Tennis star slams commentator who made rude remark about her body

Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova has slammed a tennis commentator following remarks about her physical appearance he made due to a shocking mistake on the US TV network Tennis Channel. Krejcikova was competing in the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia last week, where she went down to Zheng Qinwen in the semi-finals on Friday.

During the coverage of the event, prominent tennis journalist Jon Wertheim, seemingly unaware that he was live on the air, commented about the size of Krejcikova’s forehead. ‘Who do you think I am, Barbora Krejcikova? he said. ‘Look at the forehead when Krejcikova and Zheng take the court.’

The clip was widely circulated on social media, and Krejcikova has issued a response calling for respect and professionalism from the media. ‘As an athlete who has dedicated herself to this sport, it was disappointing to see this type of unprofessional commentary,’ Krejcikova posted on social media.

‘This isn’t the first time something like this is happening in [the] 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. 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 honors the commitment we make to compete at this level.’

Wertheim posted an apology to the tennis star on Sunday, saying his remark was ‘neither professional nor charitable nor reflective of the person I strive to be’.

‘During a Tennis Channel studio show on Friday, I made some deeply regrettable comments off-air,’ he posted to X. ‘I acknowledge them. I apologise for them. I reached out immediately and apologised to the player.

‘I joined the show by Zoom. In rehearsal we were shown a graphic of a player who had just competed. It showed her at an angle that exaggerated her forehead. A few minutes later, I was told to frame up my Zoom. I looked at the low camera angle and joked that it made my forehead resemble the player in question.’

‘Someone in the control room chimed in and I bantered back. Though this was a private rehearsal, this exchange inadvertently, and without context, made it to live air. ‘I realise: I am not the victim here. It was neither professional nor charitable nor reflective of the person I strive to be. I am accountable. I own this. I am sorry.’

The Tennis Network has since taken Wertheim off the air, saying it ‘holds its employees to a standard of respectfulness for others at all times, a standard that was not met in this moment.’

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