Sunrise stars David Koch and Sam Armytage blast their own network

Sunrise presenters Sam Armytage and David Koch have blasted their bosses for failing to show all of Ash Barty’s opening Wimbledon game.

Channel Seven planned to show world number one Barty after Nick Kyrgios’ match with fellow Australian Jordan Thompson on Tuesday.

But the men’s thriller went to five sets meaning it overlapped with Barty’s clash against Chinese player Saisai Zheng.

Unable to air both games at the same time, Seven opted to stick with the climatic conclusion of the men’s game and switch to Barty’s match during breaks.

This left several fans outraged, particularly feminists who claimed it was sexist to preference the men’s game. 

Seven's coverage decision left several fans outraged, particularly feminists who said it was sexist to preference the men's game

Seven’s coverage decision left several fans outraged, particularly feminists who said it was sexist to preference the men’s game

Nick Kyrgios hits a forehand against Jordan Thompson of Australia during his first match at Wimbledon

Nick Kyrgios hits a forehand against Jordan Thompson of Australia during his first match at Wimbledon

Sam Armytage and David Koch criticised their own network over the decision on Sunrise on Wednesday morning.

Armytage told viewers ‘don’t blame us everyone’. She offered an apology to fans and slammed ‘the powers that be’ for the decision. 

Explaining what happened, sports presenter Mark Beretta told the pair: ‘Nick Kyrgios started his match at 11pm. 1am is when Ash Barty’s match starts. 

‘Nick Kyrgios and Jordan Thompson are slugging it out, running along. 

‘People have been watching for two hours and that’s the climax of the match – we’re going to say “Let’s go to Ash now?” That’s the difficult decision.’ 

‘So what we did, we showed a bit of Ash, and the best of Ash that was happening and the best (of the other match) and we flicked between the two matches until Nick was done and then we went with Ash. 

‘That’s how it unfolded. And the nature of our arrangement with Wimbledon is that we can only show one match on one channel at any one time. 

‘So it was not an option to show it on two channels’. 

Koch said the decision to snub Barty was like ‘cutting out Mother Teresa’.

Sam Armytage and David Koch (pictured on Wednesday) slammed their own network over the decision on Sunrise on Wednesday morning

Sam Armytage and David Koch (pictured on Wednesday) slammed their own network over the decision on Sunrise on Wednesday morning

The executive editor of ABC News John Lyons slammed Channel Seven for its decision

The executive editor of ABC News John Lyons slammed Channel Seven for its decision

Some people, however, said they were glad to be able to watch the men's game because they felt it was more exciting

Some people, however, said they were glad to be able to watch the men’s game because they felt it was more exciting

Ashleigh Barty celebrates victory over Saisai Zheng on day two of the Wimbledon Championships

Ashleigh Barty celebrates victory over Saisai Zheng on day two of the Wimbledon Championships

Beretta again defended the decision, saying: ‘It is like watching a movie for two hours and before the finish switch’.

Koch then demanded that Seven guarantee to show all of Ash Barty’s games.

Beratta said he couldn’t guarantee that but said ‘there’s a good chance’. 

Armytage then said it was not Beretta’s fault and took a swipe at her bosses.

‘Berretts has explained this. We are the first on air after the coverage, it is not his fault is that the powers that be have made this coverage decision. 

‘We are sorry but hopefully we will work it out and bring you the rest of Ash Barty,’ she said.

If people can watch my matches, great. If they can’t, they can’t 

Beretta added: ‘What a great situation to have two great matches, the women’s world number one and two great Australian men.’

Koch then mocked him, taking a swipe at Kyrgios as he said sarcastically: ‘Two great Australian men’.

Kyrgios, the wold number 43 famous for temper tantrums on court, beat Thompson in the fifth set, setting up a second round tie with Rafael Nadal while Barty brushed Zheng aside in two sets.  

After her match, Barty was asked if she was angry that her match was not shown on Channel Seven.

‘How do you want me to answer that one? If people can watch my matches, great. If they can’t, they can’t. That’s up to the broadcaster, that’s not up to me,’ she said. 

When asked about the controversy, Kyrgios said: ‘I don’t have much to do with that. 

‘But obviously, I mean, Ash, what she’s doing on the tennis court now is pretty special. I actually told a lot of people that I thought she was going to win Wimbledon as well,’ he said.

‘I mean, I thought they probably would show both. I don’t really have much to say about that. You know, sorry.’ 

Barty, from Brisbane, became world number one last month after she won the French Open. 

Explaining what happened, sports presenter Mark Beretta (pictured) told the pair: 'Nick Kyrgios started his match at 11pm. 1am is when Ash Barty's match starts

Explaining what happened, sports presenter Mark Beretta (pictured) told the pair: ‘Nick Kyrgios started his match at 11pm. 1am is when Ash Barty’s match starts

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