A tennis analyst has been taken off air after making “deeply regrettable comments” about Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova’s appearance.
Jon Wertheim, a prominent American tennis journalist, made a remark that went to air on the US TV network Tennis Channel about the world number 10’s forehead. He has since apologised.
Krejcikova called him out for what she called “coverage that focused on my appearance rather than my performance”.
The Czech player, 28, won the women’s singles final at Wimbledon in July this year and the French Open in 2021.
This week, she was taking part in the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where she lost to China’s Zheng Qinwen in the semi-finals on Friday.
Apparently not aware he was on air, Wertheim, a prominent American tennis journalist, said of Krejcikova: “Who do you think I am, Barbora Krejcikova? Look at the forehead when Krejcikova and Zheng take the court.”
The clip was circulated on social media and responding to the incident, Krejcikova wrote on X: “You might have heard about the recent comments made on Tennis Channel during the WTA Finals coverage that focused on my appearance rather than my performance.
“As an athlete who has dedicated herself to this sport, it was disappointing to see this type of unprofessional commentary. This isn’t the first time something like this is happening in sports world.
“I’ve often chosen not to speak up, but I believe it’s time to address the need for respect and professionalism in sports media.”
She added: “These moments distract from the true essence of sport and the dedication all athletes bring to the field. I love tennis deeply, and I want to see it represented in a way that honours the commitment we make to compete at this level.”
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Wertheim has now been taken off the air “indefinitely” by Tennis Channel.
The network, which called the comment “inappropriate”, said it “holds its employees to a standard of respectfulness for others at all times, a standard that was not met in this moment.”
Wertheim, who also works for Sports Illustrated and is a correspondent for the CBS news show 60 Minutes, posted an apology on X acknowledging his “deeply regrettable comments off-air” that “inadvertently… made it to live air”.
