US tennis player abuses Kournikova, Serena hits back

As well as calling Kournikova 8220;a bitch8221;, he claimed female players 8220;lack the social skills, they don8217;t go to high school, they don8217;t go to parties8221;.

But former world number one Williams, who reached the last 16 of Wimbledon on Friday, said Gimelstob8217;s comments were unnecessary.

8220;Being pro-women8217;s rights, I just think we8217;ve come farther than to be referred to like this,8221; said Williams. 8220;Anna is a great girl. For anyone to say that about her is not professional. It8217;s just totally uncalled for. Unless you really know these people, you talk to these people, you never know what people go through. It8217;s not good to say those things about people.8221;

World number 22 Vaidisova, speaking after her third round victory over Casey Dellacqua at Wimbledon, insisted Gimelstob8217;s comments were just a joke that had backfired.

8220;I know his sense of humour a little bit. I know he kind of talks like that a little bit. So I can cut him some slack,8221; Vaidisova said.

8220;I have briefly seen it. I know Justin. He8217;s a very nice guy. I heard he apologised for it. I think it8217;s just you say something and you don8217;t really mean it. It happens.8221;

Gimelstob and Kournikova will come face-to-face during the American team tennis series, but the Russian beauty refused to get into a slanging match. 8220;It8217;s not about these things; it8217;s about keeping it fun and positive for the fans,8221; she said. Gimelstob has since issued an apology to Kourniova.