Czech tennis player Barbora Krejcikova has called for respect and professionalism in the sports media after noting that there have been remarks about her appearance.
Wimbledon champion Krejcikova played in the WTA final during the week, where she lost to Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng in the semi-finals. The journalist John Wehrheim, not realizing that he was on air, made a remark about the contestant’s appearance, which met with a lot of criticism on social networks.
“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”, wrote Barbora Krejcikova in her social media account. “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”, added she.
Barbora Krejcikova is known for her aggressive playing style and her smooth, powerful groundstrokes. She has won two Grand Slam singles titles (at the 2021 French Open and at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships) and seven major doubles titles, including the career Super Slam in women’s doubles.
