Serena Williams has reacted angrily to claims from Gilles Simon that male tennis players should receive more prize money than women.

The men's 13th seed opened up the debate last week, saying: "The male players spent twice as long on court at Roland Garros [during the recent French Open] as the women. The equality in salaries isn't something that works in sport.

"I have the feeling that men's tennis is actually more interesting than women's tennis."

However, Williams has rubbished the Frenchman's comments, while also insisting that she has worked extremely hard to get to where she is today.

"That was so 2000. This is 2012. Who is still thinking like that, like honestly? Get with the programme," the four-time Wimbledon champion told reporters. "I deserve to get paid the same amount. I don't deserve less 'cause I have boobs and they don't. That's definitely not the case.

"I worked just as hard since I was three. I think they worked hard since they were three, four, two, whatever the case is.

"Actually I have a picture when I'm on the court and I'm in a stroller, so even longer than that. I definitely know my whole life has been dedicated toward being a top athlete, and I shouldn't get paid less because of my sex."

Williams was speaking after she had overturned a one-set deficit to win against Jie Zheng at SW19 yesterday afternoon.