ESPN makes big reshuffle days before Australian – Sports News
Veteran broadcasters Pam Shriver and Brad Gilbert have departed ESPN forward of the Australian Open, because the community plans a main reshuffle for 2026, coinciding with the beginning of the new tennis season.
The Australian Open will get underway on Jan. 12, with a file prize pool on offer, as gamers compete for a $74.9 million pot during the primary Grand Slam of the yr. Jannik Sinner will enter the event as a two-time reigning champion, however Carlos Alcaraz is set to win his maiden crown.
Australian Open legend Novak Djokovic is anticipated to play, regardless of withdrawing from the Adelaide International, however followers will not see two acquainted faces. ESPN continues to be finalizing lineups for future Grand Slams, however Shriver and Gilbert will not seem on the Australian Open.
ESPN has added Malika Andrews as a host, and Chris McKendry shall be a play-by-play announcer. An ESPN spokesperson informed Front Office Sports: “We regularly evolve our on-air teams. Talent assignments vary by event and year, and not every contributor appears at every tournament.
“This yr’s AO lineup displays the particular protection strategy. We are nonetheless engaged on line-up plans for Wimbledon and US Open.”
Shriver has been a tennis analyst for ESPN since 1990, while Gilbert joined in 2004. “Brad Gilbert and Pam Shiver are no longer with ESPN,” the spokesperson added. “We are grateful to them for his or her a few years of collaboration and need them properly of their future endeavors.”
The Australian Open is expected to be even more dramatic this year, with Alcaraz desperate to achieve the Career Grand Slam. Alcaraz beat Sinner in the 2025 US Open final and denied the Italian the Career Grand Slam at the French Open last year.
“My goal for 2026 is Australia, and the nice and the dangerous factor is that it is the first event of the yr,” Alcaraz said. We’ll try to be as ready and as well prepared as possible to show a good level and hopefully achieve the goal we want.”
Alcaraz added, “I think because it’s the first tournament of the year. It’s about getting into rhythm. It’s not that it doesn’t suit me; it’s just that some players do better there, or when we’ve competed, it’s come down to small details.
“I feel I’ve performed superb tennis in Australia; I’ve simply missed that ultimate step to go additional. I consider and hope this yr shall be totally different.”
When reflecting on his goals for 2026, Alcaraz said: “Since I got the chance to recover the No. 1, it was one of the first goals that I had during the season, just to try to recover the No. 1 as soon as possible or end the year as the No. 1.
“For me, attaining that when again, it’s a dream. Doing [it] in the identical day as getting one other Grand Slam feels even higher. It’s every part I’m working for, and I’m actually glad to have the ability to dwell these experiences.”
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