End of another era

Watching the ATP Finals in Turin over the past couple of days has brought back so many happy memories of those years at the 02 when the event was on our doorstep.

Those golden weeks when Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray were at the forefront of the game, all captured by the Sky Sports cameras. Our stellar team back then included the likes of Greg Rusedski, Boris Becker, Annabel Croft, Peter Fleming, Pat Cash, the 2 Barrys; Cowan and Millns, Leif Shiras, Sam Smith, Nick Lester and Mark Petchey.

Prime Video took over in 2019 and raised production levels to new heights thanks to improved technology and a passionate desire to show viewers everything, everywhere.

Catherine Whitaker, Tim Henman, Daniela Hantuchova and Martina Navratilova brought a fresh approach to the way things were done while Annabel, Greg and I adapted to the new demands, were made to feel very welcome and enjoyed some wonderful trips and, more recently in the case of Cancun, a memorable one…though not necessarily for the right reasons!

Now the broadcasting mantle is poised to be handed back to Sky who hit the ground running at the US Open this year with my good friend GiGi Salmon leading the way.

Who knows what will happen over the next few seasons. The world of TV and Radio is ever changing but whatever opportunities lie in wait I’m so grateful for the past sixteen years that have produced some of the greatest matches, rivalries and individuals this wonderful sport has ever borne witness to.

In Jack Draper, Emma Raducanu, and a little further down the line the likes of Hannah Klugman, Isabelle Lacy, Mingge Xu, Hephzibah Oluwadare, Mika Stojsavljevic and, on the boys side, junior Wimbledon Champion Henry Searle and a host of other promising youngsters Great Britain has much to look forward to, likewise all lovers of the sport.

Thanks so much for watching…and listening….over the years and here’s to whatever comes next!

About time!

It suddenly struck me that I hadn’t updated this page for a very long time! Apologies as I’m sure you have been checking everyday……

It’s an interesting period in the world of tennis sports broadcasting right now. Prime Video’s deal with the ATP and WTA ends this year and Sky Sports are poised to take over once more. Sky will be showing the US Open before unveiling full coverage at the start of 2024.

I have wonderful memories of those golden years on Sky when Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray were all at the peak of their powers. We had a fabulous, close-knit team too and, hopefully, there will be an opportunity for some of us to work together again though in this ever-changing industry that is by no means certain. I also want to thank everyone I worked with at Prime. The production values were excellent as was their innovative technology that offered so much choice to the viewer.

The next few months promise to be very exciting. I’m off to Paris soon to work for Radio Roland Garros: do download the app and have a listen, I promise you won’t be disappointed. That’s followed by Wimbledon, the Open Golf and Women’s Open golf in early August with the brilliant team at IMG Audio by which time the football season will be upon us again.

I’ve also spent much of this year keeping an eye on my 17 year old son Luca who has been playing a number of junior ITF tournaments and did well in the 18 and under National Championships at the NTC, reaching the quarter-finals in the singles and semis in the doubles. Watching tennis at that level is a vivid illustration of what a brutal sport it can be. The physical demands, emotional highs and lows and constant need to improve are so draining. Luca is very good but there are some outstanding junior players in this country and around the world that make you fully appreciate how incredible those who finally make it as a pro are. I applaud them all. They demand so much respect.

I hope you enjoy a wonderful spring, should it ever arrive, and a long, hot summer. May Spurs hire a top-class manager and so persuade Harry Kane to stay and may all your sporting dreams come true.

May 2023

Springing into action

The wind is whistling around the house in alarming fashion as one storm replaces another outside.

In the background I can hear the dulcet tones of Annabel Croft and Pete Odgers with commentary from Doha as I gently recover from too much celebrating after Tottenham’s extraordinary win at Manchester City.

The big sports storm this year focused, of course, on Novak Djokovic in Australia. Enough has been said about that but it will be fascinating to see how the man who has ruled the world for so long bounces back amidst uncertainty over where he will, and will not, be able to play.

My first event for Amazon Prime Video in 2022 will be in Miami with Monte Carlo and Rome also on the agenda before the French Open. I’ve never been to Miami before but am hopeful that, after a relatively serious attempt at losing some weight, I won’t look completely out of place on one of the beaches there!

It will be a joy to cover more events “on site” this year following the relaxation of COVID restrictions and I sincerely hope you enjoy our coverage.

Before leaving for the States the SJA British Sports Awards dinner takes place on March 7th. The Wimbledon Radio Channel and Open Radio IMG programmes that I host are both nominated again; maybe this will finally be our turn.

I’m expecting big years for Rafa Nadal (to be fair it already has been)along with Cam Norrie on the courts and have a feeling Iga Swiatek could be in the Grand Slam winners enclosure again.

May your favourites thrive.

Marcus

February 2022

Indian Summer for British tennis

So we have a new super-star, a long-established one doing all he can to fight his way back up the rankings, an unsung hero and a man who has admirably followed the mantra “if at first you don’t succeed try, try again.”

Emma Raducanu’s stunning success in New York was quite extraordinary. Her subsequent split with coach Andrew Richardson has left me a little uneasy but she is surrounded by a lot of knowledgeable and very ambitious people so it’s hard to make a relevant judgement on that from distance. What’s abundantly clear is her amazing natural talent, dedication to hard work and star quality both on and off court. I can’t wait to see how she performs in Indian Wells under the watch of Jeremy Bates. Our coverage on Prime Video begins on Thursday the 7th October.

I know Andy Murray was frustrated by his defeat against Casper Ruud in San Diego but it’s great to see him playing on a more regular basis again and if he continues to do that he will go really deep in an event sooner or later.

Cameron Norrie has been sensational this year. His wins over Denis Shapavalov and Andrey Rublev in San Diego were clear proof of just how well he’s playing as his ranking continues to rise. It’s a shame he was a little flat in the final but he has responded superbly after an early US Open exit.

And hats off to Liam Broady who’s had to endure a lot during his career and hasn’t always made life easy for himself. Yet his title success in Switzerland, in what was his 8th Challenger final, demonstrated what a fighter he has become with plenty of time to keep developing.

Having recovered from my Dracula shifts during the US Open I can’t wait to front the coverage from the California Desert on Prime. Enjoy it and spread the word. As nine and a half million people highlighted recently there’s a huge demand for live tennis in this country and this is a great time to be a British fan with so many of our doubles players, most notably Joe Salisbury and, this past weekend the Skupski brothers, performing magnificently, likewise our top wheelchair stars.

Long may it continue.

October 4th 2021

Seeking normality....(easier said than done)

A frozen shoulder! A bloody frozen shoulder, diagnosed just days away from the resumption of golf and tennis. How typical! Months of inactivity during lockdown and now, just as we prepare to come out of hibernation, the body fails! Ah well…just another sign of the aging process that hits us all at some point.

Apparently this type of injury can come out of nothing. The physio has set up a program of exercises that have me shrugging my shoulders at regular intervals like a grumpy Benoit Paire while also making a succession of unusual movements to the consternation of anyone in my eye line.

Of course Andy Murray knows all about unexpected injuries these days. His withdrawal from Miami was a massive blow after the disappointment of missing out on the Australian Open.

Murray’s determination to return to the upper levels of the game is a testament to his fighting qualities and no one in their right mind would ever write him off. That said, the next couple of months are going to be critical in identifying what he can realistically expect to achieve back on tour.

Having covered Dubai for Prime Video I’m now looking forward to hosting their coverage from Monte Carlo and Rome before the French Open. I’m also thrilled to be part of IMG Radio’s coverage of the “Open “Golf Championship immediately after Wimbledon and before the North American hard court swing.

I’ve also been part of the UK Pro League coverage on BT Sport which has been set up to help develop some of the countries lesser known pros who have been so badly affected by the travel restrictions which have blighted the lives of top class athletes all over the world along with everyone else. Eight weeks of competition lead to a finale at the Copper Box Arena in London at the end of the year which should be a special event.

As for Tottenham! Well that Europa League exit was a mighty body blow but I’m still backing Jose Mourinho to turn things around. A cup final triumph and top four finish remains possible, if a touch unlikely! I know many of the supporters are fed up with the manager and his style of play but, in truth, it doesn’t really matter who’s in charge on the pitch. Until the board matches the ambition of the fans, silverware and sustained success at the very highest level will remain elusive and that’s been the story for far too long now.

Enjoy Springtime and keep cheering for your favorites through thick and thin… hard as that can sometimes be!

Best wishes

Marcus

March 21.

2020 - A vision close to hell

So farewell, or rather good riddance to 12 miserable months.

Back in January my vision of 2020 was full of hope both personally and professionally. Little did we know what was coming….. Thanks to the brilliant organisation of so many sporting governing bodies we did manage to get most things back on track, albeit in eerie silence. Three of the four tennis majors were played along with some Masters events before the curtain came down at the 02.

Football regrouped well to keep us entertained on a regular basis and there were some stand out golfing moments.

Then, having sacrificed so much the virus turned mutant and the introduction of Tier 4 has left many close to tears and preparing for a Christmas in name only.

The news is depressing and I have no wish to deepen your gloom. I only hope you have been able to deal with everything thrown at you as best as possible and pray that, after what is sure to be a difficult start to 2021, we gradually return to some degree of normality.

I leave you with my Sporting wish list for the next 12 months and sincerely hope some of your dreams come true as well.

1. A trophy for Spurs under Jose. Sir Harry of Kaneshire with a cup above his head would be seriously emotional!!

2. Sensational “twilight career” performances from Andy Murray and Roger Federer.

3. A winning Dallas Cowboys team.

4. Two wonderful weeks at Wimbledon with a full house every day.

5. The removal of VAR

6. An Olympics to remember in Tokyo.

7. The return to prominence of Bianca Andreescu.

8. Four thrilling Golf majors and European glory in the Ryder Cup.

9. Arsenal keep making us laugh

10. That I manage to reduce my golf handicap by at least 3 strokes. (Say that every year of course!)

    And finally, thanks for all your support this year. Please stay safe and healthy and embrace the joy of life when these dark days eventually fade away.

    Merry Christmas and Happy new Year!!!!!

Fears, Friends and an unknown future.

I certainly never saw it coming!

One minute all systems were go. Lots of Champions League and Premier League work to look forward to followed by trips to Miami, Monte Carlo and Rome for the tennis.

Then nothing. And worse, nobody has a clue as to when the nothing will become something again in the sporting world.

Just about everyone is suffering in one way or another and it’s frightening. As I write this there’s talk that all the airlines could be facing bankruptcy within months. Freelance sports broadcasters like me are just one small part of the nightmare scenario. Not knowing when we might wake up to normality again merely adds to the heightened anxiety.

You realise how important friends and family are at times like this. With so many colleagues in a similar position I can, almost perversely, take some comfort from the sense of collective despair that has so quickly become apparent. We are all in this together and must do everything in our powers to help one another and show responsibility even if at times I feel as though the whole “virus” thing is ludicrous and doesn’t make any sense.

So let’s be kind, considerate and sensible and hope the Government shows leadership and compassion for those self-employed individuals and freelancers who face the prospect of not earning a single penny for months.

To while away the time I’m going to try and write the book I’ve promised to deliver for 30 years and improve my French and my golf (again). Box sets are the other saviour of course. I can also drive my 15 year old son mad with extra GCSE revision…..though even those exams may soon come under threat.

Of course sport doesn’t really matter in the great scheme of things but my God it matters to me and how we will welcome and appreciate even more the glorious irrelevance of it when the curtain finally opens again!!

In the meantime please take care of yourself and those nearest and dearest to you.

Cool times ahead!

I’m writing this on a sun-lit early October afternoon which has an undeniably cool autumnal feel to it.

So it’s time to say good-bye to a remarkable sporting summer that included the highs of an England World Cup cricketing triumph, epic Wimbledon and US Open finals, the drama of the Solheim Cup and the eventual (but predictable) disappointment of watching Spurs lose in the Champions League final.

I was lucky enough to be at all those events, aside from the Lords drama which frustratingly clashed with that magnificent duel between Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer on centre court. Rafa’s roller-coaster ride against Daniil Medvedev in New York followed and has, of course, left him just one behind the Swiss Maestro at the top of the Slam list. With Djokovic four back and much younger than the other two it will be very interesting to see how that list changes over the next year or two. My feeling (not necessarily the same as my desire) is that by the time all three have hung up their rackets Djokovic will lead the way ahead of Nadal with Fed third. I write that with no great degree of confidence though!

From a personal point of view I was delighted to be asked to join the Prime Video line-up at the “Open.” Led by a dynamic management team Prime will continue to innovate and bring a new dimension to televised sport.

In the mean-time the focus shifts to the Rugby World Cup, discussions as to whether Spurs will learn to hang on to a lead (and indeed recover from their mauling by Bayern Munich) and the inspirational return of Andy Murray whose singles comeback is gaining momentum against, it has to be said, the expectation of many. It’s still a case of one step at a time for the great man but maybe, just maybe, he will be a major force in the game again come 2020. Now that really would be cool!

Brave New World

It’s funny how you become accustomed to certain things, almost take them for granted, and then suddenly realise that life always moves on.

Having been part of the Sky Sports fabric on and off for nearly 22 years it’s been strange to adjust to a new way of working without some very familiar friends and faces alongside me.

I’ve been lucky to retain a number of contacts within the business that ensures a variety of work and over the next few months I hope to expand that connection and embark on some fresh adventures.

I will certainly miss being at Indian Wells this year though. Of all the tennis trips that felt the most exotic. From the hustle and bustle of LA to the magnificent setting of the Indian Wells Tennis Garden there’s a touch of magic about that Masters event and I cherish the memories of years gone by. I wish the Amazon Prime team well out there and look forward to following their progress.

Football rather than tennis is dominating my working life at the moment which was fine until Tottenham’s week of woe. Premier League and Champions League commitments will keep me busy till the summer when all thoughts switch to the grass courts of Wimbledon and golden afternoons under a burning sun.

By then, hopefully, there will be more news to share but, in the meantime may your favourite players rise to the challenge and your favourite team exceed expectations……as long as it’s not at the expense of Super (sometimes) Spurs!!

Goodbye-Hello

The tree is up and there’s non stop Christmas songs on the radio so there’s no doubting we are fully into the festive swing even if the never ending BREXIT negotiations are enough to drain the goodwill of one and all!

It’s a festive feeling with a twist of regret and excitement for me. Regret that after 11 years the usual gang won’t be gearing up for another year of tennis on Sky. Excitement at what the future might bring, both personally and in the wonderful world of sport and beyond.

So here is my 2019 wish list in no particular order.

1. A triumphant return to the tour for Andy Murray. I hope he can give us a reminder of what we took for granted for so long….weeks of excitement mixed with his frustration, brilliance and remarkable determination to succeed. How we have missed him as the weeks and months have gone by.

2. Silverware for Spurs. I don’t care if it’s the League Cup or even the Europa League (I’m writing this hours before the Barcelona game) I just want to see Poch and Harry clutching a trophy to their chest and then gearing up for glory in the new stadium come next season.

3. Super Bowl success for the Dallas Cowboys. Dak and co have won 5 in a row to turn their campaign around. It’s asking a lot to go all the way but it’s about time.

4. A new album from Billy Joel. Random you will say but ahead of his Wembley gig next summer let’s have something fresh from one of the greatest singer songwriters of all time.

5. A day when BREXIT isn’t mentioned….ok that’s clearly impossible but wouldn’t it be nice!

6. A wonderful chapter at the top of the men’s game that sees the old guard and young guns fighting tooth and nail in a glorious battle of the generations, energising the sport and uniting any growing divisions within the game.

7. Tiger Woods to win another major.

8. Arsene Wenger to return as Arsenal manager.

9. For me to remember that champagne, white wine, red wine, gin and beer in any order is not a good idea.

10. Nor are kebabs after number 9!

I’d like to wish you all a very merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Let’s keep in touch!!

End of the Sky road is nigh!

It’s funny how quickly things change. Autumn appears from nowhere with chilly nights and frosty mornings and suddenly that long, lingering and desperately hot summer is but a fond memory.

A lot of people became very hot under the collar as the US Open provided it’s usual moments of madness. Serena’s meltdown was, of course, the main talking point. I couldn’t believe some of the nonsense written and discussed in the aftermath of an event that did nothing to enhance the reputation of the USTA, the WTA and Serena herself but the time has come to move on.

The Laver Cup provided some wonderful entertainment and was beautifully staged in a very receptive Chicago. Many question it’s longevity but there can be no doubting the instant impact it’s made. I wonder if the newly created Davis Cup will attract the same positive publicity?

And so we head towards the closing stages of a season that will mark the end of Sky’s tennis coverage. With Rafael Nadal on the side lines Novak Djokovic has a golden chance to end a year he began so uncertainly as World Number one. Some achievement that would be!

We must make the most of Andy Murray during the Asian swing before he heads into a period of hibernation ahead of 2019. There have been genuinely encouraging signs for the Scot and, as Tiger Woods has just proved, true greats can bounce back against all the odds. I for one continue to believe we have not seen the last of Britain’s greatest ever player.

The Sky team will cover events in China and Shanghai before heading for a ( possibly tearful) farewell at the 02 via the Paris Masters.

Afterwards……well, we’ll worry about that then and, in the meantime, enjoy what should be a stirring climax to a year that’s also seen the emergence of another Brit, Jack Draper, a 16 year old making giant strides in the game. As the father of two young sons with a passion for the sport I fully appreciate everything he has already achieved and sacrificed and wish him all the luck in the world.

See you soon.

Time for a change at Wimbledon

It's a bright, sunny Monday morning and I've woken up full of mixed emotions. Wimbledon 2018 reached it's conclusion the previous evening which means I have a few days to relax and recuperate. At the start of the weekend I couldn't wait to put my feet up but now I'm suffering severe withdrawal symptoms. 

No tennis, and no football either with the World Cup done and dusted too so time to reflect on the grass court season and the Wimbledon fortnight in particular. A couple of things have become crystal clear. The All England Club has to introduce 5th set tie-breaks to avoid a repeat of what happened on the second Friday. Of course that Kevin Anderson-John Isner epic was captivating in an almost ghoulish sort of way but it left the South African with no reasonable chance of being fit enough to make Sunday's final competitive. My compromise would be a tie-break if the final set reaches 12-12.

I also firmly believe the roof has to be kept open whenever possible. Obviously it had to be closed for the start of the Nadal-Djokovic semi-final on Friday evening and the rules state that both players must agree to it being re-opened upon any resumption the following day. Naturally Djokovic, supremely talented indoors, had good reason to say no. Yet Wimbledon should be an outdoor event whenever possible so I'd take that decision out of the hands of the players. You can start a match outdoors and finish inside so why not the other way round?

In terms of the tennis Novak looks close to his best again and will be the man to beat for the rest of the year. I hope Roger Federer shrugs off the disappointment of his defeat and suspect the lack of serious challenges he faced after missing another clay court season cost him dear when Anderson began to stage that remarkable comeback. Federer should also  have been given a match away from centre court prior to that stage of the Championships.

Juan Martin Del Potro continues to impress and I'm expecting him to have a great end to the year. There were glimpses of the old Stan Wawrinka and Rafa was a joy to watch on grass. I won't forget the match point he saved against Djokovic with that wonderful drop-shot in a hurry.

And of course my man Mr Gulbis gave us a run for our money and a reminder of what a charismatic and talented player he is. Stay fit Ernie and continue that rise up the rankings please.

Some of the women's matches were a joy, particularly the later stages of Daria Kasatkina against Angelique Kerber. The lack of predictability in the ladies singles was a source of fascination but it was entirely predictable to see the remarkable Serena Williams make such an impact so early in her come-back. Her presence and power have served her well for many years and there is every sign she will continue to rule the roost for a while yet unless she decides to have another child.

That Kerber was able to deal with the pressure so admirably in the final spoke volumes for her tenacity and made her a very worthwhile Champion. And, after their world cup debacle, it finally gave German sports fans something to shout about!!!!

Sky will be broadcasting the Canadian Masters and Cincinnati in August. See you then! 

Hard court heroics

It's been a long, dark and rather wet spring but the arrival of the European clay court season is always a pleasant reminder that summer is not too far away.

Bearing in mind the horrendous weather of late it was a real pleasure to head over to Indian Wells recently and what a finale we had to that event! The Sunday showdown between Roger Federer and Juan Martin Del Potro was one of the most exciting and incident filled clashes I have had the pleasure to witness first hand.

Federer can become pretty animated and angry when he's losing and there was further evidence of that as Del Po somehow triumphed to claim his first Masters title. I tipped him to win the US Open at the start of the year (when I also said Federer would pick up the Aussie crown again-how clever am I!) and he now looks a great bet for that. Incidentally, I've gone with Rafa and Grigor Dimitrov for the French and Wimbledon though the latter needs to find some form sooner rather than later.

The Miami Masters also ended in thrilling fashion with John Isner edging past an increasingly forlorn Alexander Zverev who's erratic forehand has to be a growing source of concern. We could not have wished for a more charming or under-assuming Champion in Isner who ensured Crandon Park's last staging of the event would be fondly remembered by all Americans.

As for the clay......well Rafa looked the part in his Davis Cup return and will almost certainly be the dominant force again. I hope that Novak Djokovic regains some rhythm and confidence now he has reunited with Marian Vajda. From a British point of view Kyle Edmund has to forget his frustrating post-Australian Open malaise and reproduce the sort of form that gave Nadal a run for his money in Monte-Carlo last year.

Follow all the action from Monte, Barcelona, Madrid and Rome with me live on Sky Sports from April 16th.

From down under to top of the world

I've always loved the Australian Open. To be more accurate I've always loved the Australian Open aside from its schedule in the calendar. To have a slam so early in the year has always struck me as being wrong but it's not going to change so there's no point moaning about it!

What I do love is the heat, the atmosphere, the late nights and the great stories the tournament invariably throws up.

Roger Federer has been THE story for the past couple of years. Now the proud holder of 20 grand slam titles he continues to float around the court before delivering his assortment of killer blows. I went out on a limb recently by predicting this will be his last full year on the tour.

Believe me I hope I am wrong!

 Whatever happens let's just enjoy everything he has to offer for now. A return to Number one in the world beckons. Follow his progress in Rotterdam on SKY SPORTS this February.

Watching Caroline Wozniacki win her first grand slam title brought a tear to my eye. Harshly criticised by many when she topped the rankings a few years ago having not won a major she has overcome plenty of adversity to finally reach the promised land. I only hope the gallant Simona Halep lays her hands on some serious silverware in the not too distant future. Both players fought magnificently throughout to reinvigorate the womens game at a time when more questions about equal prize money and the financial state of the sport in general are being raised.

SKY will have coverage of Rotterdam, Rio and Dubai over the next few weeks before we head to the California desert for the first Masters event of the year in Indian Wells.

Enjoy, and may your favourite players scale new heights.

Confused State of mind

I still can't reach a satisfactory conclusion about the US Open. 

Don't get me wrong. I'm thrilled for Rafa and enjoyed the unlikely conclusion to the women's singles too.

Yet the absence of so many big names inevitably took the gloss of the event and prompted a number of relevant questions relating to the physical intensity on the men's tour in particular.

Still, with Rafa and Roger having shared the slams in this remarkable retro year we can now look forward to an intriguing final few months of the campaign with the year end number one ranking intriguingly within the grasp of both.

You will be able to see all the twists and turns on Sky Sports this autumn with the Shanghai and Paris Masters followed by the World tour finals at the 02. We will also bring you the best of the action from Beijing and Basel among other venues. it's a great shame that Sky won't have the contract from 2019 but we won't compromise on the quality of our coverage in the meantime.

Happy viewing!