Seven - AO Tennis 2011 media kit - Seven West Media

JOHN FITZGERALD
COMMENTATOR
- AUSTRALIAN OPEN
- AAMI KOOYONG CLASSIC
- BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL
This will be John’s 15th year providing expert commentary for Channel 7’s
summer of tennis. His memories of the Australian Open stretch back to Kooyong
where he won a doubles title in 1982.
“It’s our home-grown Slam and it keeps getting bigger and better every year. It
truly is a world-class event in anyone’s language,”
John favours Nadal to take the title in 2011.
“I like him over a long five set match, but I am the world’s biggest Roger Federer
fan. These are the two best players going around by a fair way.
“When you look at the next group of players, Murray hasn’t won a major yet, but
could win three or four once he breaks through and Djokovic has only won one.
It’ll just depend if Roger can hang on long enough,” says John.
Clijsters is John’s tip for the women’s title.
“She hasn’t won outside the US yet but it’s a similar surface, so she’ll be near
favourite with Serana out of the tournament, but not a short-priced favourite. And
Wozniacki hasn’t broken through yet,”
As a player, his greatest career highlights came during the 11 years he
represented Australia in the Davis Cup. During this time he well and truly made
his mark on Australian tennis and was an integral part of the team. He played
three finals and played a major role in defeating Sweden in both the 1983 and
1986 finals at Kooyong.
John also held the No.1 ranking in Australia, represented his country in two
Olympics (Seoul and Barcelona), won six ATP Tour singles titles, 30 ATP Tour
doubles titles (including seven Grand Slam titles) and received the Order of
Australia Medal in 1993 for services to tennis.
In 2001, John became only the fourth Australian Davis Cup captain in the past 60
years. He’s so far taken the team to two finals.