The only tennis Overend has done before for BBC TV to my knowledge was at the Queens Club 2 weeks ago and this was due to Andrew Cotter doing the US Open Golf for the Radio.

Andrew Cotter definently did at least one Murray match last year aswell, I think it was the match against Kamke on Court No.1 with Henman & McEnroe

He's done matches from the French open before on the red button.

At the end of the day he attends all the slams and plenty of the masters 1000s. So his knowledge is going to be right up there on most tour top 100 players.

On the Cricket there will be no Greg Blewett on Sky Sports over the next few weeks. Shane Warne is the Australian representative. Will Fox Sports (assuming they have the rights) be sending their own team or taking the Sky feed?

I imagine they will take the Sky feed, last Ashes series they did a bit of presentation/analysis from onsite but took the commentary of Gower and co.

Fox usually take the Sky feed. Interesting that Warne is doing some ODIs this year - in 2009, 2010 and 2010/11 Warne worked for Sky during Tests, but didn't do the Australia ODIs. But that now seems to have changed.

I'd guess Shane is living here over the summer. So like Michael Holding is cheaper to use than flying someone over.

Wozniacki v Paszek - Mark Petchey & Lindsay Davenport
Russell v Benneteau - Chris Bowers & Doug Adler

It wouldn't really be a finance issue. Holding/ Warne are probably very well paid - better than, say, Blewett would be. But they are big names whose comments catch the attention more than others. Holding is also a very good broadcaster. Warne is merely an improving one.

I agree. My point was more having to put Blewett up in a hotel for a few weeks (Plus expenses.) Or an additional West Indian for 6 weeks as they have done before.

Are Bowers and Adler world feed guys then ?

Yes they are, I only knew who they are because they namechecked themselves at the start of the match and said we welcome viewers from all over the world to this match. They weren't mentioned in the BBC Press Pack for Wimbledon and it wasn't a big match so I assume the BBC didn't want to use their own commentators for this match

I think they tend to do court 3 or 12 or similar dont they

it was court 12 they were doing

Because ESPN hates us, Chris Berman will be doing NFL commentary for the first time in his career. Both a preseason and regular season game.

http://frontrow.espn.go.com/2012/06/...-chris-berman/

Lindsay Davenport really is a fantastic co-commentator IMO. She is easily the best female co-comm. and it is a shame she hasn't gotten the ladies final instead of the inferior Tracy Austin.

Also, why does Mark Petchey do mainly womens' matches? He is extremely knowledgeable about all of the men, he has been very succesful as a coach for various men and he commentates on every ATP tour event throughout the year. I can't see why he doesn't get the final.

He doesn't commentate on ALL the tour events. But I take your point.

Does Davenport work for an American broadcaster as well during the championships? I know Austin is here solely at the BBC's expense. Which may explain her getting the final.

Davenport isn't listed on ESPN's press release for Wimbledon, but I swear she's been on ESPN for smaller tournaments.

Current lineup is Mike Tirico, Chris Fowler, and Hannah Storm as studio hosts and commentators are Fowler, Cliff Drysdale, John McEnroe, Patrick McEnroe, Pam Shriver, Mary Jo Fernandez, Brad Gilbert, and Darren Cahill.

ESPN have exclusive rights to this as NBC have lost out.

I agree with you, she was excellent last year and has been the same so far this year

Sharapova v Pironkova – Nick Mullins & Tracy Austin
Serena Williams v Czink – Andrew Castle & Lindsay Davenport
Ferrer v De Schepper – Andrew Cotter & John Lloyd
Keothavong v Errani – Jason Goodall & Sam Smith


I agree with all these comments, If I was in charge of BBC Sport I would have Cotter, McEnroe & Davenport on the womens final and Petchey, Lloyd & Henman on the mens final

Does anyone know who was doing this last night? Tracy Austin was on 'Today at Wimbledon' so it couldn't have been her.

I'm almost sure it was Virginia Wade with Mullins.

Also, listening to Mullins now, it is beyond belief that the BBC don't see him as one of their best commentators. His knowledge and voice are brilliant and his anecdote just now about Pironkova's father influencing her tennis grip due to him canoeing was interesting. He is fantastic IMO.

LOL. Mullins just now: "Sharapova versus a jet flying into Heathrow, where would your money be?"

It was Sam Smith. Assume she couldn't continue it today as she was on the Keothavong match.

For me:

Mens Final : Mark Petchey, Greg Rusedski & John Lloyd (presuming that McEnroe is working for ESPN)

Womens Final : Nick Mullins, Lindsay Davenport & John McEnroe

I like that line up aswell, McEnroe does do the mens final for American TV and I assume that will continue with ESPN in the US this year but if the BBC can get him for the mens final that would be brilliant as he is the best commentator on tennis. However its more than likely it will be Petchey, Austin & McEnroe on the womens final and Castle, Lloyd & Henman on the mens

On another note what has happened to Boris Becker this year, I have only heard him on one match and that was on Monday

In some other news, I've noticed in the past few days At the Races DOG/clock has went 16:9 mode and they've had a refresh of graphics, for once not mirroring old Sky Sports looks!

Not sure but I'd still back him to get the final. He's got the 'been there done it' factor.


I thought this was the case. Thank you.


Has anyone heard Peter Fleming yet? I haven't and it seems odd he was used at Queens but not Wimbledon.