Novak Djokovic has further backtracked on comments he made suggesting that male tennis players should be paid more than women in the sport.
Djokovic, the men's world number one and 11-time Grand Slam champion, hinted that men should get more as they attract more spectators than the women.
The equal-pay row has been on the lips of many top tennis stars since Indian Wells tournament director Raymond Moore said that women's tennis "rides on the coattails" of the men's game.
Moore has since resigned from his post, but the likes of men's number two Andy Murray and the top women's player, Serena Williams, have criticised Djokovic's stance.
The Serb apologised on his Facebook page earlier this week and then further backtracked at a press conference at the Miami Open yesterday.
"I have just been speaking with Billie Jean King about opportunities tennis players have and the influences we can have in different fields of life," he told reporters.
"Andy sent me a message, we spoke very openly and frankly. I sent a message to Serena, Caroline Wozniacki and others, I just wanted them to understand and I never had any intention to offend or have a negative connotation of my statements.
"I don't make any differences between the genders. I am for equality in the sport. I feel very sorry if, in any way, I hurt my female colleague tennis players. I have a very good relationship with all of them. I have a huge respect for all of them."
Djokovic is keen to distance himself from Moore and move on from the issue.
He added: "I was shocked at the effect this story had in the media. There is a lot attention on what I say and I want to repeat there were no bad intentions.
"What Raymond Moore said was very inappropriate and people thought I was speaking in line with him."
Djokovic faces Great Britain's Kyle Edmund in his first match in Miami tomorrow afternoon.
Pascal Lemesre
