BBC commentators say sorry to tennis stars for weight comments

Barry Davies apologised for saying that Yorkshire's Tara Moore, 17, was "chunkily built" – just hours after it emerged that David Mercer mentioned Laura Robson's "puppy fat".

Commentating on the girls' quarter-final clash, Davies said: "I gather, perhaps I shouldn't say this, but part of the problem was that she (Moore) needs not to get too heavy.

"I mean she went into tennis saying that she wanted to do it for the exercise.

"She's chunkily built and only 5ft 5in and she packs a bit of a wallop and there's a balance there that will be watched, I'm sure."

A BBC spokesman said: "Barry apologises unreservedly to Tara for any offence caused.

"The BBC takes matters such as this very seriously and we will be speaking to all of our commentators regarding their phraseology during their commentaries."

Mercer had apologised earlier for discussing on Tuesday how Robson's weight might be affecting her game while she was playing her second round juniors match at Wimbledon.

Mercer has already been slammed by eating disorders campaigners after saying: "I suppose the one thing that I have at the back of my mind at the moment, is Laura mobile enough around the court?

"Perhaps a little puppy fat at the moment, the sort of thing you'd expect her to lose as she concentrates on tennis full-time."

Robson won a place in the semi-finals of the Wimbledon girls' singles after beating Moore yesterday.

Speaking after the game, Robson said: "Yeah, I've spoken to the guy who said it. It's not a big deal. It doesn't bother me at all."