Channel Nine has turned heads after announcing Olympic champions Ariarne Titmus and Jessica Fox are part of the network’s 2025 Australian Open coverage despite the fact they have no experience in covering tennis.
Both Titmus and Fox will look to provide colour for viewers from Melbourne Park – and the swimming golden girl is excited to be out of her comfort zone.
‘I have always been a tennis fan and having the chance to be at the Australian Open in this capacity is very exciting,’ she told News Corp.
‘The AO encompasses Australian culture and our love for sport as a nation. It will be a new and challenging experience being on the other end of the mic, but one I am very grateful for.
‘I’m [also] looking forward to working alongside a great team and broadening my skills outside of the pool.’
Channel Nine has announced Olympic champions Ariarne Titmus (pictured) and Jessica Fox will be part of the network’s Australian Open coverage
Both Titmus and Fox (pictured right, with her sister Noemie) will provide colour for viewers from Melbourne Park
It comes as Aussie star Nick Kryrgios is racing the clock to be fit for his opening round match as he battles an abdominal strain
Local hope Alex de Minaur is seeded eighth and will look to look to go beyond the fourth round in Melbourne for the first time in his career
Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz is sure to be a crowd favourite as he chases a fifth grand slam title
Titmus, who won gold in the women’s 400m freestyle and the 4x200m freestyle relay at the Paris Games, won’t have to look far when it comes to priceless tips behind the camera.
Her father Steve is a sports presenter for Seven News in Brisbane.
Nine has also lured back ‘Super Brat’ John McEnroe, at a venue where he was infamously disqualified for unsportsmanlike behaviour as a player in the 1990 tournament.
McEnroe will join fellow American Jim Courier plus Aussies Todd Woodbridge and Jelena Dokic as the key figures of Nine’s coverage.
Other confirmed commentators include home grown tennis identities such as Lleyton Hewitt, Sam Stosur, Dylan Alcott, John Millman, Casey Dellacqua and Alicia Molik.
Meanwhile, polarising star Nick Kryrgios is racing the clock to be fit for his opening round match as he battles an abdominal strain.
Kyrgios took to Instagram on Wednesday to confirm he won’t feature in an exhibition event against Novak Djokovic on January 9 – but will be ‘doing everything he can’ to manage his injury.
‘Unfortunately won’t be able to play my good friend (Djokovic) this Thursday as I’ve had an ultrasound on my abdominal and have a grade 1 strain,’ Kyrgios posted to his 4.2 million followers.
‘Will be resting and doing everything I can to be OK.’
The Australian Open begins on January 12.