'Shameful period in our sport': Tennis greats slam ATP mess

Stan Wawrinka has echoed Sir Andy Murray’s calls for Justin Gimelstob to step down from his role at the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) after the American was sentenced following a battery charge.

Gimelstob, 41, is one of three members on the ATP board and was recently sentenced to three years probation and 60 days community service after pleading “no contest” to the charge.

Wawrinka, a three-time grand slam winner, took to social media on Tuesday to call for more players to speak out on the issue.

“Players need to speak out. Justin Gimelstob has been convicted of a violent assault. It simply can not be possible for anyone to condone this type of behaviour and worse support it,” the Swiss tennis star wrote on Twitter.

“In any other business or sport we would not be discussing this.

“The council @ATP_Tour need to do something about this and finally end this conversation and shameful period in our great sport.”

British tennis great Murray was one of the first high-profile players to speak out on the issue last week for Gimelstob, calling for Gimelstob to step down from his position of authority.

“I don’t see how, with everything that has gone on, how it’s possible for him to remain in a position of authority or management at the ATP right now,” he told the UK Sunday Telegraph last week.

Gimelstob is a retired two-time mixed doubles Grand Slam winner.

An ATP statement from last week read: “The decision was taken to let the judicial process run its course before any judgement was made on his future, so with that process complete this is now a subject for review by the board and/or the player council.”

“As a related matter, the election for the role of the next Americas player representative on the ATP board – the position currently held by Gimelstob – will take place as scheduled on Tuesday, 14 May, in Rome.”