparked a sexism row by saying that the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) was a "lucky organisation" which "rides on the coat-tails" of the men.

He has since apologised for his remarks, but Navratilova believes that women may not want to play at the tournament while he stays in charge.

"It was really disheartening to see Ray Moore offer the extremely prejudiced and very old-fashioned statements regarding women tennis players," PA quotes Navratilova as saying.

"We have made it this far on our own, without help from male players, and will continue to do so in the future.

"It would be hard to imagine any women to want to go and play at Indian Wells if Moore stays as the tournament director."

Men's world number one Novak Djokovic, who won the Indian Wells tournament for a record fifth time yesterday, poured fuel on the fire by claiming that men should receive more prize money as they attract more spectators.