WTA tennis star Barbora Krejcikova was not happy after getting body-shamed on live television. She publicly slammed the comments made about her physical appearance rather than her gameplay. She was very disappointed with those comments and now publicly replied on her social media.
The incident happened during the WTA finals in Riyadh where on a tennis channel Krejcikova’s physical appearance was a talking point that was made by a journalist out of humour. Jon Wertheim the popular Tennis journalist commented on the Czech tennis player which he thought was not live.
Also Read: Donald Trump acknowledges Rafael Nadal as his favourite athlete
Mocking on Live Television
This is unbelievable footage of @jon_wertheim mocking the appearance of @BKrejcikova whilst off camera for the @TennisChannel
— Pavvy G (@pavyg) November 9, 2024
Jon needs to apologise here. pic.twitter.com/0giHgavPEJ
He said “What do you think I am? Barbora Krejcikova, Look at the forehead when Krejcikova and Zheng Qinwen take the court.” Many fans were disappointed with Wertheim's statement as they slammed him for his unprofessional comments. Now Krejcikova herself put out a strong message about the incident. She posted “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."
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
She also admitted body shaming was not new for her as she encountered it many times in her tennis career. She added “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."
The Czech star said these kinds of comments distract fans from seeing tennis players' dedication, skill and resilience they bring to the court. She said “These moments distract from the true essence of sport and the dedication all athletes bring to the field," she stated. "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." Many supported Barbora Krejcikova via social media reposts and many said Wertheim should give a formal explanation about his comments made during the live telecast and put an end to the controversy.
Also WATCH: Coco Gauff almost forgets her WTA Finals trophy