The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) says there is no room for ‘inappropriate comments’ after a commentator was taken off air following a remark he made about Barbora Krejcikova.
Jon Wertheim was working for the Tennis channel last week covering the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia. Krejcikova was playing China’s Qinwen Zheng in the semi-finals of the tournament, which she lost. During a TV segment, veteran journalist Wertheim was unaware he was live on air when he made a remark about the Wimbledon Champion’s forehead.
“Who do you think I am? Barbora Krejcikova? Look at the forehead when Krejcikova and Zheng take the court.” He said.
Two days after the incident, Wimbledon champion Krejcikova issued a statement on social media saying she was disappointed with the ‘unprofessional commentary’ and has chosen to speak out to call for more professionalism from the sports media. Wertheim, who also works for Sports Illustrated, has since stated that he has personally apologized to the tennis star.
“During a Tennis Channel studio show on Friday, I made some deeply regrettable comments off-air,” he wrote on X.
“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.”
The Tennis Channel has confirmed they have decided to remove Wertheim ‘indefinitely’ from his position as an analyst. It is not known if or when he will resume his role with the ATP Finals taking place in Turin this week.
Meanwhile, the WTA has issued their own statement backing Krejcikova’s call for respect.
“There is no place in sport for inappropriate comments about female athletes. The WTA stands in full support of Barbora’s powerful call for respect. This should be the norm for all women in all working environments. Respect is due as a right, not a privilege to be earned,” the governing body of women’s tennis commented on the matter.
Wertheim is a well-established journalist who has been working full-time for Sports Illustrated since 1997, according to his profile. He has also authored 11 books and presented CBS’s 60 Minutes which has earned him an Emmy nomination.
