World number one Novak Djokovic has apologised after Serena Williams and second-ranked Andy Murray hit out at his comments that a pay disparity between women and men players is justified.

As the ATP and WTA Miami Open began, the world's top players welcomed the resignation of Indian Wells tournament director Raymond Moore after the official disparaged women's tennis at the weekend.

"I think it's for the best that he's no longer the tournament director," said Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber of Germany. "We are working actually so hard and the WTA is helping us."

Djokovic followed up Moore's comments with controversial remarks of his own, noting women must go through "hormones and different stuff" and saying men's matches have more spectators.

"I think that's one of the reasons why maybe we should get awarded more," he said.

That aroused the ire of Williams, who has won 21 Grand Slam singles crowns to 11 for Serbia's Djokovic.

"It has been, I would say, disappointing," Williams said of Djokovic's remarks.

"I wouldn't say my son deserved more money than my daughter because he's a man. It would be shocking."

Djokovic has a 17-month-old son, Stefan, but Williams openly wondered how he would explain himself to a future daughter.

"If I had a son and a daughter I would never tell them one deserves more because of their sex," Williams said.

Djokovic apologises, blames adrenaline after win

Djokovic's comments were 'not very nice' according to Petra Kvitova. ( AFP: Julian Finney )

Djokovic took to Facebook in an attempt to hose down the controversy.

"As you may have seen, I was asked to comment on a controversy that wasn't of my making," he wrote on his official page.

"Euphoria and adrenaline after the win on Sunday got the best of me and I've made some comments that are not the best articulation of my view, and I would like to clarify them.

"As you all know, I care deeply about the future of the game and all of the players.

"Tennis helped me so much in my life and being where I am today, I felt the need to speak about the fairer and better distribution of funds across the board - this was meant for both men and women. We all have to fight for what we deserve.

"This was never meant to be made into a fight between genders and differences in pay, but in the way all players are rewarded for their play and effort.

"Tennis is a sport that I love and that gave me the opportunity to help others who still have a long way to go to achieve their dreams.

"This was my view all along and I want to apologise to anyone who has taken this the wrong way."

World number one 'disappointing'

Britain's Murray even noted Djokovic's notion that men should receive less than women if their matches were less well attended, citing an example of how many would show up to watch who if Williams and Ukraine's Sergiy Stakhovski each had a match in a ticketed session.

"I think there should be equal pay 100 per cent," Murray said.

"The whole thing doesn't stand up. It depends on the matches day by day. The men's game has had some great rivalries for the past few years.

"The whole of tennis should strengthen from that, not just the men's game."

Tennis majors' prize money (Prize money equal for both men and women. Figures listed are for total prize pools) Australian Open: $44 million

Australian Open: $44 million French Open: 28 million euros ($41.6 million)

French Open: 28 million euros ($41.6 million) Wimbledon: 26.75 million pounds ($50.93 million)

Wimbledon: 26.75 million pounds ($50.93 million) US Open: $US42.3 million ($55.72 million)

He agreed that when it came to dealing with tournament directors at combined events, the ATP and WTA should sort out prize money matters — "That's for them to figure out."

And Murray was particularly stunned to hear Moore's original comments ahead of what turned out to be an impressive Indian Wells final, with Williams losing to Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 6-4.

Serena Williams talks to the crowd alongside Indian Wells chief executive Raymond Moore after her loss to Victoria Azarenka in the women's final. ( AFP/Getty Images: Julian Finney )

"The timing of it was so strange," Murray said.

"You had it before a great women's final with 16,000 people. The whole thing was pretty strange and pretty disappointing coming right before a final like that. It didn't make sense at all."

Japan's Kei Nishikori noted that women lure crowds to events as well as men, saying, "You see great women's tennis too. A lot of people want to see women's tennis, especially Serena."

Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova said of Djokovic's comments: "I don't think it was very nice. It was very disappointing.

"We are training 100 per cent the same as the men. We're more troubled with hormones and other things?

"He should not have said what he said."

Two-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrink said: "What he said was not right at all. The ATP is fighting for prize money because it's the only way we can move up. I want equality."

Added US star John Isner: "Our tour has fought for what they deserve and so has the WTA."

AFP/ABC