Tennis commentator sparks fury by mocking Wimbledon champion’s looks when he thought he wasn’t live on air
WIMBLEDON champion Barbora Krejcikova has slammed “unprofessional commentary” after the size of her FOREHEAD was mocked live on TV.
Derogatory comments were made about her face by a prominent American journalist on the Tennis Channel as she lost to China’s Qinwen Zheng in the semi-finals of the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia on Friday.
Barbora Krejcikova slammed a commentator who mocked the size of her forehead on live TV[/caption]
Jon Wertheim did not know he was on air as he made the cruel comments[/caption]
Unaware he was on air as he mucked around the camera, Jon Wertheim, 53, snarled: “Who do you think I am? Barbora Krejcikova?
“Look at the forehead when Krejcikova and Zheng take the court.”
The Czech ace, 28, said: “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 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 honours the commitment we make to compete at this level.”
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Wertheim has since broken his silence, apologising for his comments while attempting to provide context to the clip.
He wrote on X: “During a Tennis Channel studio show on Friday, I made some deeply regrettable comments off-air.
“I acknowledge them. I apologise for them. I reached out immediately and apologised to the player.
“What happened? 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 moments 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 photo of 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.”
