KOLKATA: Sony Pictures Sports Network (SPSN) is all set to serve aces and broadcast the year’s first Grand Slam, Australian Open 2021, live on Sony Six , Sony Ten 2 and Sony Ten 3 channels starting 8 February 2021 in India. As part of the initiative to provide the best international sporting content to a larger audience across India, SPSN will broadcast matches in Hindi on Sony Ten 3 channels while Sony Six and Sony Ten 2 channels will be the destination of the tournament with English commentary.
The Australian Open 2021 would also be the first major grand slam which will welcome a live audience back for the tournament since the lockdown. Fans can expect to watch top seeded players like Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem, Serena Williams, Ash Barty and Simona Halep among others to compete for the prestigious Australian Open trophies - Norman Brooks Challenge Cup (Men’s) and Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup (Women’s) trophy.
The sports broadcaster will bring the best action from Melbourne Park and provide in-depth insights from the tournament on their studio show, Extraaa Serve. Former tennis players like Somdev Devvarman, Gaurav Natekar, Purav Raja and Enrico Piperno are all set to feature as expert panelists on Extraaa Serve while Manish Batavia, Gaurav Natekar and Atish Thukral will provide Hindi commentary for the tournament on Sony Ten 3 channels.
To celebrate the tennis extravaganza and welcome a star studded contingent from across the globe at Australian Open 2021, SPSN has launched its campaign The Greats Are Back. The campaign film revolves around the premise that the greatest tennis players would make one of the biggest comebacks in tennis history in Australia after a global setback faced due to the pandemic.
SPSN has also roped in four sponsors for the event – Rolex, Mondelez, Lenovo, and Pernod Ricard.
“Sony Sports is happy to flag off the tennis calendar year by bringing one of the most awaited sporting properties, Australian Open 2021 to its viewers. The first grand slam of the year, it is especially significant as we will see the greats of tennis from across the world back in action at Melbourne Park and is also the first grand slam to host fans in the stands post the lockdown. Additionally, the Indian sporting year has started on a positive note and we hope it continues with wildcard entry, Sumit Nagal, who is making his debut at the Happy Slam and playing on the stage of greats,” Sony Pictures Networks India distribution chief revenue officer, sports business head Rajesh Kaul said.
