Tennis

Jon Wertheim’s Criticism of Nick Kyrgios’s Comment About Anna Kalinskaya Resurfaces

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By
wendioliveros
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wendioliveros Sports Editor

Wendi Oliveros is a diehard tennis fan that is known to set her clock at ridiculous hours to watch live action especially during the Australian Open. She is known for indulging in strawberries and cream during Wimbledon and has watched the US Open live several times.

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Sports Editor

Published11 Nov 2024

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Nick Kyrgios celebrates at the the 2020 Australian Open.

On Monday, things grew oddly quiet on the Jon Wertheim front after a busy weekend.

The Tennis Channel broadcaster who turned 54 on November 11 shared his side of the story on Sunday on Andy Roddick’s Served podcast. He was suspended from Tennis Channel indefinitely for a hot mic comment about Barbora Krejcikova’s appearance that aired on Friday.  Wertheim apologized for the incident in a lengthy Twitter post that does not mention Krejcikova by name.

Because of this, a tweet from Wertheim issued during the US Open has resurfaced.  The tweet criticized Nick Kyrgios.

What Happened Between Jon Wertheim and Nick Kyrgios?

Both Wertheim and Kyrgios were employed by ESPN to cover this year’s US Open. During that time, Kyrgios commented on an old photo posted by a Twitter user of Kyrgios and his ex-girlfriend Russian tennis player Anna Kalinskaya (their relationship ended in 2020) who is Jannik Sinner’s current girlfriend.  His comment said, “Second serve.”

Wertheim took offense and posted a tweet on September 7, 2024, saying: “Nick Kyrgios once made a misogynistic, wildly inappropriate comment about a WTA player, drew the anger of her ATP player boyfriend, his coach, and much of the locker room…but didn’t face real consequence, dismissed, as it was, as youthful indiscretion. That was 2015. He’s 29 now. ”

Not Many Voices Defending Krejcikova

Krejcikova standing up for herself was important for her and women in sports yet female tennis legends like Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, and Martina Navratilova have not addressed the situation.  Rennae Stubbs is another outspoken woman in tennis who has not said anything either.

Australian tennis player Daria Saville, 30, is the only player who spoke on Krejcikova’s behalf.

Thankfully, the WTA backed Krejcikova. It was the prudent thing to do to support her.

Widespread outrage and universal support have not happened.  It is unclear when or if they will.  Either way, Wertheim could be back on the air in no time.