Seven - AO Tennis 2011 media kit - Seven West Media

BRUCE MCAVANEY
COMMENTATOR
- AUSTRALIAN OPEN
In 2011 Bruce steps back into the commentary box after an extended stint of
hosting at the Australian Open.
When asked who will be in the mix to win the men’s title Bruce says since Safin
beat Hewitt in the ’05 Final at Melbourne Park, Federer and Nadal have won 21
of the last 23 Grand Slam titles between them.
“Their rivalry is unparalleled in world sport. What makes this Open even more
intriguing is Nadal’s opportunity to win a fourth consecutive major, something not
even Federer has achieved. There are three tiers of favourites: firstly, Nadal and
Federer, then Murray and Djokovic and then the third group, which includes
Soderling, Berdych, Cilic and Del Potro and Tsonga, but the latter two depend on
their ability to be fully fit after injuries.”
On the women’s side of the draw Bruce feels the absence of Serena Williams will
make a big difference.
“She’s won five of the last seven Australian Opens she’s contested. Unlike the
men, this is very open. In 2010, there were 37 different winners on the tour but
only two women won more than two tournaments. They were Wozniacki with six,
and Clijsters with five. But, significantly, Clijsters won a major, and in doing so,
extended her remarkable record at the US Open.
“With a similar surface in Melbourne, she deserves to be favourite, just in front of
Wozniacki, the world No. 1, but just a single major final and Henin, who’s made
the final in three of her last four attempts at the Aussie Open in Melbourne, but
whose 2010 season was derailed by injury after such a promising comeback.
“The second group with a genuine chance are headed by the Russians
Sharapova and Zvonareva, and our own Sam Stosur. I’m leaving out Venus and
the Serbians and a couple of other Russians but it’s a tough title to predict.”
When it comes to sports broadcasting in Australia, Bruce has no equal. No one
matches his depth of knowledge, dedication to the job or extensive preparation.
Dubbed the “mastercaster”, he has hosted and commentated almost every major
sporting event in Australia including the AFL Grand Final, Brownlow Medal,
Melbourne Cup, Bathurst 1000, Australian Open tennis, Australian Masters Golf,
Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations Rugby, and every Olympic Games since 1980.