Tennis on Nine 2019: guide

Nine’s new era of tennis broadcasting will begin on Saturday December 29 with the Hopman Cup in Perth and continue to the Australian Open in Melbourne.

Cheekily, it is adopting the term, “It’s time for new balls, please.”

Nine has rights to 2024, including access brought forward by 1 year following an agreement with Seven.

The six year, $348.5 million deal covers all audiovisual rights for broadcast, streaming, mobile, digital and social platforms. In addition to  the Brisbane and Sydney Internationals, Nine features Live coverage of the FAST4 Showdown, the Tie Break Tens tournament and the Australian Open draw.

And no, there will be no “After the Tennis” seen in network promos.

When the Australian Open commences on Monday, January 14, at its new TV home on Nine, the top 100 men and top 100 women players will be there.

The 2019 Australian Open will see the return of Serena Williams, who last competed here in 2017 when she won the title while eight weeks pregnant with baby Olympia. Should Williams win another Australian Open, she will equal Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles.

Having withdrawn from the US Open with a knee injury, world No. 2 Rafael Nadal will make a welcome return.

And after notching his 20th Grand Slam title at the 2018 Australian Open – joining Emerson and Djokovic as six-time winners – Roger Federer will also be chasing a record seventh victory in Melbourne.

Victoria Azarenka, a two-time champion in Melbourne, will be back for the first time since 2016.

The winners of the four Grand Slam women’s titles this year will be in Melbourne for the first Grand Slam tournament of 2019.

They are: World No. 3, Caroline Wozniacki, who broke through for her first Grand Slam win at Melbourne in 2018 and is going for back-to-back titles; Simona Halep, who was defeated by Wozniaki in the final of the Australian Open before going on to win the French Open; former Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber, who won at Wimbledon; and Naomi Osaka, winner of the US Open.

They will be joined by Ash Barty, Australia’s No. 1 women’s player (currently No. 15 in the world), who has had a stellar year, consistently ranking in the Top 20, winning the doubles title at the US Open and recently awarded joint winner of the 2018 Newcombe Medal. And Daria Gavrilova, ranked No. 2 in Australia, who has also enjoyed a consistent year, hovering around the Top 30 and notching up a couple of big wins, including a defeat of former Wimbledon champ, Petra Kvitova.

In the men’s draw, Novak Djokovic, the first player to equal Roy Emerson’s record of six Australian Open singles titles, will be the red-hot favourite after winning both Wimbledon and the US Open in 2018.

After a challenging year, Andy Murray is on the comeback trail and will be welcomed by an army of passionate fans.

Three-time quarter-finalist Kei Nishikori will return to Melbourne for the first time since 2017, after reaching the semi-final of this year’s US Open.

Former Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka is continuing to work his way back into form after injury and building momentum for Melbourne.

For the first time in more than 15 years, Australia has four men in the world’s Top 50 and six in the Top 100, and they will all be in Melbourne.

Alex de Minaur, now ranked No.1 in Australia, is the second youngest player in the Top 100, after rocketing up more than 200 spots in the past year. He was recently awarded joint winner of the 2018 Newcombe Medal.

John Millman became known as the giant slayer after his inspirational win over Roger Federer at the US Open.

Nick Kyrgios, the man John McEnroe described as the most talented tennis player he has seen in ten years, will be front and centre of Nine’s broadcast. Forever unpredictable and always entertaining, Kyrgios is out to make another charge at his home slam.

Matt Ebden has made a remarkable comeback from injury, with his third-round Wimbledon appearance this year his best Grand Slam showing so far.

Jordan Thompson and Bernard Tomic are the other two Aussies in the Top 100 who will be playing in Melbourne.

Technology

For the past 40 years, Nine’s Wide World of Sports has been synonymous with the very best in sports broadcasting in Australia.

Our expert team of on-air commentators, together with highly skilled behind-the-scenes personnel, have set the standard others aspire to.

And for our inaugural year as host broadcaster of Australia’s number one summer sport, we’ll be unveiling a host of pioneering innovations designed to make the game even more enjoyable for home viewers.

In an Australian first, we will be using 360-degree, Matrix-style cameras: immersive video technology that positions cameras right around the court to simultaneously capture every angle.
The resulting vision will give viewers a panorama-like experience of the world’s greatest tennis players in action.

In another Australian television first, Nine is using cutting-edge Viz Libero technology that will redefine sports broadcasting. Viz Libero combines realistic 3D replays with advanced virtual graphics, giving viewers insight into controversial or tactically interesting moments of play and bringing a unique perspective to the game. This innovative technology will track player actions, analyse their errors, and predict their future movements.

Nine’s broadcast will, for the first time at the Australian Open, employ the use of a Wire-cam to provide never-before-seen shots of Melbourne Park and its surrounds. Running almost 270 metres from the roof of Tennis Australia HQ, over Garden Square, towering across Show Court 3 and onto the outside courts beyond, Wire-cam will provide unparalleled footage of the world’s greatest tennis facilities and their scenic backdrop.

With the ability to shoot from every angle, viewers will be treated to remarkable vision which will showcase the 40 courts at Melbourne Park, while providing a bird’s-eye view of the stunning backdrop encircling the tennis precinct.

Central to Nine’s new approach to tennis broadcasting will be a half-court that doubles as the network’s hosting set. Located near Margaret Court Arena, this outdoor studio will welcome tennis fans to Melbourne Park as they enter the precinct. As well as providing the backdrop to our hosting of the Australian Open, the set will be home to the Today show team, who will broadcast Live from Melbourne Park each day from January 14.

The half-court that adjoins the hosting desk will be equipped with Hawk-Eye technology so that our commentators can take viewers through step-by-step analysis for each day’s play. When not being used as a live television studio, the half-court will be open to the public, bringing the game closer to fans than ever before.

Tennis enthusiasts can have their service speed measured on the half-court. Fans will be able to play half-court tennis against their friends. Players will also conduct pre and post-game interviews on the half-court, with the public able to watch on.

Plus, there will be autograph signing sessions with Channel Nine celebrities. And a giant screen positioned in the half-court will showcase Nine’s broadcast, providing general admission punters with a front-row seat to the premier matches.

When the Australian Open begins on January 14, Nine will be the new home of tennis, with the tournament’s best matches and biggest moments broadcast across Nine, 9Gem and 9Now – ensuring Australians get the best tennis experience available, anytime, anywhere, on a device of their choosing.

Hosts

A fresh lineup featuring Rebecca Maddern, James Bracey and Tony Jones will host Nine’s new-look tennis coverage.

Award-winning journalist Rebecca Maddern has previously covered the Australian Open as well as many of the world’s biggest sporting events, including the Commonwealth Games, Melbourne Cup and AFL. Since joining Nine in 2016 she has become one of the network’s most versatile performers.

After earning his stripes at Foxtel, charismatic sports fanatic James Bracey has become an integral contributor to Nine’s team, with duties spanning the network’s State of Origin and NRL coverage, hosting Sports Sunday and 100% Footy, and reporting for Today.

After more than 30 years at Nine, there are few sporting events Tony Jones has not been involved with. From the Olympic and Commonwealth Games to AFL and The Ashes, “TJ” has proved himself to be the master of sports presenting and reporting.

Commentators

An all-star lineup of commentators has been assembled for the inaugural year of Nine’s landmark broadcasting deal with Tennis Australia.

Spearheading Nine’s supercharged commentary will be Grand Slam legend and superstar John McEnroe, one of the most in-demand broadcasters in the world. Viewers can expect the International Tennis Hall of Famer to be at his outspoken best. One of the all-time greats, McEnroe won seven Grand Slam tournaments (four US Opens, three Wimbledons) among his 77 singles titles, as well as 72 doubles titles. He was ranked No. 1 in the world in both categories.

Joining him with expert analysis and insight will be the highly experienced broadcaster, Jim Courier. Ranked No. 1 in the world in 1992-93, Courier is one of the sport’s most popular characters. In his 12-year playing career, he won two French Opens and two Australian Opens.

Former No.1 British women’s player, Sam Smith, has become one of the game’s outstanding commentators, calling for broadcasters across the globe. Smith made her Australian tennis debut playing juniors at the Australian Open at the age of 15 in 1988, Melbourne Park’s inaugural year.

A roll-call of homegrown heroes will also usher in an exciting and dynamic new era in sports broadcasting.

Versatile commentator Todd Woodbridge will join Nine’s new lineup. One of the most dominant doubles players in history, Woodbridge racked up 16 major men’s doubles titles, including nine Wimbledons, three US Opens, three Australian Opens and a French Open.

Dual Grand Slam winner and 2005 Australian Open finalist, Lleyton Hewitt, has established himself as one of the game’s most insightful commentators and he will be a key contributor in his new home at Nine. At the age of 20, he became the youngest male to hold the world’s No. 1 ranking – a feat he held for 80 weeks.

Alicia Molik, the current Australian Fed Cup captain, will provide unrivalled access and insight into the best female players. Molik broke into the world Top 10 in 2005, and won the doubles title at the 2005 Australian Open and the 2007 French Open.

At the age of 16, Jelena Dokic caused one of the biggest upsets in tennis history by beating world No. 1 Martina Hingis at Wimbledon. By the time she was 19, Dokic was ranked No. 4 in the world. She also penned the best-selling autobiography Unbreakable, a book which details her career and well- documented personal life.

Sam Groth won the 2015 Newcombe Medal, awarded to Australia’s most outstanding tennis player for the year, and holds the world record for the fastest serve recorded in a tournament – a bullet-like 263.4 km/h.

Rounding out the team of Australian commentators is Dylan Alcott, who is undoubtedly one of the most inspirational stories in sport. From 2015-18, he won four consecutive Australian Open quad wheelchair singles titles, and will be aiming for five in a row in 2019.

9GEM

Nine will also broadcast the 2019 Australian Open across its 9Gem multi-channel. Featuring matches played at the same time as those on the main channel, 9Gem’s broadcast will be hosted by Erin Molan and Seb Costello.

Hopman Cup
RAC Arena – Perth
December 29 – January 5
Hosted by Rebecca Maddern and Clint Stanaway

Brisbane International
Queensland Tennis Centre – Brisbane
December 30 – January 6
Hosted by James Bracey, Erin Molan and Tim Gilbert

Sydney International
Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre – Sydney
January 6 – January 12
Hosted by James Bracey and Clint Stanaway

Fast4 Showdown
Qudos Bank Arena – Sydney
January 7
Hosted by Rebecca Maddern

Tie Break Tens
Margaret Court Arena – Melbourne January 9
Hosted by Erin Molan

Australian Open Draw Melbourne
January 10
Hosted by James Bracey

Australian Open
Melbourne Park
January 14 – 27

Broadcast schedules are yet to be advised.