Seven - AO Tennis 2011 media kit - Seven West Media

ALLAN STONE
COMMENTATOR
- AUSTRALIAN OPEN
- MEDIBANK INTERNATIONAL
- AAMI CLASSIC
Former Australian Open doubles champion Allan Stone has been commentating
tennis on Channel 7 for more than 30 years and has attended 50 out of the last
51 Australian Opens as a player or commentator.
When asked to find a winner for the men’s 2011 Australian Open, Allan finds it
hard to look past Nadal, Federer and Djokovic.
“I nominate Nadal to win as he’s the world No. 1 and the mentally strongest
player on tour.”
Looking at the women’s side of the draw, Allan is hoping the home-grown girl can
put on a top performance for the Australian crowd.
“Clijsters, Stosur and Wozniacki will all be in the mix to win the women’s title, but
it will be Stosur to win. She’s still improving and much more consistent, she’ll
benefit from better preparation here in Australia leading up to the Open and will
get huge crowd support.”
A skilled recreational tennis player throughout his school days, Allan decided to
take the game seriously at university and after two years of a University Of
Melbourne commerce degree, he hit the international circuit.
During his 16 years touring the world, Allan notched up 11 doubles titles –
including the 1968 and 1977 Australian Open – represented Australia in four
Davis Cup campaigns and reached both the doubles and mixed doubles at
Wimbledon in 1975.
As he neared the end of his playing career, Allan was invited to be a guest
commentator by Channel 7. After his retirement, he became a permanent
member of the network’s team and has commentated at most major tennis
events.
As well as his involvement in Seven’s tennis coverage, Allan has been Head
Tennis Coach at the Victorian Institute of Sport (1996–2000), coach at the
National Training Centre in Melbourne Park, Vice President of the Australian
Davis Cup Foundation and a selector for the Australian Davis Cup and Olympic
teams.