Seven's summer of tennis

Now that we've regained the Ashes, Australia's eyes will turn to the tennis with more games than ever being served up on Seven through December and January.

For the first time, Perth's own Basil Zempilas and Mark Gibson will host the Hyundai Hopman Cup live nationally from the Perth Arena on 7mate in high definition.

After years of coverage on Ten, head of sport at Seven Saul Shtein didn't hesitate when the chance came to snap up the rights to the first tennis tournament of the year.

"It became available and it was a no-brainer," he said from his Sydney office.

The Hopman Cup will start Seven's summer of tennis from December 28, followed by the Australian Open series events - the Brisbane International, APIA International Sydney, Kooyong Classic - and culminating in the grand slam event of the Asia/Pacific, the Australian Open.

Seven will also broadcast A Night with Roger Federer and Friends, featuring a gala charity exhibition match between the 17-time grand slam winner and charismatic Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga - on Wednesday, January 8, from Rod Laver Arena, with commentary from Bruce McAvaney.

"Basically all our matches, wherever possible no matter what the sport is, go live," said Shtein.

"With the way communications now work and social media, when it's not live people can find out the results so I'd rather they find it out from us than somewhere else."

And Seven will really be putting this on display, with - for the first time -every Hopman Cup game to be shown live in Perth.

Hosts Zempilas and Gibson will throw to some of the biggest names in Australian tennis and sports broadcasting, including Darren Cahill, Fred Stolle, Jelena Dokic and Kerryn Pratt.

Eight of the world's top 20 players, including Tsonga and Australia's top players Sam Stosur and Bernard Tomic, are set to take to the court.

While Zempilas is an old hand at tennis commentary, Today Tonight reporter Gibson may appear a strange choice as his co-host.

However, as a youngster Gibson achieved a top-ranking junior status and was a State representative in the sport. Following this, he was a tennis coach for five years.

He's travelled across the globe to watch Wimbledon, the US Open and the Australian Open and is relishing the opportunity to combine work with one of his greatest passions.

"Basil can't do it all and I asked him who he thought, and Gibbo's name came up. So I had a chat to him because I wouldn't have thought it," Shtein said. "Turns out the guy is an absolute tennis nut."

Meanwhile, revered commentator McAvaney will again be in the chair throughout the Australian Open, with expert commentary from four-time grand slam champion Jim Courier. Should his playing commitments allow, Lleyton Hewitt will return, as well as a stable of other commentators.

Around the courts of Melbourne Park, Perth's Scherri-Lee Biggs along with others will bring all the colour, characters and fun of the Open.

Back in the hot seat will be Todd Woodbridge. After hosting the Wimbledon coverage again in 2013, he steps into the commentary box for his ninth year.

Woodbridge started playing doubles with Mark Woodforde in 1990. Together, "The Woodies" won all the grand slams as well as two Olympics medals. All up, the pair won 61 career doubles titles, making them the most successful doubles team in men's tennis history.

"This and Wimbledon are the two favourites for me," he said.

"The Australian Open obviously holds massive importance because it's the home one and it's the place Mark Woodford and I won our first gram slam title together."

According to Woodbridge, powerhouse Serena Williams is a shoo-in for the women's title but, when it comes to the men, he thinks there may be an upset.

"I was leaning towards Djokovic but the last week I've been on court using the ball that's going to be used for the tournament and I think it really favours Nadal," he said.

"He's had an amazing comeback, winning the French and US Open, and I think he's the man to beat."