Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova said she is ‘disappointed’ that a prominent American journalist made a remark about her appearance.
Jon Wertheim was unaware he was live on air when he spoke about the Czech player on the Tennis Channel during the WTA Finals. Krejcikova defeated Coco Gauff (who went on to win the title) and Jessica Pegula to qualify for the semi-finals. She was knocked out of the tournament on Friday by China’s Qinwen Zheng who won 6-3, 7-5.
Wertheim was caught on TV making a remark about the tennis player on the same day as her semi-final clash.
“Who do you think I am? Barbora Krejcikova? Look at the forehead when Krejcikova and Zheng take the court.” He said.
A video clip of Wertheim’s comment has been widely shared on social media which has prompted a response from Krejcikova on Sunday. In a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, she hit out at the journalist for commenting on her appearance instead of her performance.
“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,” she wrote.
“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. 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.”
Krejcikova is currently ranked 13th in the world but qualified for the WTA Finals due to winning a Grand Slam title this season. At Wimbledon, she claimed her first major singles title at the age of 28 after beating Jasmine Paolini in the final.
Wertheim, who is also a prominent writer for Sports Illustrated, is yet to respond to Krejcikova’s statement.
