Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli will join ITV Sport’s commentary team for its live free-to-air coverage of the forthcoming French Open at Roland Garros.
The reigning ladies’ singles winner, who retired following her dramatic triumph at SW19 last year, will lend her expertise and insight to ITV’s usual French Open presentation team, led once again by John Inverdale.
Based at Roland Garros for the tournament’s fortnight, the ITV team also includes four-time Grand Slam winner Jim Courier, Andy Murray’s former coach Mark Petchey, Fabrice Santoro, who played in a record 70 Grand Slams, and former British ladies number one Sam Smith.
Nick Mullins reprises his role as lead commentator, while Celina Hinchcliffe also returns this year as ITV’s roving reporter around Roland Garros.
ITV’s French Open coverage begins on May 25 with live coverage of each day’s play throughout the tournament.
Due to ITV4’s coverage of the final week of the Indian Premier League cricket tournament, the first five days of the French Open will be shared across ITV4 and ITV3, with the rest of the tournament on ITV4, while the mens’ and women’s singles finals will be broadcast live on ITV.
Niall Sloane, ITV Director of Sport, said: “Marion promises to be an outstanding addition to our French Open coverage.
“As current Wimbledon champion she has a fresh and sharp insight into the demands of the game at this level, which is sure to enrich our broadcasts throughout the tournament.”
Bartoli will work alongside John Inverdale for the first time since the veteran presenter provoked controversy last summer when describing the Frenchwoman’s physical appearance in an unflattering manner, during a BBC Radio 5 live interview with Lindsay Davenport, in the aftermath of her Wimbledon triumph.
On working with Bartoli, Inverdale said: “I know that the team, with Marion as a fantastic addition providing real insight into both the tennis and Roland Garros as a venue, are all looking forward to it enormously.”
“Both the men’s and women’s games are intriguing at the moment, with the old guard being challenged by so much exciting new talent.”
ITV Sport has covered the French Open since 2012 and this year’s tournament is the last to be covered under the broadcaster’s current three-year deal with the French Tennis Federation.
ITV will again share live coverage of the second tennis Grand Slam of the year with British Eurosport.
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