Barbora Krejcikova certainly earned her spot in the field at the WTA Finals with some of her displays in the past week as she reached the semi-finals losing out to Zheng Qinwen. But also led to Tennis Channel landing themselves in hot water.
In particular the journalist Jon Wertheim who appeared to insult her appearance live on air. Moments before the broadcast begun, a clip showed him saying: "What do you think I am? Barbora Krejcikova?"
As he turned to show his side profile, he said: "Look at the forehead when Krejcikova and Zheng [Qinwen] take the court." Now 48 hours after the comments, the 28-year-old has now posted a social media message calling out the broadcaster for the unprofessional comments and calling for respect.
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While others perhaps would've been a lot stronger in their wording than Krejcikova, it sends a message about how players are described especially women by other men as she aims to make a stand against the issue. Her comments though were full of those heaping praise and calling her beautiful after such disheartening comments surfaced.
"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," she wrote.
"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."
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 (cont.)
— Barbora Krejcikova (@BKrejcikova) November 10, 2024
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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