Justin Gimelstob, Anna Kournikova: Gimelstob Calls Kournikova A "Bitch," Threatens To "Hurt" Her

Justin Gimelstob, an American tennis player (and Grand Slam winner) has shocked the tennis world after he unleashed a hate-filled rant against Anna Kournikova and called several female players at Wimbledon "sexpots" (from Times Online):

In between his usual pronouncements on the state of tennis, the American, twice a Grand Slam title winner at mixed doubles and now on the board of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), launched into an extraordinary diatribe in which he labelled Anna Kournikova a "bitch" whom he wanted to harm, and described several other players at Wimbledon as "sexpots".

Yesterday Gimelstob, 31, was forced to issue an apology to the women's game and found himself suspended from the professional US tennis league in which he plays.

Gimelstob said he wanted to "hurt" Kournikova by serving the ball directly into her stomach: "If she's not crying by the time she comes off court then I did not do my job." He then uttered these vulgar comments:

Asked if that meant he hated the Russian, with whom he trained as a youth player, he replied: "Hate is a very strong word. I just despise her to the maximum level just below hate." He added that he would not like to sleep with Kournikova, "because she's such a douche". Instead, "I wouldn't mind my brother, who is kind of a stud, nail her and then reap the benefits."

Related: Shock: Sharapova Loses To Unknown In Wimbledon Second Round

Related: Wimbledon Gambling Scandal: Eight Matches Fixed, Dossier Claims

Comments

[TRYKER]

03:24 PM on 06/30/2008

Wow! Shame on Justin. If he thought this would help his career in Broadcasting, he just blew it. Violence against women seems to be in his blood and that isn't anything to cultivate and encourage.
I hope they drum him out of public appearances and off the airways.

Anna Kournikova may not have been an ace tennis player, but her financial success because of her endorsements led to many Russian women to go into tennis. They have 15 players in the top 25 now in the women's game. So she was an effective advertisement for the game all around.
Justin will not be remembered for anything near as accomplished and in fact, if he is remembered at all, it may be for his ugly violent temper and this awful rant.

[icemilkcoffee]

02:50 PM on 06/30/2008

Sounds like a very sexually frustrated man. He probably hates Kournikova for not sleeping with him. Kournikova should get a restraining order on this nutjob.

[al40]

03:17 PM on 06/30/2008

hey imc,
i think you got it exactly right - she probably turned him down flat, maybe more than once. he needs a tennis ball to the head and kicked off the board of the ATP. what an idiot.

[Calinative]

01:41 PM on 06/30/2008

What is it about tennis? Why does the sport produce such spoiled brats, winning matches and throwing tantrums?

Even John McEnroe wasn't this bad. At least he only screamed and cursed at the line judges.

[LCRover001]

12:52 PM on 06/30/2008

What a douche.

I think this guy should get the douche of the universe award.

Again what a douche.

Word from the wise douche, if you don’t have anything intelligent or nice to say STFU!

[Moka11]

12:07 PM on 06/30/2008

His parents must be so very, very proud.
There is no excuse for such comments. He can apologize all he wants. After a few years of therapy it would be meaningful.

[americanwhocares]

11:53 AM on 06/30/2008

I heard on the internet that women tennis players are calling Justin Gimestob "DICK".

How appropriate, he is indeed an idiot.

[LeaveArtieAlone]

10:57 AM on 06/30/2008

OK he sounds like a guy who could never get a girl like her and because she is also successful and doesn’t want him, well he has to hate her! Seen too many guys like this, they usually turn to this form of ranting to vent how much they hate themselves. He truly needs therapy.

[coldcanuckinwhite]

10:48 AM on 06/30/2008

Americans again, at their finest... keep it up fellas..

[wg372702]

12:06 PM on 06/30/2008

He doesnt represent us. I never heard of this clown before I saw this article. Now if Andy Roddick said this then that would be another story.

[wg372702]

12:08 PM on 06/30/2008

Boy people are quick to slam america whenever they get the chance. This has nothing to do with nationality, it has to being a total dick. I never heard of this a$$ clown before this story. He does not represent american tennis. Now if it was Andy Roddick that would be a different story.

[Draculich]

10:14 AM on 06/30/2008

Where's the LOVE?

[Darsan54]

09:33 AM on 06/30/2008

And yet another example of American individualism and spirit. Charming. No wonder the rest of the world is disgusted by US.

[Sneakerface]

09:33 AM on 06/30/2008

Everyone knows that Kournikova will not be remembered as one of the great tennis players - though people might also forget that she was once ranked in the top 10 or 20 at one time and has won some big women's doubles tournaments (when paired with top ranked players like Hingis). Yet Kournikova has managed to parlay her looks and mediocre talent into extreme wealth and international stardom.

Perhabs Gimelstob is upset because women are finally finding a way to overcome the tremendous gender pay disparity in this sport, and have become increasingly relevant and popular in comparison to the men's game in recent years ? Wimbledon decided last year to equalize pay between the men's & women's game, and hopefully other tournaments will do the same. In the mean time, more of the women in tennis are increasing their wealth by doing modeling work on the side. More power to them. I hope Gimelstob's opportunity to do commentating is withdrawn because of his asinine behavior.

[gcswift2]

11:46 AM on 06/30/2008

Actually Wimbledon was the last of the Grand Slams to equalize the pay between men and women.

Lets think about it... 300 or so young people (18 - 36) at the height of their physical powers and beauty jetsetting around the world. Then you factor in all the groupies. Then when you realize top 100 players are all very, very wealthy. If you think "Laguna Beach" or "The hills" is bad you haven't a clue about the ATP & WTA.

Pro Tennis is an international whore tour. Men and Women...

[normathumb]

08:53 AM on 06/30/2008

A new Bobby Riggs but without the class.

[FirstShirt]

08:35 AM on 06/30/2008

Just when we were getting over Jimmy Connors and McEnroe. God deliver us from athletes and actors. The way to get to these big babies is to write to their sponsors. Mommies and daddies just might not buy the shoes he endorses for their little girl tennis players.

[SiberianRat]

08:22 AM on 06/30/2008

What a pig. Boycott everything he does!

[CaptainHowdy]

01:55 AM on 06/30/2008

"I wouldn't mind my brother, who is kind of a stud, nail her and then reap the benefits."

Funny... even though it doesn't make any sense.

Ahhh... America, look at the people that represent her. What has become of this once great nation.