The Tennis Channel has decided to suspend veteran commentator Jon Wertheim after a hot mic caught him making fun of a female tennis player’s appearance.
Wertheim is one of the most respected personalities in tennis media, but he gave a poor account of himself when he was heard making fun of Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejčiková’s forehead, even referring to it as an “eight-head.”
“What do you think I am, Barbora Krejčiková,” he was heard saying as the studio prepared to go live. “Look at the forehead when Krejčiková and [Qinwen] Zheng take the court. Eight-head.”
Check it out in the video below:
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The network has opted to suspend him for his poor choice of words.
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“Jon has dedicated his career to shining a light on and growing this sport and has been a valued member of our family and the tennis community,” they said in a statement. “That said, Tennis Channel holds its employees to a standard of respectfulness for others at all times, a standard that was not met in this moment,”
Jon Wertheim Apologizes
Jon Wertheim has since issued an apology to the reigning Wimbledon champ.
“During a Tennis Channel studio show on Friday, I made some deeply regrettable comments off-air,” he wrote in a tweet. “I acknowledge them. I apologize for them. I reached out immediately and apologized to the player.
“I realize: 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.”
Krejčiková responded to Jon’s initial comments by urging respect for athletes among members of the media.
“This isn’t the first time something like this is happening in sports world,” the Czech star wrote. “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.”
Krejčiková is the No. 10 ranked player in the world at the moment.
