This article offers a glimpse into the workings of the Channel Nine commentary team during the Australian Open, focusing on the dynamic between Todd Woodbridge, Lleyton Hewitt, and John McEnroe. It highlights their behind-the-scenes preparations, strategic insights, and on-air banter.
It’s 7.11pm on Wednesday night at the Australian Open, and Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis is about to begin his second-round match against Britain’s Jack Draper.
Nine, the owner of this masthead, granted behind-the-scenes access to the commentary box for the Kokkinakis-Draper match, to observe how the team of Todd Woodbridge, Lleyton Hewitt and McEnroe bring the matches to life for hundreds of thousands of TV viewers. This night,“Hey, can we please keep a camera on his shoulder? I want us to be able to run vision if it looks like he’s impacted by it,” says Woodbridge, releasing a button that allows him to talk directly to the control room.
Woodbridge sits on the right of the desk, with two monitors to his side; one showing the vision going live to viewers and another displaying graphics that he can throw to.In front of him is a computer where he writes his own notes and statistics for each match. Details about the players – where they went to school, their parents’ names, their injury history, anything that can help build a profile.
Kokkinakis has just won a tie-break. The monitor in front of McEnroe shows that in the 13 games so far against the 15th seed, the Australian has missed just three first serves. “Especially when it’s guys that you know so well; you’re always thinking about what you’d be telling them if you could talk to them at the change of ends.”
“Obviously American TV is my main job, but to be able to it here in Australia, where people just love sport. They love tennis. It just feels great,” explains McEnroe, 65, who is one of the sport’s straightest shooters.
AUSTRALIAN OPEN COMMENTARY JOHN MCENROE TODD WOODBRIDGE LLEYTON HEWITT
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
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