Washington is one of the best tennis towns in the country. The area usually ranks in the top 10, and often in the top five, in TV ratings for the majors. The Australian Open, the first 2012 major, will begin Monday in Melbourne and coverage will start Sunday. The tournament is part of the ESPN2 alliance with the Tennis Channel. ESPN2 is producing all Australian Open coverage for both networks, which will cross-promote each other, with each channel utilizing its own commentators.
Opening day coverage begins with a 121Ú2-hour telecast starting Sunday at 6:30 p.m. Late-night marathons will continue to the women’s and men’s finals live at 3 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28, and Sunday, Jan. 29, respectively.
There will be replays of the late-night action airing during the mornings and afternoons on the Tennis Channel and ESPN3.
Tennis analyst Darren Cahill talked about the first major of this tennis season.
What makes the Australian Open different from the other majors?
Cahill » “It is the first and that means the players haven’t played a great deal of competitive tennis yet, so whoever had a good offseason has a good chance to win here in Melbourne. Fans here appreciate good tennis and are not afraid to show it by yelling out ‘great shot mate,’ to any man or woman who makes a good shot. Also, it is summer here and the heat is a factor and something that the players have to deal with on a daily basis. There is a fun, family, carnival atmosphere here you simply won’t find at any of the other majors.”
Who will make their breakthrough at this year’s Australian Open?
Cahill » “The person I think can come to Melbourne and launch a great 2012 season is Juan Martin del Potro. He is ranked in the top 10 in the world and has exactly the type of game that does well on this hard-court surface in the heat here in Melbourne. Del Potro has the game to make the next step to be an elite player and someone who could win multiple majors. I expect him to have a good start and not only to be a contender here in Melbourne but for all the majors in 2012.”
Examiner columnist Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this!
