Jon Wertheim reveals what he told Barbora Krejcikova after mocking Wimbledon champion's forehead
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Jon Wertheim has revealed that he reached out to Barbara Krejcikova 'immediately' after mocking the Wimbledon champion's appearance live on air.
The American tennis journalist was on Tennis Channel's coverage of Krejcikova's WTA Finals match against Qinwen Zheng when the broadcast switched back to the studio with seemingly nobody aware they were live.
The hosts were seen making notes on the table while Wertheim fixed his camera before saying: “Who do you think I am? Barbora Krejcikova? Look at the forehead when Krejcikova and Zheng take the court.”
The clip soon went viral on social media with Krejcikova and Wertheim both releasing statements online.
Tennis Channel also announced they were had kicked Wertheim off air 'indefinitely' following his remarks.
Jon Wertheim apologised to Barbara Krejcikova
PA/SERVEDWITHANDYRODICK
The 53-year-old followed up his statement on X by appearing on the 'Served with Andy Roddick' podcast.
Roddick opened up the clip stating both he and Wertheim often speak about 'uncomfortable topics in tennis' and 'potentially weird situations'.
He added: "That doesn't end when its one of us.
"I'm not sure how much you have all been following but our good friend, my co-host, my partner in crime, Jon Wertheim, said something on a hot mic.
"No one was aware that they were on the hot mic. [He] has gotten into some trouble.
"I know John well obviously. I know how he is as a person. I also know that he stepped in s***.
"I said I'd come on and we have to acknowledge it even when it's not comfortable.
"He was more than willing to say, 'I should be the one to speak to The Served listeners directly'."
Roddick then introduced Wertheim to the stream where he asked the reporter to explain what happened.
Wertheim replied: "I really wish we were talking about tennis but I appreciate it, you put it nicely.
"If we are going to be transparent and hold people accountable and call people out for acting like jacka**** when one of us acts like a jacka** and in this case that would be me, we need to make ourselves present and accountable.
— Served with Andy Roddick (@Served_Podcast) November 10, 2024
"I'm full of regret and remorse and apology. It's not been a great weekend.
"At some level, you'd like to hope context mattered a little and at some level you'd like to think a body of work mattered and you don't get defined by your worst act.
"But like you said, I stepped in it. I made a very uncharitable remark meant as self-deprecation but it involved a photo of Barbara Krecjikova.
"Actually kind of tangent, I reached out to her immediately and apologised as soon as this became a thing.
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Jon Wertheim's comments were shown live on air
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"I know her agent very well. He's been a nice agent, he's also been a very good friend to me and so there's been a lot of contact.
"They had the grace to give me a heads up on their statement that they put out so I wouldn't be caught flat-footed. I had the grace to give them my statement.
"Barbara is travelling right now, but I have every expectation we will sit down and I will be able to apologise in person.
"She doesn't need this s***. She won Wimbledon, she had a great season, she just finished up a nice tournament in Riyadh. She doesn't need to pick up her phone and hear about some jacka** broadcaster on a hot mic and I feel bad."
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