When the world’s best tennis players go to battle in the first Grand Slam of the year, television viewers will have the best seat in the house with Nine’s broadcast of Australian Open 2020.
From Monday, January 20 until Sunday, February 2, the tournament’s best matches and biggest moments will be broadcast live and free on Nine and 9Gem.
And on Australia’s leading commercial free-to-air video-on-demand service, 9Now, viewers will be treated to every ball of every match on every court, ensuring Australians get the best tennis experience available, anytime, anywhere, on a device of their choosing.
For two weeks the eyes of the sporting world will be on Melbourne to witness history in the making.
Could this be the year that one of the emerging stars of the game dethrones Djokovic, Federer or Nadal? Can Serena Williams win her 24th Grand Slam singles title? And could Ash Barty become Australia’s first women’s singles champion since Christine O’Neil in 1978?
The expert team of hosts and commentators, backed by the unrivalled resources of Nine’s Wide World of Sports, will take viewers closer to the game than ever before.
On Nine, your hosting lineup will feature James Bracey, Rebecca Maddern and Tony Jones, while over on 9Gem, your hosts will be Erin Molan, Seb Costello and Alicia Loxley.
Commentating across the tournament will be John McEnroe, Jim Courier, Todd Woodbridge, Lleyton Hewitt, Jelena Dokic, Sam Smith, Alicia Molik, Dylan Alcott, Sam Groth, Casey Dellacqua and Tom Rehn.
Additional off-court reporting will be provided by Clint Stanaway, Lauren Phillips, Madeline Slattery and Danika Mason.
And funny man Andy Lee will bring his unique take on the game in a series of one-on-one interviews with the champions of the sport.
The broadcast will utilise 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.
New analysis technology will ensure our commentators are able to scrutinise the game like never before, with every inch of play under the microscope.
For the very first time, Electronic Line Calling technology will be available on every single court, across the entire tournament.
Once again, the hosting set will be positioned on a half-court tennis court. Court Nine is located near Margaret Court Arena and this outdoor studio will welcome tennis fans to Melbourne Park as they arrive at the precinct through the city entrance.
As well as providing the backdrop to the 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 20.
When not being used as a live television studio, Court Nine will be open to the public, bringing the game closer to fans than ever before. Tennis enthusiasts can even have their service speed measured on the half-court.
Players will also conduct pre and post-game interviews on Court Nine, with the public able to watch on.
Plus, there will be autograph signing sessions with Nine celebrities.
And a giant screen positioned on Court Nine will showcase Nine’s broadcast, providing all fans with a front-row seat to the premier matches.
Hi, Just letting you know that a few minutes ago, one of your veteran male sports presenters stated that John McEnroe won 8 grand slam singles titles.
In fact he won 7 major single titles (4 US Opens and 3 Wimbledon). Perhaps a correction is warranted.
Andrew (Sydney)
Hi, Just letting you know that a few minutes ago, one of your veteran male sports presenters stated that John McEnroe won 8 grand slam singles titles.
In fact he won 7 major single titles (4 US Opens and 3 Wimbledon). Perhaps a correction is warranted.
Andrew (Sydney)
I found John McEnroe’s interview with Rafael Nadal last night to be quite leading and perhaps uncomfortable for Rafael. Two American commentators for an Australian Tennis Open seems demeaning to our own competent people. Audrey C