In a bold move that has sent ripples through the world of tennis broadcasting, ESPN is completely overhauling its commentator lineup for the upcoming Australian Open. The network has announced that Malika Andrews will take on the hosting duties, while Chris McKendry transitions to play-by-play commentary. Unfortunately, this means that seasoned broadcasters Pam Shriver and Brad Gilbert will be departing from ESPN after many years of service.
This significant change pertains specifically to the coverage of the Australian Open taking place this month, according to a statement provided by an ESPN spokesperson to Front Office Sports. While the network is still fine-tuning its announcer rosters for other Grand Slam tournaments, it is clear that these adjustments are part of a broader strategy to revitalize their presentation of tennis.
The ESPN representative elaborated, "We constantly evolve our on-air teams, tailoring talent assignments to fit each event and year. Not every contributor will appear at every tournament." This year's Australian Open lineup is designed to align with a fresh coverage approach. Plans for announcers at Wimbledon and the US Open are still in the works, indicating that ESPN is making a concerted effort to adapt to changing viewer preferences.
The departure of both Shriver and Gilbert marks the end of an era. Shriver, now 63, has been an integral part of ESPN's tennis analysis since 1990, all while continuing her competitive playing career until 1996. On the other hand, Gilbert, aged 64, joined the network in 2004 and has an impressive background as a professional player, having won 20 tournaments and coached notable players such as Andy Roddick, Andy Murray, and Coco Gauff.
An ESPN spokesperson expressed gratitude toward Shriver and Gilbert, stating, "Brad Gilbert and Pam Shriver are no longer with ESPN. We appreciate their many years of collaboration and wish them success in their future endeavors."
There’s also speculation around the future of Darren Cahill, with insiders noting that his status remains uncertain. As of now, the Australian analyst continues with ESPN, having been part of the team since the 2007 Australian Open. However, his dual role as a full-time coach raises questions about whether he will join Shriver and Gilbert in leaving. The spokesperson indicated that Cahill’s involvement with ESPN later this year is still to be determined.
These changes aim to "refresh" the Australian Open coverage, as sources have reported, with the major tournament scheduled to commence on January 18 and culminating with the women’s singles championship on January 31, followed by the men’s singles championship on February 1. Following TNT Sports' acquisition of a 10-year rights deal for the French Open, which posed a challenge to ESPN’s long-standing dominance in Grand Slam tennis coverage, the network has opted to introduce some younger commentators to invigorate its broadcasts.
During TNT's inaugural year of coverage in 2025, the network showcased an impressive roster of legendary commentators, including John McEnroe, Chris Evert, Andre Agassi, Lindsay Davenport, Jim Courier, Boris Becker, and Mats Wilander.
Among the noteworthy adjustments ESPN is implementing for its Australian Open broadcast team are:
- Katie George will host during the first week of the tournament, with Malika Andrews taking over for the second week, including the championship weekend. Chris Eubanks will join the lineup as a match and studio analyst alongside notable figures like McEnroe, Evert, Caroline Wozniacki, Mary Joe Fernandez, James Blake, Sam Querrey, and CoCo Vandeweghe.
- McKendry’s transition to play-by-play was anticipated and comes after she voluntarily stepped into the role following the retirement of Cliff Drysdale, ESPN’s longest-serving broadcaster, who concluded nearly 46 years with the network in 2025.
- Both Shriver and Gilbert took to social media to acknowledge their exits, with Shriver expressing her gratitude for "35+ amazing years" and Gilbert reflecting on his "great 23-year run" at ESPN.
- Additionally, Kris Budden will be on-site at Melbourne Park, delivering news updates and feature stories throughout the tournament.
