Georgie Parker becomes instant fan favourite alongside Jelena Dokic on US Open coverage

Channel 9's decision to sign Georgie Parker for their Olympics and US Open coverage has proven a masterstroke, with the former hockey and AFLW player becoming an instant fan favourite. Parker had a successful career with the Hockeyroos, playing over 100 games for the national team and representing Australia at the 2016 Olympics.

She also played three games for Collingwood in the AFLW competition, and has since turned to a career in the media after retiring as a professional athlete. Parker has done some work in the media over the last few years, but only in recent months has she shot to prominence on a national scale.

The Nine Network snapped her up to host some of their Olympics and US Open coverage, and she's become a massive hit. Todd Woodbridge normally fronts Channel 9's tennis coverage alongside Dokic, but Parker has filled Woodbridge's role during the US Open.

She's formed a dynamic duo with Jokic and slipped into the role seamlessly, with fans raving about her on social media. The 44-year-old has showcased her impressive knowledge of tennis over the last two weeks, and had no troubles while in the presenter's seat during the Paris Olympics either.

One person wrote on social media: "Your work in the Olympics coverage and now hosting the US Open has been first class. And what an amazing operator Jelena Dokic is! A natural, an expert, so well informed but casual and relatable at the same time."

Another person wrote: "You work hard, you research, you know stuff, you are well respected, and well there’s that hockey career thing that you worked a lifetime to achieve. You are a legend."

Parker wrote on Instagram earlier this week: "Just wondering if I’ll ever stop pinching myself that this is my job? Currently on US Open hosting duties Like sorry, what?"

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Alex de Minaur suffers US Open heartbreak in quarter-final loss

Parker was in the studio on Wednesday as Alex de Minaur bowed out in the quarter-finals. The Aussie star was clearly hampered by injury as he went down 6-3 7-5 6-2 to Jack Draper.

De Minaur seemingly had his best chance to make a first career grand slam semi, but wasn't moving freely as his hip injured flared up. The World No.10 revealed in his post-match press conference that he was far from 100 per cent, but never considered retiring hurt.

"It's not part of me, part of my DNA," he said. "I don't like it, if I'm honest. I'm always going to give my best. And, look, it could have been naive of me, but I genuinely thought that there was a chance even in that last game going in.

"I thought that there was a chance that I was going to change the match around and go out there and win it. So at every stage in that match, I gave myself a shot, with my attitude, with my mindset, to go out there.

"I had some chances as well, that who knows if I would have taken them, then maybe I would still be on court right now. So retiring, that's not part of me. Over my career, you'll very rarely witness that."

Even Draper admitted he knew de Minaur wasn't at his top level. "He was struggling a little bit today with something and that helped me a little bit," the Brit said in his on-court interview.