Novak Djokovic continues to backtrack on gender prize money row: 'I am for equality'

World number one reveals he has directly addressed Andy Murray and Serena Williams who disagreed with his comments

Novak Djokovic has further backtracked on his controversial comments about differences in prize money for men's and women's tennis.

The world number one also revealed he has revealed he has directly addressed Andy Murray and Serena Williams - both of whom have publicly disagreed with Djokovic's views.

The subject of pay has dominated the tennis news agenda since BNP Paribas Open tournament director Raymond Moore said that women's tennis "rides on the coat-tails" of the men's game. Moore, who has since apologised and resigned, also said female players should "get down on (their) knees and thank God that Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal were born".

Djokovic, who has dominated the men's game in recent years, gace Moore's view credence when following his win over Milos Raonic in the final at Indian Wells he said "the stats show we have much more spectators on the men's tennis matches. I think that's one of the reasons why maybe we should get awarded more".

Serena Williams, the beaten finalist in the women's event, led the opposition to his comments while British men's number one Andy Murray spoke out strongly in support of equal prize money.

Andy Murray is consoled by Novak Djokovic after his Australian open final defeat (Getty Images)

Djokovic apologised on his Facebook page on Tuesday night and reiterated his contrition at a press conference at the Miami Open on Wednesday in which he revealed Murray had sent him a message.

"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 said.

"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."

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."