COURTSIDE 2-29 JANUARY - Seven West Media
COURTSIDE 2-29 JANUARY - Seven West Media
COURTSIDE 2-29 JANUARY - Seven West Media
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ENNIS<br />
OF<br />
<strong>COURTSIDE</strong> 2-<strong>29</strong> <strong>JANUARY</strong><br />
SUMMER<br />
TENNIS<br />
2012
SEVEN SPORT’S<br />
HOT SUMMER OF TENNIS<br />
<strong>Seven</strong> is set to serve up another sizzling summer of tennis from Brisbane, Sydney and then Melbourne,<br />
culminating in the first Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open.<br />
The pundits favour one of the top four men to take out the title:<br />
Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer or Andy Murray.<br />
Can Djokovic repeat last year’s success? Can Federer or Nadal<br />
start a run to regain the World No. 1 spot? Or can Andy Murray<br />
breakthrough for his first Grand Slam title? And of course all<br />
Australian eyes will be on wildcard entrant Lleyton Hewitt and<br />
new young gun Bernard Tomic. Aussie fans will be hoping Lleyton<br />
can turn back the clock and Tomic can better his Wimbledon run<br />
where he reached the quarter finals.<br />
Fresh from her first Grand Slam triumph at the US Open, Sam<br />
Stosur headlines a star-studded line-up of women who will battle<br />
it out for the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Trophy. ‘Aussie’ Kim<br />
Clijsters returns to defend her title, while World No. 1 Caroline<br />
Wozniacki is still chasing her first Grand Slam victory. And as<br />
always Serena Williams will be more than dangerous if she can<br />
stay healthy.<br />
Channel 7 will start its primetime coverage at 7pm each night<br />
in week one, and 7.30pm in week two. Primetime finals for the<br />
men’s and women’s singles attracted an average audience of<br />
1.38million and 1.67million viewers respectively in 2011. 7TWO<br />
will also start coverage of the Australian Open each night at 6pm.<br />
As well as the Grand Slam of Asia/Pacific, <strong>Seven</strong> will cover the<br />
Australian Open series tournaments including the Brisbane<br />
International and APIA International in Sydney, as well as the AAMI<br />
Kooyong Classic in Melbourne all on 7TWO.<br />
<strong>Seven</strong>’s summer of tennis will be headed by JOHANNA GRIGGS,<br />
MATT WHITE and HAMISH MCLACHLAN with BRUCE McAVANEY<br />
in the commentary chair and expert commentary from four-time<br />
Grand Slam champion JIM COURIER, JOHN NEWCOMBE and<br />
former British No.1 SAM SMITH.<br />
Joining them in the Channel 7 commentary box will be TODD<br />
WOODBRIDGE, HENRI LECONTE, NICOLE BRADTKE, RENNAE<br />
STUBBS, SANDY ROBERTS, JOHN FITZGERALD, ROGER RASHEED,<br />
ALLAN STONE, GEOFF MASTERS and KERRYN PRATT.<br />
…and subject to playing commitments,<br />
fans will also again hear the insightful<br />
commentary of LLEYTON HEWITT on <strong>Seven</strong>.
ROAD TO<br />
THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2012<br />
BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL<br />
<strong>JANUARY</strong> 1 – 8, 2012<br />
QUEENSLAND TENNIS CENTRE, BRISBANE<br />
HOSTS Johanna Griggs, Hamish McLachlan<br />
COMMENTATORS<br />
John Fitzgerald, Todd Woodbridge, Sam Smith and Rennae Stubbs<br />
With four of the top 20 ranking men and nine of the top 20<br />
women set to start in the Brisbane International, this year’s field<br />
is set to be the most exciting in the tournament’s history.<br />
Joining Maria Sharapova (4), Samantha Stosur (6), Serena<br />
Williams (12), Kim Clijsters (13) and Ana Ivanovic (22) in the<br />
2012 line-up are last year’s Brisbane International finalist<br />
Andrea Petkovic (10), 2010 French Open Champion Francesca<br />
Schiavone (11), former world No.1 Jelena Jankovic (14), Anastasia<br />
Pavlyuchenkova (16) and Dominika Cibulkova (18).<br />
In the men’s draw, world No.3 Andy Murray will make his debut at<br />
the Brisbane International. He is joined by seven players who have<br />
been in the top 10 during their career, including Gilles Simon,<br />
fan favourites James Blake and Marcos Baghdatis, Brisbane<br />
International finalist and champion Radek Stepanek, Spaniard<br />
Tommy Robredo, Austrian Jurgen Melzer and Tommy Haas.<br />
DATES AND TELECAST TIMES ON 7TWO<br />
MONDAY <strong>JANUARY</strong> 2<br />
11.30am – 5pm, 8pm – 11.30pm LIVE in Sydney and Melbourne<br />
10.30am – 4pm, 7pm – 10.30pm LIVE in Brisbane<br />
11am – 4.30pm, 7.30pm – 11pm LIVE in Adelaide<br />
8.30am – 2pm, 5pm – 8.30pm LIVE in Perth<br />
TUESDAY <strong>JANUARY</strong> 3<br />
11.30am – 5pm, 8pm – 11.30pm LIVE in Sydney and Melbourne<br />
10.30am – 4pm, 7pm – 10.30pm LIVE in Brisbane<br />
11am – 4.30pm, 7.30pm – 11pm LIVE in Adelaide<br />
8.30am – 2pm, 5pm – 8.30pm LIVE in Perth<br />
WEDNESDAY <strong>JANUARY</strong> 4<br />
11.30am – 5pm, 8pm – 11.30pm LIVE in Sydney and Melbourne<br />
10.30am – 4pm, 7pm – 10.30pm LIVE in Brisbane<br />
11am – 4.30pm, 7.30pm – 11pm LIVE in Adelaide<br />
8.30am – 2pm, 5pm – 8.30pm LIVE in Perth<br />
THURSDAY <strong>JANUARY</strong> 5<br />
11.30am – 5pm, 8pm – 11.30pm LIVE in Sydney and Melbourne<br />
10.30am – 4pm, 7pm – 10.30pm LIVE in Brisbane<br />
11am – 4.30pm, 7.30pm – 11pm LIVE in Adelaide<br />
8.30am – 2pm, 5pm – 8.30pm LIVE in Perth<br />
FRIDAY <strong>JANUARY</strong> 6<br />
12pm – 5pm, 8pm – 11.30pm LIVE in Sydney and Melbourne<br />
11am – 4pm, 7pm – 10.30pm LIVE in Brisbane<br />
11.30am – 4.30pm, 7.30pm – 11pm LIVE in Adelaide<br />
9am – 2pm, 5pm – 8.30pm LIVE in Perth<br />
SATURDAY <strong>JANUARY</strong> 7 (WOMEN’S FINAL IN NIGHT SESSION)<br />
1pm – 7pm, 8pm – 11.30pm LIVE in Sydney and Melbourne<br />
12pm – 6pm, 7pm – 10.30pm LIVE in Brisbane<br />
12.30pm – 6.30pm, 7.30pm – 11pm LIVE in Adelaide<br />
10am – 4pm, 5pm – 8.30pm LIVE in Perth<br />
SUNDAY <strong>JANUARY</strong> 8 (MEN’S FINAL)<br />
11am – 6pm LIVE in Sydney and Melbourne<br />
10am – 5pm LIVE in Brisbane<br />
10.30am – 5.30pm LIVE in Adelaide<br />
8am – 3pm LIVE in Perth
ROAD TO<br />
THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2012<br />
APIA INTERNATIONAL<br />
<strong>JANUARY</strong> 8 – 14, 2012<br />
SYDNEY OLYMPIC PARK, SYDNEY<br />
HOST Johanna Griggs<br />
COMMENTATORS<br />
Todd Woodbridge, Kerryn Pratt, Sam Smith, Allan Stone,<br />
Rennae Stubbs, Geoff Masters<br />
US Open champion Samantha Stosur and defending champion Li<br />
Na, along with 2010 winner Marcos Baghdatis, Caroline Wozniacki<br />
and Grand Slam winner Ana Ivanovic will all headline January’s<br />
Medibank International Sydney.<br />
This event has grown since 1885 to be one of a handful of<br />
tournaments on the entire circuit that highlights the top men and<br />
women competing in the same week. Played at one of the world’s<br />
best tennis facilities at Sydney Olympic Park, past champions<br />
have included Rod Laver, John Newcombe, Pete Sampras,<br />
Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Martina Navratilova<br />
and Chris Evert.<br />
DATES AND TELECAST TIMES ON 7TWO<br />
SUNDAY <strong>JANUARY</strong> 8<br />
End of BRIS INTL – 6pm LIVE in Sydney and Melbourne<br />
End of BRIS INTL – 5pm LIVE in Brisbane<br />
End of BRIS INTL – 5.30pm LIVE in Adelaide<br />
End of BRIS INTL – 3pm LIVE in Perth<br />
MONDAY <strong>JANUARY</strong> 9<br />
11am – 5pm LIVE in Sydney and Melbourne<br />
10am – 4pm LIVE in Brisbane<br />
10.30am – 4.30pm LIVE in Adelaide<br />
8am – 2pm LIVE in Perth<br />
TUESDAY <strong>JANUARY</strong> 10<br />
11am – 5pm LIVE in Sydney and Melbourne<br />
10am – 4pm LIVE in Brisbane<br />
10.30am – 4.30pm LIVE in Adelaide<br />
8am – 2pm LIVE in Perth<br />
WEDNESDAY <strong>JANUARY</strong> 11<br />
End of AAMI – 6pm, 7.30pm – 11pm LIVE in Sydney<br />
and Melbourne<br />
End of AAMI – 5pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm LIVE in Brisbane<br />
End of AAMI – 5.30pm, 7pm – 11pm LIVE in Adelaide<br />
End of AAMI – 3pm, 4.30pm – 8.30pm LIVE in Perth<br />
THURSDAY <strong>JANUARY</strong> 12<br />
End of AAMI – 6pm, 7.30pm – 11pm LIVE in Sydney<br />
and Melbourne<br />
End of AAMI – 5pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm LIVE in Brisbane<br />
End of AAMI – 5.30pm, 7pm – 11pm LIVE in Adelaide<br />
End of AAMI – 3pm, 4.30pm – 8.30pm LIVE in Perth<br />
FRIDAY <strong>JANUARY</strong> 13<br />
End of AAMI – 6pm, 7.30pm – 11pm LIVE in Sydney<br />
and Melbourne<br />
End of AAMI – 5pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm LIVE in Brisbane<br />
End of AAMI – 5.30pm, 7pm – 11pm LIVE in Adelaide<br />
End of AAMI – 3pm, 4.30pm – 8.30pm LIVE in Perth<br />
SATURDAY <strong>JANUARY</strong> 14<br />
7.30pm – 10.30pm in Sydney and Melbourne<br />
6.30pm – 9.30pm in Brisbane<br />
7pm – 10pm in Adelaide<br />
4.30pm – 7.30pm in Perth
ROAD TO<br />
THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2012<br />
AAMI KOOYONG CLASSIC<br />
<strong>JANUARY</strong> 11 – 14, 2012<br />
KOOYONG, MELBOURNE<br />
HOST Bruce McAvaney<br />
COMMENTATORS<br />
John Fitzgerald, Allan Stone, Peter Donegan<br />
This is a fan-friendly “round robin” event featuring eight of the<br />
world’s best tennis players. Played over four days, just before<br />
the Open, it’s traditionally an entertaining competition with<br />
a high calibre of players.<br />
Wimbledon quarter finalist and rising Aussie superstar Bernard<br />
Tomic comes back to Kooyong for his final preparations before<br />
his Australian Open tilt. Former world No.1 Andy Roddick (now<br />
ranked 15) will make a welcome return, along with 2010<br />
Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych, Frenchmen Jo-Wilfried Tsonga<br />
and Gael Monfils.<br />
DATES AND TELECAST TIMES ON 7TWO<br />
WEDNESDAY <strong>JANUARY</strong> 11<br />
11am –COP LIVE in Sydney and Melbourne<br />
10am – COP Two LIVE in Brisbane<br />
10.30am – COP Two LIVE in Adelaide<br />
8am – COP LIVE in Perth<br />
THURSDAY <strong>JANUARY</strong> 12<br />
11am – COP LIVE in Sydney and Melbourne<br />
10am – COP LIVE in Brisbane<br />
10.30am – COP LIVE in Adelaide<br />
8am – COP LIVE in Perth<br />
FRIDAY <strong>JANUARY</strong> 13<br />
11am – COP LIVE in Sydney and Melbourne<br />
10am – COP LIVE in Brisbane<br />
10.30am – COP LIVE in Adelaide<br />
8am – COP LIVE in Perth<br />
SATURDAY <strong>JANUARY</strong> 14<br />
1pm – 5pm LIVE in Sydney and Melbourne<br />
12pm – 4pm LIVE in Brisbane<br />
12.30pm – 4.30pm LIVE in Adelaide<br />
10am – 2pm LIVE in Perth
THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2012<br />
DATES AND TELECAST TIMES ON 7TWO<br />
MONDAY <strong>JANUARY</strong> 16 – FRIDAY <strong>JANUARY</strong> 20<br />
11am – 6pm LIVE in Sydney and Melbourne on Channel 7<br />
10am – 6pm LIVE in Brisbane on Channel 7<br />
10.30am – 6pm LIVE in Adelaide on Channel 7<br />
8am – 6pm LIVE in Perth on Channel 7<br />
6pm – 7pm LIVE in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide<br />
and Perth LIVE on 7TWO<br />
7pm – 12.30am COP LIVE in Sydney and Melbourne on Channel 7<br />
7pm – 11.30pm COP in Brisbane on Channel 7<br />
7pm – 12am COP in Adelaide on Channel 7<br />
7pm – 9.30pm COP in Perth on Channel 7<br />
SATURDAY <strong>JANUARY</strong> 21 & SUNDAY <strong>JANUARY</strong> 22<br />
11am – 6pm LIVE in Sydney and Melbourne on Channel 7<br />
10am – 6pm LIVE in Brisbane on Channel 7<br />
10.30am – 6pm LIVE in Adelaide on Channel 7<br />
8am – 6pm LIVE in Perth on Channel 7<br />
6pm – 6.30pm LIVE in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide<br />
and Perth LIVE on 7TWO<br />
6.30pm – 12.30am COP LIVE in Sydney and<br />
Melbourne on Channel 7<br />
6.30pm – 11.30pm COP in Brisbane on Channel 7<br />
6.30pm – 12pm COP in Adelaide on Channel 7<br />
6.30pm – 9.30pm COP in Perth on Channel 7<br />
MONDAY <strong>JANUARY</strong> 23 – THURSDAY <strong>JANUARY</strong> 26<br />
11am – 6pm LIVE in Sydney and Melbourne on Channel 7<br />
10am – 6pm LIVE in Brisbane on Channel 7<br />
10.30am – 6pm LIVE in Adelaide on Channel 7<br />
8am – 6pm LIVE in Perth on Channel 7<br />
6pm – 7.30pm LIVE in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide<br />
and Perth LIVE on 7TWO<br />
7.30pm – 12.30am COP LIVE in Sydney and Melbourne<br />
on Channel 7<br />
7.30pm – 11.30pm COP in Brisbane on Channel 7<br />
7.30pm – 12am COP in Adelaide on Channel 7<br />
7.30pm – 9.30pm COP in Perth on Channel 7<br />
FRIDAY <strong>JANUARY</strong> 27<br />
3pm – 6pm LIVE in Sydney and Melbourne<br />
2pm – 6pm LIVE in Brisbane<br />
2.30pm – 6pm LIVE in Adelaide<br />
12pm – 6pm LIVE in Perth<br />
6pm – 7.30pm LIVE in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide<br />
and Perth LIVE on 7TWO<br />
7.30pm – 10.30pm LIVE in Sydney and Melbourne<br />
7.30pm – 9.30pm in Brisbane<br />
7.30pm – 10pm in Adelaide<br />
7.30pm – 7.30pm in Perth<br />
SATURDAY <strong>JANUARY</strong> 28 (WOMEN’S FINAL)<br />
6.30pm – 10.30pm COP LIVE in Sydney and Melbourne<br />
6.30pm – 9.30pm COP LIVE in Brisbane<br />
7pm – 10pm COP LIVE in Adelaide<br />
4.30pm – 7.30pm COP in Perth<br />
SUNDAY <strong>JANUARY</strong> <strong>29</strong> (MEN’S FINAL)<br />
4pm – 6pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm COP LIVE in Sydney<br />
and Melbourne<br />
3pm – 5pm, 6.30pm 10.30pm COP LIVE in Brisbane<br />
3.30pm – 5.30pm, 7pm – 10pm COP LIVE in Adelaide<br />
1pm – 3pm, 4.30pm – 7.30pm COP LIVE in Perth
COMMENTATOR AUSTRALIAN OPEN, AAMI KOOYONG CLASSIC<br />
BRUCE MCAVANEY<br />
In 2012 Bruce McAvaney again steps into the commentary box after an extended stint of hosting at the Australian<br />
Open. And as always Bruce is excited to see “the world’s best in fierce combat seeking one of the great titles in<br />
world sport”.<br />
“Each and every day has a storyline and produces a mix of<br />
thrilling matches, shocking upsets and ultimately, triumph for<br />
two champions. Melbourne thrives on the occasion, it’s a magic<br />
fortnight,” Bruce says.<br />
He points out that Federer, Nadal and Djokovic have won 30 of the<br />
last 34 majors, while the other principal chance, Andy Murray, is<br />
yet to break through with a Grand Slam title.<br />
“They’re the big four for Melbourne. DelPotro and Tsonga lead<br />
the next group. I’m tipping Djokovic, but any one of the four<br />
wouldn’t surprise me.”<br />
Unlike the men, Bruce says it’s unpredictable on the women’s<br />
side. “Six of the last seven majors have been won by different<br />
women. Stosur won the most recent and looks ready to make an<br />
impact. Kvitova is the most lethal of the up and comers. Serena<br />
and Kim have won eight of the last 13 between them, but there’s<br />
some concern over their fitness and motivation. I’ll pick Kvitova,<br />
but there are many chances.”<br />
He’s also looking forward to watching the progress of the<br />
Australian hopes, Tomic, Hewitt and Stosur, as well as discovering<br />
who the surprise packet will be this year.<br />
Bruce recalls several great moments from last year’s tournament<br />
including the Hewitt-Nalbandian opening night thriller,<br />
Dolgopolov’s run to the quarter finals, Djokovic’s sublime semifinal<br />
win against Federer, Schiavone 16-14 in the third against<br />
Kuznetsova, the Petkovic dance, and Li Na’s humour<br />
“But number one for me was Aussie Kim’s first title,” he says.<br />
When it comes to sports broadcasting in Australia, Bruce has<br />
no equal. No one matches his depth of knowledge, dedication<br />
to the job or extensive preparation.<br />
Dubbed the “mastercaster”, he has hosted and commentated<br />
almost every major sporting event in Australia including the AFL<br />
Grand Final, Brownlow Medal, Melbourne Cup, Bathurst 1000,<br />
Australian Open tennis, Australian Masters Golf, Bledisloe Cup<br />
and Tri-Nations Rugby, and every Olympic Games since 1980.
HOST AUSTRALIAN OPEN, BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL, APIA INTERNATIONAL<br />
JOHANNA GRIGGS<br />
Johanna Griggs is a genuine sports fanatic. Her love of tennis makes the Australian Open for her the<br />
best fortnight of sport in Australia each year. Every year she adds new favourite memories to her list.<br />
“I absolutely adored interviewing Kim Clijsters after her win last<br />
year. She is always so lovely and we had her good friend and one<br />
of our gun commentators Rennae Stubbs in the studio as well. It<br />
was so lovely and relaxed and as I threw to the break, they just<br />
hugged each other in sheer joy. It was a privilege to be there.”<br />
Joh expects the winner of the Norman Brookes trophy will come<br />
from Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Tsonga. “To win…flip a coin.<br />
Federer finished off 2011 in style, is hungry and loves playing in<br />
Australia. And Djokovic is the king right now.”<br />
On the women’s side, she feels the winner will come from Petra<br />
Kvitova, Sam Stosur, Victoria Azarenka and Kim Clijsters. “Sam<br />
Stosur will win because I’d love to see her continue her success<br />
from last year and win a major in Australia.”<br />
Joh believes the atmosphere, quality of the matches and all-round<br />
entertainment is “awesome” at the Australian Open and she says<br />
she can’t wait for the event to begin. “The second the Melbourne<br />
Cup Carnival ended, I thought, ‘Yay’ that means the tennis is next.<br />
It doesn’t come around quick enough for me. It’s the perfect start<br />
to each year.”<br />
Johanna’s passion for sport is only natural. She was just 16<br />
when selected for the Auckland Games, where she won bronze<br />
in the 100m backstroke. She was also the first Australian female<br />
swimmer to break the 30 second barrier for the 50m backstroke.<br />
After retiring from swimming in May 1993, Johanna joined <strong>Seven</strong>.<br />
She went on to become <strong>Seven</strong>’s first female (and youngest ever)<br />
presenter of the weekend sports news, and has co-hosted a<br />
huge range of events such as Olympic Sunrise during the Sydney<br />
Olympics, the Medibank International, Australian Open tennis,<br />
numerous summer and winter Olympics as well as shows such<br />
as Sportsworld and Auction Squad. And of course she is currently<br />
a much-loved co-host on the top-rating Better Homes and<br />
Gardens and the weekend sport presenter for <strong>Seven</strong> News<br />
in Sydney.
HOST AUSTRALIAN OPEN<br />
MATT WHITE<br />
Matt White loves the Australian Open because it’s a world class event with truly global reach,<br />
yet it retains a uniquely ‘Aussie’ feel.<br />
“Melbourne is in full swing, the crowds and venue are amazing<br />
and there is no better way to start the year and the season,”<br />
Matt says.<br />
“I love the routine, the on-air fun, walking along the Yarra on<br />
the way to Melbourne Park first thing in the morning - and<br />
then watching the best tennis players in the world get down to<br />
business. It’s an exhausting but exhilarating way to start the year.”<br />
He believes it will be hard to topple the big four in 2012 on the<br />
men’s side of the tournament. “I always think Roger is a fair bet<br />
simply because his preparation, record and legend say so. But,<br />
if Novak gets off to a good start he should be able to finish it off<br />
in week two.”<br />
Matt feels the women’s title is always a hard one to pick<br />
because no single player dominated the women’s field last year.<br />
“Kim Clijsters and Petra Kvitova should be in the mix - but I’m<br />
convinced 2012 will be Sam Stosur’s title. Sam’s confidence will<br />
be soaring. The pressure is off and hopefully she will cut loose<br />
at her home event.”<br />
Matthew’s career in journalism began as a reporter at The Manly<br />
Daily, which led to his start in broadcast journalism, presenting<br />
the news on NEWFM in Newcastle. Matthew’s love of sport and<br />
natural ability in front of the camera landed him the role<br />
of weekend sports presenter with NBN Newcastle.<br />
He later became the host of Channel Ten’s sports program<br />
Sports Tonight. Matthew also has extensive experience in<br />
anchoring and commentating major sports events and telecasts<br />
such as the V8 Supercars, Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup Rugby,<br />
Formula One Motor Racing, the Melbourne Cup, the Uncle Toby’s<br />
IronMan Series, US Open Golf tournaments, AFL Grand Finals,<br />
the 2004 Athens Olympics, 2006 Torino Olympics and 2008<br />
Beijing Olympics. Matt is also the host of the east coast edition<br />
of Today Tonight.
HOST AUSTRALIAN OPEN / COMMENTATOR BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL<br />
HAMISH MCLACHLAN<br />
Hamish McLachlan comes from a strong sporting background with management and<br />
broadcast experience on a national and international level with sports including AFL,<br />
Olympics,<br />
Over the past four years Hamish has hosted Channel 7’s<br />
AFL Game Day alongside some of the biggest names in the<br />
game including Leigh Matthews, Matthew Richardson and<br />
Tim Watson. Hamish has also featured in Channel 7’s Melbourne<br />
Cup Carnival racing coverage and provided commentary at<br />
the Australian Open tennis.<br />
A lover of sport since childhood, Hamish was a talented and<br />
highly rated tennis player during his teenage years but a serious<br />
knee injury put paid to his ambitions on the court.<br />
Hamish provided some detailed analysis when asked about men’s<br />
winner in 2012: “The big three in the men remain a few lengths<br />
ahead of the pack. The record by these three in Slams is simply<br />
outrageous, only del Potro has won a Slam outside of these three<br />
men in so long it is mind boggling.”<br />
Hamish says Roger Federer is the man. “Raffa has lost his ‘I’m a<br />
wall and you won’t get it past me and I don’t make errors aura’,<br />
and remarkably, is mentally fragile against the Joker (Djokovic).<br />
“I may be clutching at straws, but the Joker finished his ‘freak<br />
year’ – the ninth best of all time in regard to percentage wins<br />
– so badly it was remarkable. He looked physically, mentally<br />
and emotionally spent. I think it will be tough to bounce back<br />
immediately.”<br />
Hamish says this leaves “the GOAT” – “The Greatest Of All Time”.<br />
“It is Roger for me at Rod Laver. Gee I love the Fed Express. My<br />
Smokey is Tsonga who is capable of blasting anyone off the court<br />
when he is ‘on’.”<br />
And as for his favourite moment from last year’s Open, Hamish<br />
nominates commentating with Henri Leconte. “He’s a man who<br />
sees tennis, in fact life, from a very different perspective. If you’d<br />
never met him and walked into the commentary box you’d be<br />
excused for thinking he was drunk.”
COMMENTATOR AUSTRALIAN OPEN<br />
SANDY ROBERTS<br />
Sandy is one of Australia’s most successful sportscasters, working across many sports for Channel 7 for<br />
the past 37 years. Equally at home on the court or in the studio, Sandy is once again looking forward to setting<br />
up courtside for the Australian Open.<br />
Sandy believes Federer and Djokovic will meet again in the final,<br />
but Federer may win this time. “The Joker has had a huge year<br />
and sometimes that can take its toll and end in a letdown. And<br />
Federer played some good tennis towards the end of the year<br />
and ended on a high.”<br />
On the women’s side Sandy has liked the form of Kvitova for a<br />
while. “As much as I’d like to Stosur to win it and I know she’s<br />
said she won’t be worried by the added pressure of a home<br />
Grand Slam, the question remains can she handle it. And I think<br />
Wozniacki will play Kvitova in the final.”<br />
Sandy is looking forward to several elements of the tournament<br />
including seeing the newer challengers on the women’s side of<br />
the draw. “It’s not just dominated by the Williams sisters anymore.<br />
And of course I’ll be interested to see how far Stosur can go.<br />
“And perhaps it may be the last time we see Lleyton play at the<br />
Aussie Open. With the way he plays and the punishment he puts<br />
on his body, he can’t go on forever,” he says.<br />
Like many people in sports, Sandy has taken a long and<br />
successful road to the top of his profession. He spent his<br />
childhood on a sheep farm in South Australia before working<br />
in Adelaide, Perth, Bendigo and overseas as he learned the<br />
media trade. He finally settled in Melbourne, joining <strong>Seven</strong> as<br />
a presenter, sports analyst, host and commentator. He currently<br />
presents sport for <strong>Seven</strong> News in Victoria.<br />
Today, Sandy has an enviable reputation for being one of<br />
Australia’s most knowledgeable and respected industry<br />
professionals. When he isn’t at the world’s largest sporting<br />
events, he escapes back to his farm just outside Melbourne.<br />
Sandy has vast experience at major sports events. He has been<br />
involved in every Olympic Games since Moscow in 1980, most<br />
recently as one of <strong>Seven</strong>’s hosts for the Beijing Olympics in<br />
August 2008. Sandy has also commentated on more than 700<br />
AFL games, countless Australian Open tennis tournaments, major<br />
golf tournaments such as the Masters and PGA and other top<br />
events around the world.
COMMENTATOR AUSTRALIAN OPEN<br />
JIM COURIER<br />
Jim Courier’s name is synonymous with the Australian Open and Melbourne Park. From his unique celebratory<br />
jump in the Yarra River after winning his two titles, to his always entertaining and informative expert analysis,<br />
Courier has become a popular feature of the Channel 7 broadcast.<br />
When asked who will win the men’s title in 2012, the<br />
four-time Grand Slam winner says not to look past the top<br />
three or four players.<br />
“It takes something special to break through against the top<br />
three. Murray’s been knocking but just hasn’t been able to get<br />
through the door yet. My dark horses for 2012 are Del Potro,<br />
Isner and your young Aussie hopeful Bernard Tomic, and that’s<br />
not just a gratuitous answer for the locals.”<br />
Jim looks forward to seeing if Federer can keep his momentum<br />
from the 2011 fall and get another major. “2011 was his first year<br />
without a major title in a long time so I’m sure he’ll be<br />
very motivated.”<br />
On the women’s side of the draw Jim has a question mark<br />
around injury fitness of the top players. “Serena is the clear<br />
favorite if she stays healthy. Kvitova is my second pick along<br />
with Clijsters assuming everyone is healthy. Sorry to have to<br />
categorize it that way, but injuries have been a real struggle<br />
for many of the top ladies.”<br />
Jim has many wonderful memories of the Australian Open, not<br />
least jumping in the Yarra twice – albeit he has vowed never to<br />
do it again. “I’ve been to many Australian Opens now both as a<br />
player and commentator and it’s such a wonderful way to kick<br />
off the year,” he says.<br />
Jim won 23 career titles, including two Australian Opens (1992,<br />
1993) and two French Opens (1991, 1992). He was also the<br />
runner-up at the US Open (1991), the French Open (1993)<br />
and Wimbledon (1993) and spent a total of 58 weeks as the<br />
top-ranked player in the world, having first ascended there<br />
aged 21 in 1992.<br />
Jim began his television career in the US in 2001 as an analyst<br />
during TNT and CNN/Sports Illustrated’s coverage of Wimbledon.<br />
He also served as an analyst for NBC Sports’ coverage of the<br />
2004 Athens Olympics and has been a member of the Channel 7<br />
commentary team at the Australian Open since 2005.
COMMENTATOR AUSTRALIAN OPEN<br />
LLEYTON HEWITT<br />
Former World No.1 and two-time Grand Slam winner Lleyton Hewitt has been awarded<br />
a wildcard into the 2012 Australian Open.<br />
So Aussie tennis fans will be hoping he’s not available for duties<br />
in the commentary box, however should he bow out along the<br />
way, viewers will again be treated to some of the most insightful<br />
and current thinking on the game today.<br />
Lleyton’s commentary debut in 2011 was widely praised<br />
as a great success.<br />
Lleyton says it was an enjoyable and interesting experience in<br />
the <strong>Seven</strong> commentary box, particularly being able to watch the<br />
match from a different perspective and position on court.<br />
Looking towards the 2012 Australian Open Lleyton says:<br />
“Of course my main focus will be on my own on court<br />
performances, however if I am commentating again, I hope<br />
to give the viewers a differing insight into today’s game.<br />
“Being a current player and understanding what they deal with<br />
on court today, I hope to relay to the viewers just what it is like<br />
out there on court.”<br />
But viewers can rest assured winning the Australian Open means<br />
just as much to Lleyton as ever.<br />
“Being a Grand Slam it is what all players aspire to win, and being<br />
in your home country makes it even more special.
COMMENTATOR AUSTRALIAN OPEN<br />
JOHN NEWCOMBE<br />
The former World No.1 has an imposing 45-14 win-loss record at the Australian Open, winning the men’s singles<br />
in 1973 and 1975. He also collected five Australian Open doubles titles in 1965, 1967, 1971, 1973 and 1976,<br />
partnering with Tony Roche in four of them.<br />
John says he loves the friendliness of the Australian Open.<br />
“The players all look relaxed and at ease off the court. I believe<br />
it is the most player-friendly of the Slams. The fans are also very<br />
player-friendly.”<br />
At the 2012 Open, John is looking forward to many questions<br />
being answered:<br />
“Can Federer make a move on the No.1 spot? Can Djokovic<br />
recover from what his body and mind went through in 2011?<br />
How will Nadal respond to what Djokovic did to him in 2011? Will<br />
Murray take one more step? Can Sam Stosur finally get a good<br />
start to the year? Will Kim Clijsters stay healthy?”<br />
When quizzed for a winner in the men’s tournament, John says:<br />
“Djokovic is struggling with his body and mind after a fantastic<br />
but gruelling 2011. Nadal is struggling with his self-belief after<br />
being belted by Djokovic six times. Murray has yet to believe he<br />
can cross the final line. My money is on Federer who finished the<br />
year fresh and strong. He will make a serious move to get back<br />
to No.1 by end July.”<br />
But he believes the women’s field is wide open as it was in 2011.<br />
“Serena, Stosur and Clijsters will be the ones to watch. As I<br />
would love to see Sam start off the year great I will pick her.”<br />
Last year John loved seeing Li Na reach the final<br />
“She attended my Texas Tennis Ranch for six months as a 16 year<br />
old and her rise is great for tennis in China which means so much<br />
for world tennis.”
HOST APIA INTERNATIONAL / COMMENTATOR AUS OPEN, APIA INTER, BRISBANE INTER<br />
TODD WOODBRIDGE<br />
Todd has earned a reputation as a forthright and entertaining commentator. After hosting <strong>Seven</strong>’s first foray into<br />
covering Wimbledon this year, 2012 is his seventh year as part of the commentary team for the summer of tennis.<br />
He says the men’s Australian Open title is a harder one to<br />
pick this year.<br />
“Federer is desperate to get back to winning Grand Slams. 2011<br />
for him was disappointing as he had chances that he couldn’t<br />
take. He was fresher by the end of the year than Nadal and<br />
Djokovic and that allowed him some success. Going into this year<br />
he will have one last run, one more surge.”<br />
Like many Todd says Djokovic was phenomenal last year but<br />
towards the end was jaded.<br />
“I don’t expect him to go back-to-back this year as he’d had<br />
excellent preparation going into 2011.”<br />
Todd says he’s looking forward to seeing whether Andy Murray<br />
can climb into the top three and win a Grand Slam, believing it will<br />
be a big story if he can break through.<br />
“From an Australian perspective it was fantastic to see Tomic<br />
break through last year at Wimbledon so I’m looking forward<br />
to seeing his development, along with that of Ashleigh Barty.”<br />
And with a cheeky grin in reference to his famous on-court<br />
interview last year, Todd signs off with: “And of course I’m looking<br />
forward to seeing Kim again!”<br />
Todd started playing doubles with Mark Woodforde in 1990.<br />
Together, “The Woodies” won all the Grand Slams as well as<br />
the Olympic Games gold medal in Atlanta in 1996 and the silver<br />
medal at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. When they won the<br />
French Open in 2000, the Woodies broke the record of 57 career<br />
doubles titles held by Peter Fleming and John McEnroe and Bob<br />
Hewitt and Frew McMillan. All up, the pair won 61 career doubles<br />
titles, making them the most successful doubles team in men’s<br />
tennis history.
COMMENTATOR AUSTRALIAN OPEN<br />
HENRI LECONTE<br />
After a stunning debut in the Australian Open commentary box in 2010 as a special guest,<br />
Henri returned last year and continued to entertain audiences with his flair and energy.<br />
Henri turned orthodox commentary on its head as he helped<br />
audiences live the big moments in the match between France’s<br />
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Spain’s Nicolas Almagro.<br />
The eccentric Frenchman is effusive about his love for Australia.<br />
“I love the Australian Open. I love Australia, it feels like home<br />
mate. It’s maybe better than Paris. It’s a great event and well<br />
organised. I love the Aussies and the Spice Market is the best<br />
place to be in Melbourne. C’mon mate.”<br />
Henri has many great memories at The Australian Open: “Maybe<br />
the best one is when I played Guy Forget after we won the Davis<br />
Cup in 1991. We had to play first round at the Open and that was<br />
one of the best matches in the Open. I did lose but at the end<br />
we’d had a good time.”<br />
At this early stage Henri believes it’s very difficult to say who<br />
will win the 2012 men’s title. “I think that Roger is coming back<br />
strong after the Masters in London. My feeling also is I hope<br />
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga can play as well as at the end of 2011.<br />
So why not a French boy winning the Open?” he asks.<br />
As always Henri is looking at having a great time at the Open with<br />
some great matches. “We will have some good surprise winners<br />
from anywhere. 2012 will be a great year of tennis and I hope<br />
better than 2011. I just wish all the Aussies to have a great time<br />
at the 2012 Open. Be there.”<br />
Henri first came to the tennis world’s attention as an outstanding<br />
junior who won the French Open junior title in 1981. The peak of<br />
his professional career came in the mid to late 1980s when he<br />
reached two Grand Slam singles semi-finals at the French Open<br />
and Wimbledon (both in 1986), as well as the single’s final at<br />
the French in 1988. His career-high singles ranking was No. 5.<br />
Leconte retired from the professional tour in 1996, having won<br />
a total of nine career singles titles and ten doubles titles.<br />
In 2005 he participated in La Ferme Célébrités season 2, a game<br />
of reality TV. In 2007, his son Maxime also participated in a game<br />
of reality TV, Secret Story, the French version of Big Brother.
COMMENTATOR AUSTRALIAN OPEN, APIA INTERNATIONAL, BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL<br />
SAM SMITH<br />
Great Britain’s Sam Smith has turned an impressive career as a player into an outstanding one as a broadcaster.<br />
A former No. 1 British women’s singles player, Sam has been<br />
a member of the Eurosport, Sky Sports, BBC Radio and BBC TV<br />
tennis commentary teams.<br />
In 2012, she joins the Channel 7 summer of tennis team for the<br />
fourth time at the Brisbane, Medibank International and Australian<br />
Open tournaments.<br />
The Australian Open has a special place in Sam’s heart as she<br />
first came over to play the juniors and senior qualifying at 16<br />
in 1988, the first year of Melbourne Park.<br />
“I even got to watch the Graf v Evert Final live. It was the best<br />
tennis experience I’d had to that point and decided there and then<br />
I wanted to become a professional tennis player.”<br />
This year Sam is looking forward to the reception Sam Stosur<br />
receives when she steps out on to Rod Laver for her first match.<br />
“Also I want to see how Petra Kvitova copes with Serena<br />
and Clijsters playing at the top of their games. The women’s<br />
tournament is fascinating. In the mix to win it will be Serena,<br />
Clisters, Kvitova, Stosur and Azarenka with Kvitova to win.”<br />
In her playing days just some of her achievements included<br />
reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon in 1998 where she<br />
picked up an ankle injury that meant two operations and four<br />
months in plaster. She won the ITF tournaments at Nottingham<br />
in 1995 (singles and doubles) and Frinton-on-Sea in 2000. She<br />
represented Great Britain in the Federation Cup and European Cup<br />
in 1991 and 1996–1999. She was unbeaten in the five singles<br />
matches in the 1997 Federation Cup.
COMMENTATOR AUSTRALIAN OPEN<br />
NICOLE BRADTKE<br />
As a veteran on the Australian women’s tennis scene, Nicole Bradtke is effusive about the tennis stories that<br />
come out of the Australian Open and confident in predicting the winners.<br />
“Djokovic will win the men’s title, he’s got a taste for Grand Slams<br />
now and his last few months have been low key. Federer, Nadal<br />
and Murray are obviously all in the mix and DelPotro is a bit of<br />
a dark horse”<br />
“Sam Stosur will win it because she won the last Grand Slam so<br />
her obviously her form is good. Wozniacki, Azarenka, Sharapova<br />
and Serena will also be around the mark.”<br />
“Last year’s highlight for me was Kim winning, it was her first<br />
Australian Open title and it’s just nice to see that nice girls can<br />
finish first.”<br />
“I’m looking forward to seeing how Sam goes, and while not<br />
on the bigger scale of things I’m interested to see how junior<br />
Wimbledon winner Ashleigh Barty progresses at this year’s Open.”<br />
Nicole hit her first ball at the age of five and started playing<br />
professionally at 15. She won three singles and nine doubles titles<br />
with career highlights including a semi-final appearance at the<br />
1988 French Open and a bronze medal with Rachel McQuillan<br />
at the 1992 Olympics. She also won two mixed-doubles Grand<br />
Slams with Mark Woodforde – the 1992 US Open and 1993<br />
Australian Open.<br />
Bradtke reached the top 30 in early 1989, before making further<br />
fourth rounds at the 1989 Australian Open and the 1990 French<br />
Open and winning her first title at home in Brisbane in 1992.<br />
She won her second tour title in Kuala Lumpur in 1993 and<br />
reached the fourth round of the Australian Open. She also earned<br />
her biggest career victory during that year, beating World No. 1<br />
Steffi Graf in a Fed Cup tie. Bradtke later helped Australia to reach<br />
the final, where they lost to the Spanish team.<br />
Nicole represented Australia in the Federation Cup for eight years<br />
from ‘88 to ‘95, when she took over as coach. Since retiring,<br />
Nicole has coached some of Australia’s most promising female<br />
players, including Alicia Molik and Sam Stosur.
COMMENTATOR AUSTRALIAN OPEN, AAMI KOOYONG CLASSIC, BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL<br />
JOHN FITZGERALD<br />
This will be John Fitzgerald’s 17th year providing expert commentary for Channel 7’s summer of tennis.<br />
“This far out I’m an unashamed Federer fan and there’s a strong<br />
argument to say he starts favourite. Now that depends of course<br />
on the Djokovic injury and the form of Nadal.<br />
“I’m a little less sure about who will win the women’s. Sam Stosur<br />
is definitely in the mix, the surface should suit her as it’s similar<br />
to the US Open. Let’s hope she can get a good start. But Serena<br />
always starts favourite for me, the law of averages says she’ll<br />
be thereabouts.”<br />
“My favourite memory from last year is the men’s final, it was<br />
the start of a memorable run for Djokovic”<br />
“I love the evolution of the tournament, it just gets better and<br />
better every year. This will be the last year before the future<br />
development starts happening and every year the crowds bet<br />
bigger and better.”<br />
As a player, his greatest career highlights came during the 11<br />
years he represented Australia in the Davis Cup. During this time<br />
he well and truly made his mark on Australian tennis. He played<br />
three finals and played a major role in defeating Sweden in both<br />
the 1983 and 1986 finals at Kooyong.<br />
John also held the No.1 ranking in Australia, represented his<br />
country in two Olympics (Seoul and Barcelona), won six ATP Tour<br />
singles titles, 30 ATP Tour doubles titles (including seven Grand<br />
Slam titles) and received the Order of Australia Medal in 1993 for<br />
services to tennis.<br />
In 2001, John became only the fourth Australian Davis Cup<br />
captain in the past 60 years and took the team to two finals.
COMMENTATOR AUSTRALIAN OPEN, AAMI KOOYONG CLASSIC<br />
ROGER RASHEED<br />
Roger’s impressively varied career means he has seen the best of world tennis from all angles,<br />
especially when it comes to the Australian Open.<br />
In the race for the 2012 men’s title, Roger says it comes down<br />
to the top four but we should throw del Potro into calculations too<br />
as he’s had a great 12 months.<br />
Last year Roger enjoyed seeing the emergence of Li Na in the<br />
women’s final and also seeing Kim take out her first Australian<br />
Open title.<br />
“It was fantastic to see Li Na in the final right here on the<br />
doorstep to her home country which is such an important<br />
region for tennis. And I’ve known Kim a long time so it was very<br />
rewarding to see her win.”<br />
As a player, Roger was 16 when he became the youngest player<br />
to qualify for the men’s singles in his home Grand Slam. It took 10<br />
years for a player to take this mantle – a teenager by the name<br />
Lleyton Hewitt, who Roger went on to coach.<br />
Under Roger, Lleyton rose from world No.19 to No.2, and played<br />
in two Grand Slam finals, including the epic performances that led<br />
to the final of the 2005 Australian Open in which he lost to Marat<br />
Safin. Roger also coached the Australian Davis Cup team in 2006.<br />
In addition to his coaching roles, Roger became a voice of<br />
authority on radio and TV, first hosting a sports program on<br />
Adelaide radio station FIVEaa and covering Wimbledon for BBC<br />
Radio. Now he is an integral part of <strong>Seven</strong>’s commentary team.
COMMENTATOR AUSTRALIAN OPEN, MEDIBANK INTERNATIONAL, AAMI KOOYONG CLASSIC<br />
ALLAN STONE<br />
Former Australian Open doubles champion Allan Stone has been commentating tennis on<br />
Channel 7 for more than 30 years and has been involved at more than 50 Opens as a player<br />
or commentator.<br />
Allan believes the world’s top four Djokovic, Nadal, Federer<br />
and Murray all have claims on the men’s title in 2012.<br />
“If Djokovic is fully fit he’s my choice.”<br />
And of course like everyone Allan will be watching with keen<br />
interest to see if Bernard Tomic can continue his impressive<br />
rise up the rankings. “He has the ability to be a top 10 player,”<br />
he says.<br />
Last year Allan’s tournament highlight was commentating on the<br />
record-breaking 4-hour, 44-minute women’s match between<br />
Italian Francesca Schiavone and Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova,<br />
and he believes this year is the most open women’s singles draw<br />
in many years.<br />
“Any of the top eight could win, but I’m tipping Stosur as she<br />
has demonstrated she can win at Grand Slam level now.”<br />
As a player Allan toured the world for 16 years and notched up<br />
11 doubles titles along the way – including the 1968 and 1977<br />
Australian Open. He also represented Australia in four Davis Cup<br />
campaigns and reached both the doubles and mixed doubles at<br />
Wimbledon in 1975.<br />
After his retirement, Allan became a permanent member of the<br />
Channel 7 broadcast team and has commentated at most major<br />
tennis events.<br />
As well as his involvement in <strong>Seven</strong>’s tennis coverage, Allan<br />
has been Head Tennis Coach at the Victorian Institute of Sport<br />
(1996–2000), coach at the National Training Centre in Melbourne<br />
Park, Vice President of the Australian Davis Cup Foundation and<br />
a selector for the Australian Davis Cup and Olympic teams.
COMMENTATOR AUSTRALIAN OPEN, MEDIBANK INTERNATIONAL, BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL<br />
RENNAE STUBBS<br />
Rennae Stubbs has won four Grand Slam doubles titles, two Grand Slam mixed doubles titles<br />
and represented Australia at three successive Olympic Games, but holds the Australian Open<br />
dear after her triumphant year in 2000.<br />
“As pros we play tournaments throughout the year, all around<br />
the world and don’t ever spend any time at home playing. So<br />
when we get the privilege of having a Grand Slam title in our<br />
backyard, we treasure it even more, we are so fortunate to<br />
have that opportunity.<br />
“I love the atmosphere round the grounds and the centre court<br />
is awesome, especially at night. The love of sport in Australia is<br />
so evident every day at the Australian Open and the crowds make<br />
it special.”<br />
Rennae’s favourite memory from last year’s Open – in addition<br />
to covering the “truly special” women’s final – was getting the<br />
chance to thank those that made a difference in her career.<br />
“I also played my last two matches on centre court, so I was<br />
very fortunate to have that experience again.”<br />
This year Rennae is looking forward to the nail-biting action and<br />
the tears of the competitors. “I love the human element of sports<br />
and tennis shows that human element so well.”<br />
In particular Rennae hopes Sam Stosur can show Australia<br />
in person what winning a slam is like, while she’s also looking<br />
forward to another comeback from Serena and Kim, the<br />
emergence of Petra Kvitova and the performance of Wozniaki<br />
– not to mention the “big boys” battling it out to see who really<br />
is number 1.<br />
“Bottom line, I am just looking forward to sitting down and<br />
watching two weeks of awesome tennis. There’s nothing better<br />
than January in Melbourne.”<br />
She has recorded more double triumphs than any other Australian<br />
woman—60 WTA Tour titles —enjoying success with 11 different<br />
partners. She also won two mixed doubles Grand Slam titles<br />
with male partners. In 2001, Stubbs won the season-ending WTA<br />
Championships with regular partner Lisa Raymond and the pair<br />
was named ITF World Champions.
COMMENTATOR AUSTRALIAN OPEN, APIA INTERNATIONAL<br />
KERRYN PRATT<br />
As her former hometown it’s special for Kerryn to have the first Grand Slam of the year in Melbourne.<br />
She knows firsthand how well the city showcases a big event.<br />
She also enjoys the sense of anticipation about how each player<br />
will start the new year.<br />
This year Kerryn can’t wait to see Sam Stosur perform at her<br />
best at the Open.<br />
“The pressure is great no doubt, but in winning the US Open Sam<br />
displayed incredible maturity and composure that I’m hoping she<br />
can bring to the court at her home Slam. Then the results she<br />
wants will follow.”<br />
But Kerry says there are many women in the mix who could step<br />
up and win.<br />
“2011 saw four different Slam champions, with no one player<br />
dominating. Sam Stosur, Petra Kvitova, Kim Clijsters and Serena<br />
Williams are on my shortlist for the title, with last years finalist<br />
Li Na, Maria Sharapova, Caroline Wozniacki and Victoria Azarenka<br />
up there as well.”<br />
As to who will win, Kerryn says Sam Stosur has some hurdles<br />
to overcome given her losing record against Kvitova, Clijsters,<br />
Azarenka and even Sharapova – but she says Sam is capable<br />
of overcoming all of them.<br />
“Serena can never be underestimated, but like Kim has been<br />
hampered by time on the sidelines. It’s going to be fascinating<br />
to see who’ll triumph with so many true contenders, but if Kvitova<br />
is injury free, I have to pick her to carry on from her brilliant<br />
2011 and win at Melbourne Park.”<br />
Kerryn is an accomplished former Australian tennis player.<br />
A leading junior player, she went on to make the last 16 in the<br />
Australian Open singles, was a semi-finalist in the Australian Open<br />
doubles and was a finalist in the Queensland Open singles and<br />
won the Australian Hardcourt doubles.<br />
She has since spent 17 years as a TV sports journalist, producer<br />
and tennis commentator for Grand Slams and other major events.<br />
She’s also been a courtside TV host and interviewer<br />
at the Masters Cup tennis and commentated tennis, badminton<br />
and softball for <strong>Seven</strong> at the Athens and Beijing Olympics.
COMMENTATOR AUSTRALIAN OPEN, APIA INTERNATIONAL, BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL<br />
GEOFF MASTERS<br />
Geoff Masters joined the pro tennis circuit in 1969 and retired in 1980, including winning the<br />
Australian Open doubles title in 1974 with Ross Case. In all he won 26 doubles titles throughout<br />
his career including a US Open mixed and a prized Wimbledon triumph.<br />
He enjoyed singles success with three titles including the<br />
Australian Hardcourt Championships, Tasmanian Championships<br />
and Australian Indoor Championships. He also represented<br />
Australian in Davis Cup with a favourable 8-4 win-loss record.<br />
In recent times he has worked as head coach at the Queensland<br />
Academy of Sport working with current player Bernard Tomic. He<br />
has worked at the Australian Open as a TV commentator as well<br />
as radio commentary work.<br />
Geoff says the Australian Open has become recognised<br />
as the “friendliest” Grand Slam by most of the players, and<br />
for good reason.<br />
“The organisers have always made it their goal to embrace<br />
the true spirit of Australians, even embracing the colour blue<br />
of the courts with our “true blue” mateship attitude.<br />
“With constant upgrading, including a 3rd court with a cover<br />
on the way, the Australian Open has gone from strength to<br />
strength over the last decade, while never losing sight of our<br />
great tennis heritage.<br />
Geoff believes the 2012 Australian Open will bring opportunities<br />
for us all to savour the outstanding qualities again of the<br />
established super-stars, the emerging stars, and the possibility<br />
that in Sam Stosur Australians have a genuine contender to follow<br />
in the women’s field.<br />
“On top of that, the excitement shown at Wimbledon in 2011 by<br />
the performances of Bernard Tomic in reaching the quarter finals<br />
of the singles, as well as the junior performances of Ash Barty and<br />
Luke Saville will bring local interest to perhaps an all-time high.<br />
Go the Aussies!”
REPORTER AUSTRALIAN OPEN<br />
NEIL KEARNEY<br />
A champion spinner of yarns for <strong>Seven</strong> during the Melbourne Cup, AFL and Olympics<br />
and almost every other sporting event Australians hold dear, it’s only fitting Neil Kearney<br />
reports at the Grand Slam of Asia/Pacific.<br />
Neil believes the Australian Open is an integral part of<br />
our summer. “It is family friendly and it brings together<br />
the finest players from around the globe in generally<br />
good-natured competition.”<br />
Like many Neil says Roger Federer will “grace us with one more<br />
Australian Open victory before he rides off into the sunset”.<br />
Asked to comment on who will win the women’s trophy Neil says<br />
“the effervescent Li Na had a memorable 2011; runner up in the<br />
Australian Open and won the French, becoming the first Asian<br />
player to win a Grand Slam singles. It won’t surprise if she goes<br />
one better than last year’s Australian Open.”<br />
Neil’s favourite memory of the 2011 Open “was when the<br />
wonderfully candid Kim Clijsters embarrassed Todd Woodbridge<br />
in a post-match interview by revealing a text he had sent to<br />
Rennae Stubbs suggesting that Kim’s glum body language<br />
indicated she may be pregnant. Runner-up was Novak Djokovic’s<br />
showmanship during the Rally for Relief. It’s great to see sports<br />
stars having fun.”<br />
This year Neil looks forward to the continued rise of Bernard<br />
Tomic and his unique game. “It’s heartening that the young man<br />
believes in himself enough to stick with his instinctive style.”<br />
Neil’s TV career began in 1984 when he joined the Willesee<br />
program as a specialist reporter. He later featured prominently<br />
on A Current Affair and went on to produce and present a<br />
high-rating series called Kearney’s Characters. He also produced<br />
award-winning documentaries on events and personalities<br />
as diverse as The Kentucky Derby horse race and the late<br />
Ayrton Senna.<br />
Tennis fans can once again look forward to his unique reporting<br />
style during <strong>Seven</strong>’s coverage of the Australian Open.
REPORTER AUSTRALIAN OPEN / HOST AAMI CLASSIC<br />
MICHAEL FELGATE<br />
Michael Felgate will be out and about among all the fans and entertainment at Melbourne Park<br />
for the Australian Open, as well as at Kooyong for the AAMI Classic, where the best players in<br />
the world tune up for the first Grand Slam of the year.<br />
Michael says he’s hopeful the Aussies will have their most<br />
successful Australian Open since Lleyton Hewitt made the final.<br />
“Sam Stosur is a genuine winning hope in the women’s draw<br />
while 15-year-old Ashleigh Barty and 18-year-old Bernard Tomic<br />
will show fans the future of Australian tennis is looking good.”<br />
Along with several pundits, Michael believes the women’s<br />
tournament is very open this year. “Serena Williams will be<br />
back after missing last year and is the one to beat. Defending<br />
champion Kim Clijsters will find it tough coming back from<br />
a long term injury. Wimbledon champion Petra Kivitova reached<br />
the Quarter Finals last year and will be a big danger again.”<br />
On the race for the men’s title, Michael says you can’t go past<br />
the big three. “Defending champion Novak Djokovic, after his<br />
unbelievable 2011, is the man to beat, but Roger Federer ended<br />
2011 in brilliant form and could easily take home Australian Open<br />
number five. 2009 champion Rafael Nadal is the only<br />
other winning hope.”<br />
Michael first started at <strong>Seven</strong> as a sport reporter and presenter in<br />
2004 after working at Sky Channel and overseas. He has covered<br />
all sports in the news room from AFL, tennis including reporting<br />
from Wimbledon in 2011, racing, and the Olympics.<br />
He has dominated the horse racing media awards since joining<br />
<strong>Seven</strong>. In 2005 and 2006 he received the Melbourne Racing Club<br />
award for Best News Reporting over the Caulfield Cup Carnival<br />
and in the same years also received the Best Cox Plate story<br />
award from the Moonee Valley Racing Club.<br />
In 2006, Michael also won the overall <strong>Media</strong> Award for<br />
outstanding coverage of the Cox Plate Carnival. In 2007, Michael<br />
achieved a “clean sweep” in the media awards, winning the Best<br />
News Reporting award for the Caulfield Cup Carnival and Cox<br />
Plate, as well as the Best News Story award on the Victoria Derby.
COMMENTATOR AUSTRALIAN OPEN, AAMI KOOYONG CLASSIC<br />
PETER DONEGAN<br />
Peter Donegan is one of Australia’s most respected sports presenters and commentators. He has covered<br />
the full spectrum of world sport, including five Olympic Games, two Commonwealth Games, AFL Grand Finals,<br />
the prestigious Stawell Gift and major golf and tennis tournaments both at home and abroad.<br />
With all that rich sports broadcasting experience, he<br />
acknowledges the special place Kooyong holds in Australian<br />
sport and tennis.<br />
“There are a couple of things that make the AAMI Classic a great<br />
lead in to the Open. First, Kooyong just oozes history, and you can<br />
almost sense the Australian Opens and Davis Cups of years gone<br />
by when you walk into the place.<br />
“And secondly, the players are in a reasonably relaxed frame<br />
of mind. They may be tuning up for Melbourne Park, but coming<br />
off a Christmas break, the body and mind being refreshed<br />
usually makes for an enjoyable week for both the competitors<br />
and the fans.”<br />
Peter says the field, as always, is exceptionally strong. “Andy<br />
Roddick has won this event three times, and his unpredictability<br />
makes for great entertainment. Bernard Tomic continues to<br />
impress, and by reaching the quarters at Wimbledon in 2011,<br />
he showed he could be on the verge of a breakthrough year.”<br />
Looking towards the Australian Open men’s title Peter believes<br />
the big three, Federer, Nadal and Djokovic are the obvious<br />
chances, but the wildcard is Gael Monfils. “If he ever gets the<br />
planets to align with his physical and mental game, watch out!”<br />
However Peter says Djokovic should be fresh after the year<br />
end break. “He came to Melbourne last year fitter than he’s ever<br />
been, played accordingly, and continued in that vein for most of<br />
the year. Nadal and Federer have been written off by the critics<br />
for various reasons, and generally prove them wrong. Maybe<br />
third time lucky for Murray, but the demons of past defeats in<br />
Melbourne are growing.”
ENNIS<br />
OF<br />
SUMMER<br />
TENNIS<br />
2012<br />
FURTHER INFORMATION<br />
CHANNEL SEVEN PUBLICITY MELBOURNE<br />
GREG SMITH T 0438 777 164 E GRSMITH@SEVEN.COM.AU