Wertheim's Krejcikova Comment Draws Ire, Kyrgios Comparison Emerges

Tennis Journalist Jon Wertheim Under Fire for On-Air Comments About Barbora Krejcikova

A hot mic incident has landed prominent tennis journalist Jon Wertheim in hot water, sparking calls for his dismissal. During a Tennis Channel broadcast of the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Wertheim, appearing via video link, was caught making a remark about the appearance of Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova and Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, seemingly unaware he was live.

"What do you think I am? Barbora Krejcikova?” Wertheim said. “Look at the forehead when Krejčíková and Zheng take the court.”

The comment, made during a conversation with journalist Steve Weissman and former world No. 1 Tracy Austin, quickly circulated online, drawing widespread criticism. Many fans pointed to Wertheim's previous criticism of Nick Kyrgios for a 2015 comment about a WTA player, which Wertheim had labeled "misogynistic" and "wildly inappropriate" in a September post on X (formerly Twitter). This perceived hypocrisy fueled the outrage.

Tennis fans and commentators, including the popular account Pavvy G, demanded an apology and disciplinary action, with some calling for Wertheim's suspension or termination. Several viewers directly addressed the Tennis Channel, questioning their response to the incident. One user wrote, "Is this fine with you @TennisChannel? Jon Wertheim should be taken off air of the WTA Finals for mocking the forehead of a player." Another expressed disappointment, stating, "Wasn't funny and @TennisChannel is lax in letting this get out and be seen by the public."

Wertheim, a respected figure in tennis journalism with a long career including roles at Sports Illustrated and 60 Minutes, has yet to publicly address the situation.