Tennis

Tennis Channel has indefinitely suspended analyst Jon Wertheim after he made an inappropriate comment about professional tennis player Barbora Krejcikova during a broadcast on Friday. The network has apologized to Krejcikova and Wertheim has also apologized for his remarks.Wertheim's comment was widely criticized on social media, with many calling it sexist and disrespectful. Tennis Channel responded swiftly by removing Wertheim from the air and issuing a statement condemning his remarks."Tennis Channel holds its employees to a standard of respectfulness for others at all times, a standard that was not met in this moment," the network said in a statement.Wertheim has been a valued member of the Tennis Channel team for many years and is known for his insightful commentary and analysis. However, his recent comment has tarnished his reputation and raised questions about his future with the network.It is unclear at this time whether Wertheim will be reinstated by Tennis Channel. The network is likely to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter before making a decision.In the meantime, Wertheim has apologized for his remarks and said that he is "deeply sorry" for the hurt he caused."I made a mistake and I am paying the price for it," Wertheim said in a statement. "I am truly sorry for the pain I caused Barbora Krejcikova and her fans."

The Laver Cup, a three-day tennis extravaganza, has once again crowned Team Europe as champions, marking their fifth victory in the event's seven-year history. This year's edition, held in Berlin, drew praise from tennis legends Andy Roddick and Jon Wertheim.Roddick highlighted the event's unique format, which caters to players' needs. "It's an easy yes for the players," he said. "It's three days, tiebreaker for a third set, so even if you're playing a lot like Ben Shelton, you're playing indoors, it's predictable."Wertheim agreed, calling Laver Cup "absolutely right for disruption" and a welcome alternative to the "wreck" that Davis Cup has become. He also raised the question of whether women should compete in the event, arguing that it could improve competitive balance.Roddick countered that women's tennis should create its own successful event rather than relying on Laver Cup. However, both commentators recognized the standout performances of Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz, and Ben Shelton at this year's Cup.Alcaraz's victory over Botic van de Zandschulp was seen as a reassertion of his dominance after a disappointing US Open. Roddick praised Fritz as "the lunch pail guy" who consistently delivers his best effort. Shelton, meanwhile, is showing increasing confidence against top-ranked opponents.The article also discussed the recent coaching changes in tennis, including Naomi Osaka's split with her coach and Jannik Sinner's addition of two members of Novak Djokovic's team. Roddick challenged Alcaraz to boycott mandatory events to force calendar reform, hoping that other top players will follow suit.

Andy Roddick and Jon Wertheim have released their predictions for Wimbledon 2023 following the draw ceremony.Women's Draw:Roddick expressed concern for Iga Swiatek's quarter, which includes defending champion Marketa Vondrousova. He believes Swiatek's movement and ball flight may need adjustments on grass, making her more vulnerable. However, he still predicts Swiatek to reach the semifinals, facing Vondrousova.In the next quarter, Roddick predicts Elena Rybakina and Jessica Pegula to advance, with an honorable mention to Katie Boulter.Emma Raducanu is seen as a potential spoiler in the bottom half, despite a tough first-round draw against Ekaterina Alexandrova. Roddick believes Raducanu's recent grass-court form could carry her through.Roddick and Wertheim differ significantly in their predictions for the women's final. Roddick has Jessica Pegula reaching her first Grand Slam final, losing to Aryna Sabalenka. Wertheim, on the other hand, predicts a Swiatek-Gauff final.Men's Draw:Roddick and Wertheim largely agree on the men's outcomes. Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini are seen as potential second-round opponents. Sinner is predicted to reach the quarterfinals, facing Grigor Dimitrov.Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz is the clear favorite in his quarter, with Tommy Paul named as his quarterfinal opponent.Andrey Rublev's section features Lorenzo Musetti, who Roddick believes could be a threat on grass. However, Roddick predicts Sebastian Korda to overtake Musetti for a spot in the quarterfinals.In the bottom section, Novak Djokovic is the favorite to reach the semifinals, where he would face Taylor Fritz. Sinner is predicted to face Alcaraz in the other semifinal, with the Italian emerging victorious.In the predicted Italy-Serbia match for the title, Roddick has Sinner winning his first Wimbledon title and second slam.

Andy Roddick and Jon Wertheim, co-hosts of the "Served with Andy Roddick" podcast, meticulously analyzed the Roland Garros draw, providing insightful predictions and engaging discussions.Roddick began by assessing the women's draw, highlighting the potential second-round clash between Naomi Osaka and Iga Swiatek. Both agreed that Swiatek, the reigning champion, would likely advance deep into the tournament regardless of her opponents. Roddick predicted Swiatek would face Barbora Krejcikova in the fourth round and Danielle Collins in the quarterfinals.Moving to the men's draw, Roddick initially avoided looking for Rafael Nadal's name, but his excitement erupted when he discovered Nadal's first-round matchup against Alexander Zverev. Roddick expressed his disbelief and despair, acknowledging the psychological implications of Zverev facing Nadal on the same court where he suffered a career-threatening ankle injury in 2021.Despite his initial reluctance, Roddick predicted Zverev would prevail in the first round, citing his ability to compartmentalize and the potential for a rain delay to disrupt Nadal's rhythm. However, he emphasized that Nadal would likely reach the semifinals if he overcame Zverev.Roddick and Wertheim debated several other matchups, including Gael Monfils vs. Thiago Seyboth Wild, Tommy Paul vs. Francisco Cerundolo, and Casper Ruud vs. Jakub Mensik. They also discussed the recent upset by Taylor Fritz in Geneva and the potential threat posed by Nicolas Jarry due to Jannik Sinner's hip injury.After comparing their picks, Roddick and Wertheim agreed that Novak Djokovic, Nadal (Wertheim's "tennis god" pick), Carlos Alcaraz, Andrey Rublev, and Fritz were likely to reach the quarterfinals. Roddick expressed his dissatisfaction with his own predictions, but acknowledged the excitement and unpredictability of the upcoming tournament.