Tennis champ Serena Williams slammed Novak Djokovic and Indian Wells Tennis Garden CEO Raymond Moore yesterday for their “backward and sexist” comments.

Moore, a 69-year-old former touring pro from South Africa, said on Sunday that women in the Women’s Tennis Association “ride on the coat-tails of the men” and that: “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.”

Djokovic responded to those comments by saying that men should “should fight for more [prize money] because the stats are showing that we have much more spectators on the men’s tennis matches.”

Liberal Democrats Sport and Culture spokesperson Jane Bonham Carter hit back at the pair, saying: “These comments were patronising and offensive.

“The idea that Serena Williams, for example, who has won almost twice as many grand slam titles as Djokovic and has been arguably the biggest name in tennis for more than a decade, doesn’t deserve the same pay and recognition as any male player is outrageous.

“This kind of backward, sexist comment has no place in sport and no place in the 21st century.”

Williams, who lost to Victoria Azarenka 6-4 6-4 in the Indians Wells final on Sunday, ripped into Moore’s comments and Djokovic’s, pointing out that last year’s women’s US Open final sold out before the men’s for the first time.

“Obviously I don’t think any woman should be down on their knees thanking anybody like that.

“I think Venus, myself, a number of players — 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 are a lot of women out there who 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.”

On the US final last year, she asked: “I’m sorry, did Roger play in that final? Or Rafa, or any man, play in that final that was sold out before the men’s final? I think not.”

Williams was also asked if she thought Moore’s comments could have been taken out of context or misconstrued.

“Well, if you read the transcript, you can only interpret it one way. I speak very good English. I’m sure he does too,” she said.

“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.”