NEW YORK (AP) — Tennis Channel has taken analyst Jon Wertheim off air “indefinitely” after Wimbledon champion Barbara Krejcikova he exclaimed on social media for what she called “coverage that focused on my appearance rather than my performance.”

The network said in a statement posted online Sunday that Wertheim made “an inappropriate comment” and that it “holds its employees to a standard of respect for others at all times, a standard that was not met at this time.”

Wertheim posted an apologyin which he acknowledged his “very regrettable off-air comments” that “accidentally made it onto the live broadcast.”

Krejcikova played in the WTA Finals last week, which were shown on Tennis Channel.

She is a 28-year-old from the Czech Republic who also won a Grand Slam title at the 2020 French Open and also owns seven major doubles trophies.

“As an athlete who has dedicated himself to this sport, it was disappointing to see this kind of unprofessional commentary. This isn’t the first time something like this has happened in the sports world. I have often chosen not to say anything, but I believe it is time to address the need for respect and professionalism in sports media,” Krejcikova wrote. “These moments distract from the true essence of sport and the dedication that all athletes bring to the field. “I love tennis so much and I want it to be represented in a way that honors the commitment we make to compete at this level.”

Wertheim also works for Sports Illustrated and is a correspondent for “60 Minutes.”

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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis