27-01-2024, 02:34 PM
(27-01-2024, 12:26 PM)RhysJR Wrote: I wholeheartedly agree with the above and can only echo what I said earlier in the week about today's commentary. Jo Durie also excellent, though that always is the case.
I don't want to speculate too much, but Chris Bradnam and Miles Maclagan haven't appeared since the Hurkacz v. Medevedev quarter-final on Wednesday. It's quite possible they are in isolation or something since working together then. That would explain the sudden promotion of Naomi and the Simon Reed solo commentary yesterday.
Also, I haven't seen much of the studio coverage, but I thought Rachel Stringer has done well. An upgrade on Alizé Lim for sure, though I think I still prefer Barbara Schett as anchor (though understandable that she is in Australia alongside her Australian husband for this event).
Nick Kyrgios is co-commentating on tomorrow's men's singles final. The matches he has done he has either been with Nick Lester in Melbourne or with Chris Bradnam remotely, so will be either of those situations again or with Simon remotely for the first time.
In other tennis news, Ireland play Austria in what's probably their biggest Davis Cup tie ever next weekend (a World Group 1 play-off), and it will be on Premier Sports 1/2 in Ireland and Viaplay in the UK. At £14.99/month I can't imagine it will get many new subscribers other than die-hard Dominic Thiem fans.
Tennis Channel International are showing six of the twelve Qualifiers over the four days of competition starting with Ukraine vs USA which is Thursday-Friday in Lithuania, starting early because there is also a home tie for Lithuania in the same venue over the weekend. Five of the TC-covered Qualifiers have world feed commentary from the ITF (who are doing commentary for six ties but TC aren't showing Czechia vs Israel according to their website). They'll have their own commentary for Hungary vs Germany, remotely from Germany but apparently in English.
Of those missing from TC, Netherlands vs Switzerland will likely be available on KNLTB's YouTube channel (simulcast of Ziggo Sport) as is usually the case.