ESPN confirmed that analysts Brad Gilbert and Pam Shriver will not be part of this year’s Australian Open coverage and are no longer with the network.
“Brad Gilbert and Pam Shiver are no longer with ESPN,” a spokesperson told Front Office Sports. “We are grateful to them for their many years of collaboration and wish them well in their future endeavors.”
Shriver, 63, has been an analyst for ESPN since 1990 — six years before she officially retired as a player.
“Thanks for the 35+ amazing years,” Shriver posted on X. “I recall AO 1990, after an early round loss, working for ESPN for the first time. I was prepared for more, but was told it was time to streamline.”
Gilbert, 64, has been with the network as an analyst since 2004. He retired as a player in 1995 and has also served as a coach for Grand Slam champions Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Andy Murray and Coco Gauff.
ESPN is adding Malika Andrews as host for the second week of the Australian Open, following Katie George for the first week, and shifting Chris McKendry to play-by-play coverage.
Match/studio analysts will include John McEnroe, Chris Evert, Caroline Wozniacki, Mary Joe Fernandez, James Blake, Sam Querrey and CoCo Vandeweghe. With Cliff Drysdale retiring last year, McKendry will join the play-by-play team of Chris Fowler, Patrick McEnroe, Jason Goodall and Mike Monaco.
Kris Budden will report from Melbourne Park, providing on-site updates, interviews and feature storytelling.
Coverage plans for the remaining three Grand Slam events of the year have not been finalized.
“We regularly evolve our on-air teams. Talent assignments vary by event and year, and not every contributor appears at every tournament,” the spokesperson told FOS. “This year’s AO lineup reflects the specific coverage approach. We are still working on line-up plans for Wimbledon and US Open.”
Unknown is the future status of analyst Darren Cahill, who also will not be part of this year’s coverage from Melbourne. The 60-year-old Australian has been with the network since the 2007 Australian Open while also being named the 2023 ATP Coach of the Year while working with Jannik Sinner.
The 2026 Australian Open begins Jan. 18 and concludes with the men’s final on Feb. 1.
–Field Level Media
