BNP Paribas Open CEO Raymond Moore's derogatory remarks about women’s tennis on Sunday had the tennis world collectively cringing, but the good news is that Victoria Azarenka and Serena Williams had their chance to set the record straight--which they did eloquently. And fittingly, they did so after playing a memorable final that was by leaps and bounds more compelling than Sunday's men’s final at Indian Wells.

More: Indian Wells CEO Says Women Lucky to Ride on Men's Coattails

Neither player went for the jugular with their remarks. Instead the women chose to calmly elucidate what most tennis fans already know. Women’s tennis is every bit as entertaining/compelling/spellbinding as men’s tennis—and therefore deserves respect commensurate to its value.

The issue is bigger than tennis, Azarenka says.

“I think it's still a problem in the world,” she said after defeating Williams in the BNP Paribas Open final, 6-4, 6-4. “It's not just in sports. It's in business. We try to talk about the equality. Sometimes it just gets unrecognized. I think what women do best is rise above those comments. You don't hear complaints or bad comments towards men.

“From my perspective, if we rise above that and keep working hard in everything we do, we're better. We're better at taking opportunities and being graceful. Why do you have to make the comment? Who cares? Simple as that.”

Moore, who claimed that women’s tennis has been riding on the coattails of the men, said that WTA Players should get down on their knees and “thank God that Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal were born."

Serena Williams was having none of that.

“You know, there's only one way to interpret that,” Williams said. “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.”

She added: “I'm still surprised, especially with me and Venus and all the other women on the tour that have done well. Last year the women's final at the US Open sold out well before the men. 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.

“So I just feel like in order to make a comment you have to have history and you have to have facts and you have to know things. You have to know of everything. I mean, you look at someone like Billie Jean King who opened so many doors for not only women's players but women's athletes in general."

King, along with the WTA and ATP Tours, took to social media to express their concern with Moore's comments.

In ther press conference, Williams joined Azarenka in thinking big picture on a day that threatened to be marred by myopia.

"I feel like, you know, that is such a disservice to her and every female, not only a female athlete but every woman on this planet, that has ever tried to stand up for what they believed in and being proud to be a woman,” Williams said.