Indian Wells CEO Quits After "Sexist" Comments

Indian Wells tournament chief Raymond Moore has quit after his controversial comments about women’s tennis.

Moore, 69, said the women’s game “rides on the coat-tails” of the men – a view described as “sexist” by the United States Tennis Association (USTA).

Women’s world number one Serena Williams said Moore’s statement was “offensive and very inaccurate”.

But her male counterpart, Novak Djokovic, claimed his tour should fight for more money.

Moore said female players “should get down on their knees” in thanks to male counterparts such as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. The South African – a former player – later apologised for his “erroneous” remarks.

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova said Moore’s comments were “extremely prejudiced”, adding female players may boycott Indian Wells if Moore stayed.

Djokovic, who won the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells on Sunday, described Moore’s remarks as “not politically correct”.

But the 28-year-old Serb suggested men should get more prize money because more people watch their matches.

Serena Williams reacts to ‘inaccurate’ comments on women’s tennis

There has been equal prize money in all four majors – the Australian Open, US Open, French Open and Wimbledon – since 2007, and combined Masters events such as Indian Wells and Miami pay the same to men and women.

In a statement, Indian Wells tournament owner Larry Ellison said: “Ray let me know he has decided to step down from his roles as CEO and tournament director effective immediately. I fully understand his decision.”

Speaking in a BBC Radio 5 live special on equality in sport, former badminton world champion Gail Emms said: “If I was Novak Djokovic, I would feel aggrieved as well.”

The Briton, an Olympic silver medallist, added: “I don’t like saying this, but it is easier to be a top female athlete than it is for males, because purely on numbers, how hard you’ve got to work to get up there.

“I’m not saying the top female athletes don’t work hard, and the ones at the top are fantastic athletes and sacrifice and dedicate a lot. It’s just a numbers game.”

Credit: BBC

Indian Wells CEO Quits After "Sexist" Comments

Novak Djokovic Beats Rafael Nadal In Indian Wells Semis

Novak Djokovic overcame Rafael Nadal to set up a meeting with Milos Raonic in Sunday’s final of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.

Serbia’s world number one defeated Nadal 7-6, (7-5), 6-2 for a 10th win in their last 11 meetings.

Djokovic needed to save a set point in the opener but gradually turned on the power against the Spaniard.

Earlier, Raonic had to work hard to beat Belgium’s David Goffin 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to reach his 17th career ATP final.

The Canadian, who is now the world number 14, sent down 10 aces against Goffin, who had beaten French Open champion Stan Wawrinka on his way to the last four.

He roared through the first set in 34 minutes but struggled with his serve in the second before recovering his composure with an early break in the decider to help seal victory.

“I feel even when I am not playing my best I am able to find the answers,” said Raonic, who is coming back after six weeks off with a torn thigh muscle.

“I am definitely able to play at a higher level this year and when a crisis occurs during a match I can find the solutions better.

Djokovic and Nadal traded blows in a tense opening set, with the Serb battling hard at 4-5 to level the match.

He overcame that scare to force a tie-break and went 4-1 up before Nadal levelled at 5-5, but Djokovic edged ahead for his first set point and took it when Nadal netted.

But the second set belonged to Djokovic as Nadal struggled before holding his serve in his opening service game, which went on for over 11 minutes.

Although Nadal worked hard to stay in the match, Djokovic was able to do enough to keep his nose in front, breaking to go 4-2 ahead and quickly wrap up victory to stay on course for his fifth Indian Wells title.

Credit: BBC

Novak Djokovic Beats Rafael Nadal In Indian Wells Semis

Nadal To Face Djokovic In Indian Wells Semis

Rafael Nadal beat a top-10 player for the first time this year as he saw off Kei Nishikori to reach the BNP Paribas Open semi-finals in Indian Wells.

Fourth seed Nadal, the champion in 2007, 2009 and 2013, won 6-4 6-3 against Japan’s world number seven.

The Spaniard will face world number one Novak Djokovic, who beat seventh seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (7-2).

“I beat a top-10 player and that is something that is important for my confidence,” said Nadal, 29.

“I feel I am strong mentally and I have the right energy. I am able to fight for every ball and I now believe in myself the whole match.”

Four-time champion Djokovic was pushed hard by Tsonga but the Serb proved stronger in the tie-breaks than the Frenchman, taking his record for 2016 to 20 wins and one defeat.

“The fact that I have beaten somebody that was feeling good throughout the week, somebody that serves big and plays quick and efficient precise forehands, that gave me a lot of trouble, is going to help my confidence,” said 28-year-old Djokovic.

The pair have played each other 47 times, with Djokovic 24-23 ahead.

“It’s a game of cat and mouse,” he said. “In a way, mentally, who is going to be on top first usually ends up as winner.

“I know the very beginning of the match is very, very important so I’m going to try to start well.”

Canada’s Milos Raonic will take on Belgian David Goffin in the other semi-final.

Nadal To Face Djokovic In Indian Wells Semis

Goffin Reaches Semis At Indian Wells

David Goffin defeated Marin Cilic 7-6 (4), 6-4 on Thursday to reach the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open, the best result so far of the Belgian’s career.

Cilic was the second higher-seeded player to lose to 15th-seeded Goffin, who upset No. 3 Stan Wawrinka in the fourth round. Cilic lost to Goffin nearly two weeks ago on clay in Belgium during first-round Davis Cup play.

Goffin needed a third-set tiebreaker to beat Wawrinka after the 25-year-old Belgian served for the match at 5-3 in the second and third sets. The 10th-seeded Cilic fell to 0-8 in quarterfinals at Masters 1000 events.

Goffin, a slender 5-foot-11, withstood the power of Cilic, who is 6-6 and outweighs Goffin by 46 pounds.

”I knew that on my serve I had to battle to win every service game because sometimes he can serve bombs and in 10 seconds can win his games,” said Goffin, who fell down at 5-4 in the first set.

”It was just bad for me, but at the end I stayed focused in the tiebreak. It was the key of the match to win the first set and be more relaxed in the second to play much better.”

Credit: AP

Goffin Reaches Semis At Indian Wells

Indian Wells: Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams advance

Rafael Nadal reached the BNP Paribas Open quarter-finals in Indian Wells after winning the last five games to beat Alexander Zverev 6-7 6-0 7-5.

Nadal faced a match point but the 18-year-old German missed an easy volley – admitting: “On match point I sucked.”

Three-time champion Nadal plays Japan’s Kei Nishikori next and could face Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals.

Serena Williams beat defending champion Simona Halep 6-4 6-3 to reach the last four in the women’s draw.

The world number one now plays Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska, who beat Petra Kvitova 6-2 7-6 and will reclaim the world number two ranking when the new list is released on Monday.

“She knows how to play in big stadiums and big matches, big games,” Williams said of Halep.

Zverev has been widely tipped as the teenager most likely to make the breakthrough among the game’s elite and he went agonisingly close to a landmark win over Nadal.

The 6ft 6in German, the younger brother of tour player Mischa Zverev, led 5-3 and 40-30 in the final set, only to make three straight unforced errors.

Nadal, 29, battled back impressively, but had glowing praise for the teenager, who is set to rise to a career-high ranking of 52 next week.

“He is amazingly talented,” said Nadal. “He is probably going to be the number one in the world.

“With his second serve at 120mph, with a lot of spin and at 124, 123, 120mph, it was impossible. If he puts the first serve in at over 130 mph then you are in big trouble.

“So I think that I’m here, and still alive.”

Djokovic finds his form

The world number one beat Spain’s Feliciano Lopez 6-3 6-3 to set up a quarter-final with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France.

Djokovic had not been at his best in the previous rounds but saw off Lopez with little trouble.

“I was very solid. I didn’t allow him to come to the net too many times,” said the Serb. “It was a good performance.”

David Goffin beat French Open champion and third seed Stan Wawrinka 6-3 5-7 7-6 (7-5), while Milos Raonic knocked out sixth seed Tomas Berdych 6-4 7-6 (9-7).

Indian Wells: Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams advance