Tim Henman has voiced his support for the BBC to recruit Andy Roddick as a pundit or commentator for this year's Wimbledon coverage. The former British No. 1 believes Roddick's addition would help refresh the broadcaster's presentation, which has been criticised as outdated.
Speaking on the podcast 'Off Court With Greg Rusedski', Henman acknowledged that he has no inside knowledge of any changes but praised Roddick's potential contribution. 'I saw that Andy Roddick has just signed up with ESPN, so he’s going to be on-site, which is going to be a great addition,' Henman said. 'I’ve listened to some of his podcast stuff, and he’s always been an articulate and amusing guy.'
The BBC's Wimbledon coverage has faced pressure to modernise, with reports suggesting tournament bosses are seeking innovation. TNT Sports' coverage of the French Open and Sky Sports' dedicated tennis channel have raised expectations for more dynamic broadcasting. Proposed improvements include courtside analysis and the ability for viewers to switch between matches.
Roddick, a former US Open champion and Hall of Famer, recently agreed a multi-year deal with ESPN to cover Wimbledon and the US Open from this June. However, his contract is not exclusive, leaving the door open for him to also appear on the BBC in a guest capacity, similar to John McEnroe's dual role.
Henman, who has been a BBC commentator since 2008, expressed hope that the corporation would seize the opportunity. 'In terms of what’s going on this year at Wimbledon, I’m none the wiser. But the BBC have been at Wimbledon for a long time and you’ve got to keep elevating in all areas so hopefully they’re going to be able to do that,' he added.
