ESPN's tennis coverage might not be the four-letter network's main priority as football and other sports likely bring in more ad revenue, but ESPN has made a habit of producing some great coverage on the tournaments it focuses on. That includes the Australian Open.
2026, though, is going to feel a bit different. Brad Gilbert and Pam Shriver will not be a part of the coverage. Gilbert can be a somewhat divisive figure based on his coaching past and how he compartmentalizes coaching versus commentating on the sport, but he at least knows the sport well.
Shriver has been a presence on tennis broadcasts for decades, and she always brought a measured and logical approach to her views. She was a likable person on the screen, and, unlike many sports talking heads, she didn't feel the need to scream to get her point across.
ESPN's Australian Open broadcast won't have Brad Gilbert or Pam Shriver involved
Shriver's post on social media not only mentioned she wouldn't be part of the Australian Open coverage, but that she was done with ESPN overall. That is a huge loss for tennis fans who tune into ESPN to hear her comments.
The talent will still abound for ESPN's broadcast, at least. Former players John McEnroe, Chris Evert, Caroline Wozniacki, Mary Joe Fernandez, James Blake, Sam Querrey, Chris Eubanks, and CoCo Vandeweghe, and Patrick McEnroe will be part of match calls and studio analysis, while stalwarts Chris Fowler and Chris McKendry will call matches as well.
The Australian Open runs from January 17 through February 1 as far as the main draw, and is the first Grand Slam of the year. The play will be excellent as always, the heat likely immense at times, but the broadcast will be missing two important and familiar voices.
Chris Eubanks will also seemingly be a new and ongoing member of ESPN's coverage. Eubanks has been a part of the Tennis Channel's broadcast on other tournaments and is quite good at it. One might assume his playing days are over, or close to it, but he is good friends with Coco Gauff, so he is obviously extremely connected to all aspects of tennis.