BBC make enormous change to Wimbledon protection as Serena Williams impacted
The BBC will pilot courtside commentary with Laura Robson for Serena Williams’ first-round clash against Maya Joint on Centre Court at Wimbledon 2026, marking the first time the Beeb has trialled the format at the tournament
It’s a major change(Image: Tim Clayton, Getty Images)
The BBC will trial courtside commentary for Serena Williams’ remarkable return to singles action on Tuesday. The seven-time Wimbledon champion has recently come out of retirement and faces Maya Joint last on Centre Court in what will mark her first singles match since 2022.
And the BBC will be overhauling its coverage, with new pundit Laura Robson stationed in a whisper position for the showcase first-round encounter and providing live commentary for viewers at home. It marks the first occasion the Beeb will test courtside coverage for Wimbledon.
Alex Kay-Jelski, the Director of BBC Sport, revealed the fresh initiative on Tuesday morning ahead of Williams’ fixture. “We’re adding more analysis,” he told a small group of journalists.
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“You’ll see Laura, hopefully, in the courtside position today for Serena, which I know other broadcasters have done, but it’s good, it’s insight for Wimbledon, BBC Wimbledon Viewers. It’s something new, something different. I think we should just try stuff.”
The BBC has recently struck a new deal with the All England Club to screen Wimbledon until 2033. And the broadcaster has been updating its coverage, recruiting Robson, Jamie Murray, and Eugenie Bouchard as pundits this year, reports the Mirror.
“The whole sports media landscape is just changing every single year. There is just so much more analysis now across all sports, tennis included.
“There is the whole development of how important visualised pods have become means that, actually, people act a little bit more relaxed on the screen,” Kay-Jelski explained.
“I think it’s just, try, try, try, and then try not to get too stressed if something doesn’t work, because it’s, I think, the reason you can end up staying the same for a decade or two decades, regardless of the sport or the broadcaster, because you’re a bit scared to try. I don’t think we should be scared to try.”
Other broadcasters have woven live courtside analysis into their own programming. Robson has adopted the same hushed role for the likes of TNT Sports at the French Open, and Sky Sports at the US Open and ATP and WTA Tour events.
It’s a novel approach for Wimbledon, though, and it’s understood that commentators can switch live to Robson during the changeovers.
However, the BBC’s newest trial may prove more demanding on Centre Court, famous for being so quiet you could hear a pin drop. “I guess we’ll find out,” the Director of BBC Sport noted when questioned about the potential noise issues.
“And again, you know, maybe later, you’ll go, ‘Oh, well done for trying. That was actually really insightful’. And maybe half of you will go, ‘What a waste of time’. That’s fine. Like, honestly, super at peace with that. The worst thing we can do is not try.”
