The BBC apologised after one of its senior presenters suggested the women's Wimbledon champion was "never going to be a looker".
John Inverdale, who was born in Plymouth, made the disparaging remark on the broadcaster's Radio 5 live programme shortly after French player Marion Bartoli defeated Germany's Sabine Lisicki on Centre Court. Bartoli, 28, sank to her knees after she clinched the title and then made a beeline for the player's box where she embraced her father and former coach, Walter. Inverdale reportedly told listeners: "Do you think Bartoli's dad told her when she was little, 'you're never going to be a looker, you'll never be a Sharapova, so you have to be scrappy and fight?" The comments sparked outrage on Twitter.