THE LINEUP: 10 Bristol-based
“night owls” monitoring Aussie Open coverage
Editor’s note: ESPN’s 30th Australian Open coverage extends into the quarterfinal stage today and culminates this weekend with the women’s and men’s championship matches, respectively. ESPN relies not only on a first-rate production team Down Under, but top-notch teammates in Bristol, Conn. Meet 10 members of the Connecticut night watch.
Shift: 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. ET or 1 a.m. to 9 a.m. ET
Why did you want to work on the Aussie Open? My passion for tennis. I played competitively throughout my childhood and even spent some time at the John Newcombe Tennis Academy in New Braunfels, Texas while in high school.
Shift: 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Why did you want to work on the Aussie Open? Tennis is my favorite sport, and Grand Slams are the Super Bowl for tennis fans. The good thing is that we have four each year and you can see your favorite player each time.
Shift: Men’s Semis 2:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m./Women’s Finals 1:30 a.m. to 4:00 a.m.
Why did you want to work on the Aussie Open? I enjoy the competitive nature and rhythm of the game. High intensity plays usually result in crazy facial expressions or awkward aerobic positioning. I can’t forget about the player’s apparel; I call it “serving in style.”
Shift: 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
What has been your favorite match so far? Serena Williams versus Ana Ivanovic, though I did not cut that highlight. There is a lot of good tennis still to be played.
Shift: 4 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.
Tricks to stay awake? Sugar, tons of sugar.
Shift: 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
What has been your favorite match so far? The Milos Raonic versus Grigor Dimitrov match. It featured two promising young guns playing a highly dramatic match at a high level.
Shift: 4 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.
Tricks to stay awake? Getting some sleep right before my shifts. During my shifts, I tend to keep food on me and take a couple minutes outside the control room when I need a bit of time.
Shift: 4 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.
Which match do you think people want to see? Rafael Nadal versus Roger Federer.
Shift: 3:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m.
What has been your favorite match so far? I have to admit that my favorite match so far was one that I didn’t call: Roger Federer-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, in the round of 16. I got home around 3:30 a.m. after being on the air for eight and a half hours and watched the whole match.
Shift: 3:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m.
Why did you want to work on the Aussie Open? I really enjoy analyzing Grand Slam matches because they always bring a lot of drama. You can tell because viewers are sending tons of tweets when that happens. As an ex-pro tennis player, calling the history is really an honor and privilege.
Editor’s note: Also involved in ESPN International’s Australian Open production but not pictured: Eduardo Varela (play by play), Jose Luis Clerc (analyst) and Nicolas Pereira (host and analyst).
Photos by Tania Eicoff
