WIMBLEDON, England – Justin Gimelstob's disparaging comments about Anna Kournikova have created a stir at Wimbledon, where Gimelstob's World Team Tennis teammate Serena Williams denounced the remarks as unprofessional.
Gimelstob retired from the men's tour last year and is on the board of the ATP, which runs men's tennis. He made sexual remarks about Kournikova and other female players on a Washington, D.C., radio program “The Junkies” last week, before heading to Wimbledon.
The comments were widely published in Britain yesterday after Gimelstob was suspended one match without pay by WTT for a violation of the player conduct code.
Gimelstob called Kournikova the “b-word” and made sexually charged remarks about her. Gimelstob apologized on the WTT Web site Wednesday, the day of his suspension.
Williams, who is on the Washington Kastles team with Gimelstob, said the comments were “totally uncalled for.”
In his apology, Gimelstob said there was “no excuse” for his comments.
“I am extremely disappointed in myself,” Gimelstob said in the statement. “I take full responsibility for all the words that came out of my mouth ... Anna Kournikova, World Team Tennis and many others deserve my deepest apologies.
– ASSOCIATED PRESS
