Seven - AO Tennis 2011 media kit - Seven West Media

KERRYN PRATT
COMMENTATOR
- AUSTRALIAN OPEN
- MEDIBANK INTERNATIONAL
The Australian Open is special to Kerryn as the international tennis family gets
together on our home soil with the excitement of the start of a new season.
“There’s just that feeling of anticipation, wondering who will step up in the new
year and play well, what changes there will be and who will make the big
improvements,” says Kerryn.
“One of my favourite moments as a commentator is Justine Henin’s first victory
over Lindsay Davenport in the 2003 fourth round. I called it with John McEnroe
who doesn’t call many womens’ matches, but obviously opted for this one as he
thought Lindsay would win quickly and he wanted to get to a Kostya Tszyu fight.
“It was one of the longest matches you could get, and Justine surprised Lindsay
(and John) winning an epic 9-7 in the third. Mac missed the boxing, but didn’t
mind as he’d witnessed and called a great match, one of the most significant in
Justine’s career.”
Kerryn says the womens’ field is wide open, with several players capable of
stepping up and challenging for the title, especially with Serena’s absence.
“Kim Clijsters will be keen and ready to improve on last year’s debacle here
against Petrova. Sam Stosur has all the ingredients for a maiden Grand Slam
win, Justine Henin returns from a long injury break and factor in a resurgent Ana
Ivanovic.
“I’m going with Kim Clijsters, who has the experience and the confidence to win,
with Stosur my other favourite, as she’s ready to take the next step in her journey
to the top of the game. The conditions should suit her perfectly, but the main
danger is the weight of expectation at her home slam. I also like Henin, Ivanovic
and Azarenka to be around at finals time.”
Kerryn is an accomplished former Australian tennis player. A leading junior
player, she went on to make the last 16 in the Australian Open singles, was a
semi-finalist in the Australian Open doubles and was a finalist in the Queensland
Open singles and won the Australian Hardcourt doubles.
She has since spent 17 years as a TV sports journalist, producer and tennis
commentator for Grand Slams and other major events. She’s also been a
courtside TV host and interviewer at the Masters Cup tennis and commentated
tennis, badminton and softball for Seven at the Athens and Beijing Olympics.