Seven's summer of tennis - Seven West Media

HOST / COMMENTATOR
TODD
WOODBRIDGE
HOST
— MEDIBANK INTERNATIONAL
COMMENTATOR
— BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL
— MEDIBANK INTERNATIONAL
— AUSTRALIAN OPEN
Todd hit his first tennis ball at two, played his first
tournament at six and decided to be a tennis professional
when he was 10.
By the time he was 15, Todd had qualified for his first
professional tennis tournament at the Brisbane Challenger.
Although it was his first time, he won two rounds in that
tournament.
Todd won the Australian, French and Wimbledon Juniors
doubles titles in 1988 and Australian and French Junior
doubles in 1989. Moreover, he won seven Grand Slam doubles
titles as a junior. He was a finalist in singles at the Wimbledon
Juniors and Australian Open Juniors in ‘87 and ‘89. As a
result, he was the No. 1 junior doubles player and No. 6 in
singles in the world in 1987.
Todd started playing doubles with Mark Woodforde in 1990.
Together, “The Woodies” won all the Grand Slams as well
as the Olympic Games gold medal in Atlanta in 1996 and
the silver medal at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. When they
won the French Open in 2000, the Woodies broke the record
of 57 career doubles titles held by Peter Fleming and John
McEnroe and Bob Hewitt and Frew McMillan. All up, the
pair won 61 career doubles titles, making them the most
successful doubles team in men’s tennis history.
Todd is now fast earning a reputation as a commentator who
isn’t afraid to speak his mind. 2010 is his fifth year as part of
Seven’s on-air team for the summer of tennis and he thinks
it’s going to be especially interesting.
“Roger [Federer] and Rafa [Nadal] have finally come back to
the field,” he says. “Don’t expect the sheer dominance they
have had in the past. Now we have the likes of [Andy] Murray,
[Novak] Djokovic and [Juan Martin] Del Potro. For me, there
are five real contenders for the men’s title.
“And [Justine] Henin and [Kim] Clijsters coming back has
given the women’s side a real injection and will do great
things. Serena [Williams] has really dominated but this is
really going to apply pressure.”
Away from the Channel Seven coverage, Todd has had a busy
year. He’s now the Davis Cup coach, the national head of
men’s tennis and in 2010, continues his role as tournament
director for the Australian Open Legends event.