First Serve: Nine Entertainment tennis commentator Jim Courier misses Australian Open first night because of Los Angeles fires

Nine commentator Jim Courier was absent from the opening night of the Australian Open, kept away by the devastating fires tearing through Los Angeles.

First Serve is your wrap-up of all the media gossip and banter from the 2025 Australian Open.

Tennis legend Jim Courier was absent from the opening night of the broadcast due to the LA wildfires.

Courier always returns home between the United Cup and the Australian Open and he was just about to get on the plane to Melbourne when the danger closed on his area in Brentwood.

John McEnroe, Todd Woodbridge and Lleyton Hewitt spearheaded the prime time commentary on Sunday night with Josh Eagle doing the on court post-match interview with Alexander Zverev which Courier would normally do.

Pam Shriver is also missing from the ESPN coverage, saying she’s in LA “helping manage my family’s needs”.

Jim Courier is a traditional part of Nine’s Australian Open tennis broadcast team Picture: Supplied

Tennis Australia chair’s unforced error on Lord Mayor

Lord Mayor Nick Reece saw the funny side after accidentally being called the wrong name on opening night.

Tennis Australia chair Jayne Hrdlicka welcomed a star-studded group of guests to the O hospitality space when she introduced him as ‘Nick Evans’.

Nick Reece watches Aryna Sabalenka on Day 1 of the Australian Open. Picture: Mark Stewart

He bounced up and spoke to the room, proclaiming ‘I’m Nick Reece’.

“As a pretty humble councillor I’m pretty hard to offend,’’ Reece told First Serve.

“I’ve been called a lot of things. This is an amazing event for Melbourne and I reckon we’ll get over a million people through the turnstiles.”

Reece watched the match from the best seat in the house behind the baseline next to Australian actor Rebel Wilson.

“She promised me she’s going to come back to do the premiere of her new movie,’’ Reece said.

Originally published as First Serve: Nine Entertainment tennis commentator Jim Courier misses Australian Open first night because of Los Angeles fires