ESPN is tapping College GameDay host Rece Davis as a studio host for its upcoming two weeks of Wimbledon coverage, continuing a year of shake-ups to the network’s talent lineup for tennis. This is Davis’ first foray into tennis, which he told SBJ was initially broached with him by ESPN President/Content Burke Magnus during contract negotiations last year. Davis signed a multiyear extension with ESPN in April 2025.
“If you were a sports fan at all, you grew up watching Wimbledon and being mesmerized by everything that goes into one of the great events on the sports calendar,” Davis said. “You get to a point in your career where if you get an opportunity to do something as high-profile and prestigious and memorable, from both a personal and professional standpoint, it’s a blessing.”
Davis and Malika Andrews will combine to lead the network’s on-site studio coverage and “Breakfast at Wimbledon” shows throughout the tournament. Chris McKendry was the network’s primary studio host for Wimbledon coverage last year but has shifted to a play-by-play role starting with the 2026 Australian Open.
Davis said he will try to bring fresh eyes and amplify the network’s stable of analysts. “I’m approaching it with the knowledge that tennis fans are discriminating and demanding, and they should be,” he said. “The best thing I can do is put my analysts, whoever they are, in the studio in positions to shine and be great.” One of those analysts has already helped him, albeit indirectly: Davis said listening to Andy Roddick’s “Served” podcast has been “enormously helpful” in preparations. Roddick signed a multiyear deal to contribute to ESPN’s Wimbledon and U.S. Open coverage earlier this year.
“My fandom in following [tennis] perhaps can help people who watch tennis, but maybe not like Andy does,” Davis said. “I’m not going to be shy about, ‘Give me a little more clarification about that’ ... I hear a lot about growing the tent, bringing people in. That’s one way to do it with our coverage.”
