Leif Shiras

Leif Shiras - announcer and commentator

As an announcer and commentator, Tennis Channel's Leif Shiras' activities have included hosting duties for the WTA Tour, the Fed Cup final and the Davis Cup semifinals and final. A former Grand Slam competitor, Shiras joined the network when it launched in 2003.

With 13 years in the announcer booth for both the men’s and women’s professional tennis tours, Shiras is also currently the lead analyst for FOX Sports Net’s international coverage of the ATP tour; a play-by-play and color commentator for the United Kingdom’s Sky network and its daily coverage of the 2004 ATP Masters Series events and US Open; and is a host for World TeamTennis’ season-long television package. Shiras is also a contributing writer to such tennis publications as Tennis and Tennis Life.

Shiras’ previous experience includes other commentator stints for ESPN’s ATP tour, Davis Cup and NCAA events, USA Network’s coverage of the U.S. Open, and TNT Latin America’s ATP tour telecasts.

As a tennis pro, Shiras competed from 1984 to 2003 in both open singles and veteran’s categories, with wins against such stars as Pete Sampras, Ivan Lendl, and Kevin Curren. In 1995, he was the Wimbledon 35’s Doubles Champion; was in the Wimbledon Championship Final Sixteen Singles in 1996; played on the US Davis Cup team in 1989 and 1991; and, in 1997, was a US Open Mixed Doubles semifinalist and ranked #31 in the world on the ATP Tour.

An NCAA All-American in 1979 and 1980, Shiras graduated from Princeton University in 1981 with a bachelor of arts degree in English. A native of Milwaukee, he currently lives in Laguna Hills, Calif., with his wife and their two sons.