I was referring to the graphics / design of the draw, which I think we’ve all agreed it was TA’s production not Seven Sport’s.
Absolutely agree about Sharapova though, can’t believe she’s back. She does well here though.
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Yes I agree ,they should have been showing live tennis from the Sydney International
Was there last night. It was great.
She served her time. People should get over it. Anyway she was only taking Meldonium illegally at the 2016 Australian Open. Everyone was free to take it before that and I am sure they did. They were just smart enough not to get caught.
If people seriously think a lot of the players on tour are not taking something which is currently legal in order to give themselves an edge over their competition, they are kidding themselves.
Seven would be happy that two Australians made it into the final at the Sydney International.
Alex De Minaur is playing Daniil Medvedev (from Russia) in the Men’s Final, while Ashleigh Barty is playing Angelique Kerber (from Germany) in the Women’s Final.
Coverage starts at 5pm AEDT, on SevenMate
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Not sure if Cynic has any more broadcast pressers to post in regards to the Aus Open?
I presume based of last year, it’ll be:
Morning - early arvo host: Jim Wilson
Late arvo - evening host: Mel McLaughlin
Prime time host: Hamish McLachlan
Late host: Basil Zempilas
Joh Griggs out again this year, due to House Rules production. But will return to Seven Sport for Comm Games.
Bruce McAvaney (sadly) now retired from Seven’s Aus Open, so he can take a rest and fight cancer, in what will be a hectic year.
He called an incredible 26 years (1990 - 2016), only missing one year in that run!
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Jim Courier’s 14th year.
Todd Woodbridge (now the main caller) 13th year.
Hamish’s 11th year.
Sam Smith’s 10th year.
Henri Laconte’s 9th year.
Lleyton Hewitt’s 8th year.
Not sure about Renee Stubbs or John Newcombe (who was on Nine’s Wimbledon was he not many years ago?)
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There are plenty of other players who haven’t had to serve their time because they arent proven drug cheats who could have been used for the draw.
They use former champions to do the draw. Serena is not playing, Azarenka cant leave the US due to child custody issues and Kerber wasnt available because she was playing in Sydney. That only left Sharapova as the only former champion left in the draw. Not to mention she made the final 5 times.
It’s the equivalent of rolling out Lance Armstrong to promote the Tour de France.
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Thank you @WATV but I think @TV.Cynic already provided this presser a while ago.
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Sydney International (who would’ve thought of all events) has paid off big time for Seven.
Shares on par with their RLWC!
Probably thanks to the incredible young Alex De Mineaur, plus lack of compelling programming on Nine and Seven’s main channels and maybe Sydney BBL teams doing poor?
Special “Roger v Rafa: Anything But Final” premiering now on 7mate.
Produced by Tennis Australia.
About lead-up to last year’s stunning Men’s Final.
Normal 7mate watermark in the bottom right, despite EPG saying "sport’. Possibly Seven being careful, as Seven Sport didn’t produce.
Narrated by the wonderful Craig Willis, fantastic hearing him in such a role.
(There’s another doco after, about last year’s Women’s Final - Williams’ sisters).
No PRG.
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Australian Open 2007 Men’s Final
Hosted by Matthew White (Johanna Griggs had hosted prime-time most years).
Commentated by Jim Courier & John “JA” Alexander.
With Roger Rasheed courtside (his first year I believe).
Bruce McAvaney with the presentation (after calling alongside Jim since 2009, as well as 2005. John Alexander called alongside Jim in 2006-2008 and a number finals before 2005).
The three executives in the caps above are still there. Also in the very long end credits (which are sadly no longer made) was veteran Seven Sport producer Niki Hamilton (who now overseas Children’s TV) and researcher Josh Kay (who is still Seven Sport’s main statistician).
Roger Federer beat Fernando Gonzalez in straight sets.
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Not in this format, they showed the draw about 15 years ago on a Friday Morning (Bruce was hosting, Paul McNamee was still in charge of the tournament and the player representatives were youngsters who were never heard from again) but it was basically the draws being done and maybe an interview, all wrapped up in 30 minutes before they resumed the Kooyong coverage.
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Trying to work out the main matches that the primary channel will cover tomorrow in the Day session
(Night sees Rafa, followed by Gavrilova). Kyrigos is 4th up on the arena not named after an Australian tennis star of the past so he’d definitely get main channel treatment. Before him I’d suspect 7 will take the Ebden-Isner match followed by another Sam Stosur choke job, with the first match up in the air. Secondary channels will have the likes of Millman, Venus, Dimitrov and (night session) Wozniacki amongst others.
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Main channel will show Kyrgios in prime-time on main channel (at Hisense - general admission, so a big crowd too).
Should be a great starting match for him 
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Australian Open
Day 1
Aussie livewire Nick Kyrgios, world no. 23 Daria Gavrilova and 16-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal headline a cracking Australian Open night one line-up on Channel 7, 7mate, 7TWO and the 7TENNIS app.
Kyrgios heads to familiar territory on Hisense Arena to face Brazilian Rogerio Dutra Silva from 6.45pm AEDT.
Then ‘Dasha’ Gavrilova is second up on court on Rod Laver Arena Monday night as she takes on a qualifier, while earlier on the centre court Rafael Nadal battles Victor Estrella Burgos.
Also on Monday night, world no. 2 Caroline Wozniacki and French superstar Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will be in action.
During the day it’s a feast of Aussie tennis talent as Sam Stosur takes on Monica Puig, Matt Ebden versus big serving American John Isner, and John Millman battles Croatian Borna Coric.
Reigning US Open champion Sloane Stephens will also feature in the day, along with the Venus Williams versus Belinda Bencic encounter.
MONDAY 15 JANUARY
NIGHT televised feature matches to include (but not limited to):
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Nick Kyrgios (AUS) [17] v Rogerio Dutra Silva (BRA)
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Rafael Nadal (ESP) [1] v Victor Estrella Burgos (Dom)
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Daria Gavrilova (AUS) [23] v Qualifier
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DAY televised feature matches to include (but not limited to):
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Sam Stosur (AUS) v Monica Puig (PUR)
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Matt Ebden (AUS) v John Isner (USA) [16]
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John Millman (AUS) v Borna Coric (CRO)
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Venus Williams (USA) v Belinda Bencic (SUI)
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Sloane Stephens (USA) v Shuai Zhang (CHN)
BROADCAST SCHEDULE:
Australian Open Preview Show
Sydney 10am – 11am LIVE on 7 and 7TWO
Melbourne 10am – 11am LIVE on 7 and 7TWO
Brisbane 9am – 10am LIVE on 7TWO
Adelaide 9.30am – 10.30am LIVE on 7 and 7TWO
Perth 7am – 8am LIVE on 7TWO
Australian Open – Day 1
Syd 11am – 6pm LIVE on 7, 11am-12pm LIVE on 7TWO, 12pm-6pm LIVE 7mate
Melb 11am – 6pm LIVE on 7, 11am-12pm LIVE on 7TWO, 12pm-6pm LIVE 7mate
Bris 10am – 6pm LIVE on 7, 10am-11am LIVE on 7TWO, 11am-6pm LIVE 7mate
Adel 10.30am – 6pm LIVE on 7, 10.30am LIVE on 7TWO, 11.30am LIVE 7mate
Per 8am- 9am LIVE on 7Flix, 9am-6pm LIVE 7mate 9am – 6pm LIVE on 7
Australian Open – Night 1
Syd 7pm – 12.30am LIVE on 7
Melb 7pm – 12.30am LIVE on 7
Bris 7pm – 11.30pm LIVE
on 7 Adel 7pm – 12am LIVE on 7
Per 7pm – 9.30pm LIVE on 7
Syd 6pm – 7pm LIVE on 7TWO
Melb 6pm – 7pm LIVE on 7TWO
Bris 6pm – 7pm LIVE on 7TWO
Adel 6pm – 7pm LIVE on 7TWO
Per 6pm – 7pm LIVE on 7TWO
Syd 6pm – 11pm LIVE on 7mate
Melb 6pm – 11pm LIVE on 7mate
Bris 6pm – 10pm LIVE on 7mate
Adel 6pm – 10.30pm LIVE on 7mate
Per 6pm – 8pm LIVE on 7mate
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This must be the first time that live sport (or live programming of any kind) will be shown on 7Flix?
This is because of Sunrise on 7, Other coverage on 7Two and NFL on 7mate (7Flix coverage goes to 7mate when the NFL finishes).
Regional viewers in Western Australia will miss out on this coverage as I don’t think they have 7Flix (Only available to Prime7 viewers in Gold Coast, NSW and Victoria).
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I’m of the view that it’s terrific from Seven, that whilst technically challenging, have gone to the effort (liasing with 7flix play-out which is done via MediaHub) to bring Perth viewers extra Australian Open coverage 
Than missing out altogether on that coverage.
Hoping @WAtvVideos or someone from Perth can take some caps, in particular if a 7flix Sport watermark has been created 
But I doubt it 
Thank you very much Cynic, this is so helpful.
I hope Seven provide these daily (apart from the daily ratings spin they’ll no doubt do.
Compare Seven and Prime7 Sponsor Billboards:
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