Novak 919: Tennis great takes part in big week for Ben & Liam

Novak Djokovic

• The hosts also secured the newsreading services of Jodie Oddy for a week

With a swarm of International tennis royalty quarantining in Adelaide, everyone is doing their best to catch a look at the stars.

First to nab a sports celebrity to take part in their program, albeit at a distance, was Nova Adelaide’s Ben & Liam. After jumping out of a plane and then working across part of their summer break in the name of ratings, the duo this week set out to secure a tennis great.

Off the back of a recent Nine News Adelaide story about a young boy (Christian, 15) who was lucky enough to get some tennis advice from World #1 Novak Djokovic, Ben & Liam decided that this was their opportunity to also rub shoulders with the tennis superstar.

In an attempt to attract the attention of Novak, Ben & Liam hatched a plan to play a game of tennis, right outside his hotel.

Ben & Liam said yesterday: “Today as soon as the show finishes, we’ll go down to Tynte Street… Stand out the front and play a full, life-size game of tennis and we’ll see if we can get him to come and say hello.”

True to their word, after their show the hosts donned their best tennis outfits and headed to Tynte Street, beginning to play a game of tennis. They soon spotted Novak Djokovic watching from his balcony. The World #1 laughed at the breakfast hosts’ “questionable” tennis skills before claiming: “No, no, wait…Now it’s our turn”, joining in on the game by sharing some volleys with his coach on the balcony.

In appreciation of Djokovic’s time Ben & Liam offered to change the name of the radio station to “NOVAK 919” for a day, with the offer greatly accepted.

Djokovic said: “Yes, I’m expecting to see the ‘K’ right there…!”

On the achievement Ben & Liam said: “Honestly this has been one of our favourite radio moments so far… No Djoke. Forget about Leyton Hewitt, our new favourite tennis player is Novak Djokovic (Unless Leyton plays some tennis with us anytime soon).”

Nova 919 has declared that the Adelaide station will today be re-branded as “NOVAK 919” in honour of its encounter with the tennis superstar.

It’s been a big week for Ben & Liam. The hosts secured the newsreading services of Jodie Oddy for a week as she replaces Taylee Jones who is on leave.

Oddy split suddenly from ARN’s MIX 102.3 late in 2020. She is unable to discuss the reasons behind her departure after signing a non-disclosure agreement with the broadcaster.

Also this week, Ben Harvey revealed on the Ben & Liam breakfast show he had proposed to his longtime partner Samantha Wallace. After “dating” for over five years, Ben told listeners he thought it about time to go the next step and asking Sam to marry him. The proposal came during a holiday in Port Douglas during the summer break.

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