Tennis Analyst

Mary Carillo

Mary Carillo has parlayed an injury-shortened professional tennis career into a long and highly acclaimed position in sportscasting.  Known for a rare combination of candor and humor, she has branched out far beyond her original sport into a wide variety of others, plus investigative features, compelling interviews and serving as a host during the Olympics.

Carillo returned to ESPN tennis telecasts in 2003, having worked for the network nine years starting in 1988.  She also handles tennis assignments for CBS and NBC, giving her a “career Grand Slam” for working the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open.  She has also covered tennis for HBO and USA.

Beyond tennis, in 2004 she served as a host for Bravo and CNBC’s Summer Olympic telecasts and NBC’s coverage of the closing ceremonies, as she did for the Winter Games of 2002.  She previously worked as a reporter for NBC at the 2000 Summer Games and the 2002 Winter Games, and covered skiing for CBS at the Winter Games of 1998, 1994 and 1992.  Previously, her CBS assignments included women’s college basketball and gymnastics.  She is also a correspondent for HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, handling a wide variety of topics.

Carillo received a Peabody Award, one of television’s highest honors, for co-writing the HBO documentary Dare to Compete: The Struggle of Women in Sports with Frank DeFord.  She has often been cited by tennis fans and media for excellence.

On the court, Carillo was ranked as high as #33 in singles (Jan. – March 1980), but her best success came in doubles.  Teaming with John McEnroe, she won the French Open mixed doubles title in 1977, her first season as a professional.  Chronic knee problems ended her career in 1980.

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Tagged as: Bio, Tennis