Seven - AO Tennis 2011 media kit - Seven West Media

CHANNEL 7’s HOT SUMMER OF TENNIS
Channel 7 is set to serve up another sizzling summer of tennis from Brisbane,
Sydney and then Melbourne, culminating in the first Grand Slam of the year, the
Australian Open.
Arguably the greatest rivalry in world sports is set to continue in Melbourne. Many
experts predict Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will again face off in the final,
with Nadal going for his fourth Grand Slam in a row, the ‘Rafa slam’, and Federer
in hot form after his recent ATP World Tour Finals win. But expect Brit Andy
Murray going for his first Slam, previous winner Novak Djokovic and World No. 5
Robyn Soderling to be snapping at their heels.
The race for the women’s title has been blown wide open with the absence of
five-time winner Serena Williams. Can Kim Clijsters step up and win? Or will local
girl Sam Stosur salute in an historic hometown win?
Channel 7 will commence its primetime coverage at 7pm in week one, and
7.30pm in week two. Prime time finals for the men’s and women’s singles
attracted an average audience of 2.42million and 1.89million viewers respectively
in 2010 eclipsing the previous year.
As well as the Grand Slam of Asia/Pacific, Channel 7 will cover the Australian
Open series tournaments including the Brisbane International and Medibank
International in Sydney, as well as the AAMI Kooyong Classic in Melbourne.
Seven’s summer of tennis will be headed by JOHANNA GRIGGS, MATT WHITE
and HAMISH MCLACHLAN with BRUCE McAVANEY back in the commentary
chair and expert commentary from four-time Grand Slam champion JIM
COURIER and former British No.1 SAM SMITH.
Joining them in the Channel 7 commentary box will be the most successful
doubles player in men’s tennis history TODD WOODBRIDGE, Gael Monfils’
coach ROGER RASHEED, HENRI LECONTE, NICOLE BRADTKE, RENNAE
STUBBS, SANDY ROBERTS, JOHN FITZGERALD, ALLAN STONE, PETER
DONEGAN and KERRYN PRATT.