Indian Wells Tennis Garden CEO Raymond Moore. Picture: AFP

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"THERE was a time when everybody liked Ray," insists Rauty Krog, long-time friend of Ray Moore who stepped down as tournament director of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells after his controversial comments about equal pay in tennis.

Johannesburg-born former player Moore caused a racket when he suggested women players were lucky to get the same pay as men. But his friend of 55 years said the comments were almost out of character.

"He is one of the most generous and honest people, so when I learnt of what he said, I was shocked," Krog said. "He used to be the hippie on tour. Everybody liked him."

Moore won 12 doubles titles partnering with, among others, Ilie Nastase, Cliff Drysdale, Roscoe Tanner and Peter Fleming.

Moore also stepped down from his position as CE of the tournament he helped build, after his comments drew wide and predictable criticism. The Indian Wells tournament in California is now the second-biggest in the US after the US Open.

"In my next life, when I come back, I want to be in the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association), because they ride on the coattails of the men," Moore was quoted as saying. "They don’t make any decisions and they are very, very lucky. 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," he said.

Although Novak Djokovic partially agreed by suggesting men generate more income for the sport, the World No1 has since backed down from his comments and offered an apology.

Krog said he could sense something was amiss when Moore made a speech at the completion of the women’s final last weekend at Indian Wells. "I was unaware of the controversial comments he’d made before the final. He was almost stuttering his words and I told my wife something wasn’t right. Later, I read what he said and I could not believe it."

Krog was especially surprised given his experience at the tournament as Moore’s guest last year. "On the first night, they had a sell-out crowd because Serena Williams was back at the event after 15 years. I remarked how incredible it was that they had a sell-out crowd for an opening-round match. Ray said what a master-stroke it was to get Serena back. Serena filled out that stadium. So, if Ray believed that women shouldn’t get paid the same, it would have been a good time to say so."