"We can set a great example about getting the gender gap and salaries even. We can set an example. We are a leadership sport, we are the number one sport in leadership because we have men and women and we are leading."
Tennis isn't the only sport facing divisions over pay equality.
Five members of the U.S. National Women's team (USWNT) filed a a lawsuit Thursday demanding the nation's soccer governing body pay them the same amount as their male counterparts.
"It's such a fight for change," added 12-time grand slam winner King. "Change is so slow and so difficult. Women have to stick up for themselves and fight for it.
"We have a lot of men on our side and we need to work together as a team and make these things right because we set an example for the rest of the world.
"Sport is a microcosm of society and it's important sports people take responsibility and step up and lead."
'Battle of the Sexes'
King, who set up the Women's Tennis Association in 1973, threatened to boycott the U.S. Open unless the winner of the ladies singles was awarded the same prize money as the men's champion.
Her stance ensured Margaret Court won $25,000 at the 1973 tournament and dragged women's tennis out of the dark ages.
That same year King famously defeated men's world No.1 Bobby Riggs in a match which was dubbed "Battle of the Sexes."
It was a victory that was seen as a huge step forward for women's tennis and helped start the campaign for all grand slam tournaments to award equal prize money.
After Moore's outburst, world No. 1 Novak Djokovic added fuel to the fire by claiming the men's game deserved more prize money because they attract bigger audiences.
He was fiercely criticized by Andy Murray and Serena Williams, the women's world No.1, before taking to Facebook to apologize for his comments.
"I want Djokovic, Federer and Murray and those guys -- plus the women -- to understand that we have an opportunity to make the world a better place," said King.
The 72-year-old King revealed that Djokovic had taken time to sit down with her and 18-time grand slam champion Chris Evert to apologize.
"He kept talking about the prize money and I said to him: 'this is so much more about the prize money.'
"I said I've always wanted us to be together as one association and it's not what we can do on the court, it's what we can do off.
"You have the chance to be a leader, you can absolutely help change the world."
Enough is enough
In a statement, U.S. Soccer said that its " efforts to be advocates for women's soccer are unwavering."
Tim Howard, the star goalie of the U.S. men's national soccer team (USMNT), told CNN he "understood" the women's action.
"If they feel they are unjustly underpaid then without question, absolutely they should be unified and they should fight for their rights," Howard told CNN Thursday.
The USWNT, which won the World Cup in Canada last year, has consistently outshone its male counterparts.
But the success achieved by the team has yet to lead to financial parity.
"It's not fair," King said of the situation facing the USNWT.
"They got the biggest ratings ever in World Cup. The women do deserve more and also it's a growth opportunity for the sport."
"The women's team does the identical work as the men's team, except they have outperformed in every way," he added.
"The U.S. Soccer Federation made profit of $16 million on the women's team last year. It had a loss on the men's team."
