NEW YORK—When you tune into the U.S. Open this year, you won’t have to reach for your remote as often as in years past. ESPN has taken over as the sole tournament broadcaster, from draw ceremony to trophy presentation. (With one notable omission: Qualifying matches, which were previously shown on CBS Sports Network.)
The global sports powerhouse will produce more than 130 hours of television on ESPN and ESPN2—plus online streaming on ESPN3, which will show the tournament exclusively from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. during the first five days, along with the doubles finals.
“I think that we’re throwing as much as we can at it, including countless, countless hours across all the networks,” ESPN commentator Patrick McEnroe says. “For us it’s very, very exciting.”
Without sharing coverage with other channels (CBS, Tennis Channel) like in years past, ESPN will have a heavy load to carry. A production crew of around 800 people will be on the grounds at Flushing Meadows. According to Scott Guglielmino, ESPN’s senior vice president of programming, the exclusivity grants the network the ability to tell more stories with traditional ESPN flavor, and follow them more closely from start to finish. “It allows us to really get into a rhythm and cadence of the tournament,” he says.
ESPN has made significant investments to push forward the technological aspects of its tennis coverage. This year, for the first time at a Grand Slam, “freeD” replay technology will allow for action to be frozen and turned to show different angles.
“I thought it was off the charts,” says Patrick McEnroe, who saw the new technology at Indian Wells this year. “I thought, how come we haven’t been able to use it in other tournaments? Of course, the reason, like all other things, is money. So obviously ESPN is pulling out all the stops.”
“I’m all for trying [new technology],” says Patrick’s brother, former No. 1, and seven-time Grand Slam champion John McEnroe. “I think we need to do more to try to bring the experience of watching on TV better for the fans, the way it is for American football.”
Once the notorious “bad boy” of tennis, John McEnroe is predictably not in support of on-court microphones, a technology ESPN is looking to inject more of into its tennis coverage. Nick Kyrgios would likely agree after his unfortunate spectacle in Montreal.
“For me personally, I don’t think that [microphones] enhance the experience,” John McEnroe says. “Some things are better left unsaid and there should be some level of protection.”
While attendance records can be expected at Flushing Meadows, particularly with Serena Williams’ attempt to complete the Grand Slam, the great majority of tennis fans will be watching the U.S. Open on ESPN, an opportunity and responsibility for the network.
“Tennis is also a sport where it’s more impressive when you’re there,” John McEnroe says. “I’m assuming, and hoping and expecting that ESPN will continue to try to figure out ways to enhance that experience while you’re watching on TV.”
*ESPN3 is not a television network
Monday, August 31
11:00 AM—1:00 PM: First round [ESPN3*, Live]
1:00 PM—6:00 PM: First round [ESPN, Live]
6:00 PM—11:00 PM: First round [ESPN2, Live]
Tuesday, September 1
11:00 AM—1:00 PM: First round [ESPN3*, Live]
1:00 PM—11:00 PM: First round [ESPN, Live]
Wednesday, September 2
11:00 AM—1:00 PM: Second round [ESPN3*, Live]
1:00 PM—6:00 PM: Second round [ESPN, Live]
6:00 PM—11:00 PM: Second round [ESPN2, Live]
Thursday, September 3
11:00 AM—1:00 PM: Second round [ESPN3*, Live]
1:00 PM—5:00 PM: Second round [ESPN, Live]
5:00 PM—11:00 PM: Second round [ESPN2, Live]
Friday, September 4
11:00 AM—1:00 PM: Third round [ESPN3*, Live]
1:00 PM—6:00 PM: Third round [ESPN, Live]
6:00 PM—11:00 PM: Third round [ESPN2, Live]
Saturday, September 5
11:00 AM—11:00 PM: Third round [ESPN2, Live]
Sunday, September 6
11:00 AM—11:00 PM: Fourth round [ESPN2, Live]
Monday, September 7
11:00 AM—11:00 PM: Fourth round [ESPN2, Live]
Tuesday, September 8
12:00 PM—11:00 PM: Quarterfinals [ESPN, Live]
Wednesday, September 9
11:00 AM—6:00 PM: Quarterfinals [ESPN, Live]
8:00 PM—11:00 PM: Men's Quarterfinal [ESPN2, Live]
Thursday, September 10
7:00 PM—11:00 PM: Women's Semifinals [ESPN, Live]
Friday, September 11
12:00 PM—2:00 PM: Mixed Doubles Final [ESPN3*, Live]
3:00 PM—11:00 PM: Men's Semifinals [ESPN, Live]
Saturday, September 12
12:00 PM—2:00 PM: Men's Doubles Final [ESPN3*, Live]
3:00 PM—6:00 PM: Women's Final [ESPN, Live]
Sunday, September 13
12:00 PM—2:00 PM: Women's Doubles Final [ESPN3*, Live]
4:00 PM—7:00 PM: Men's Final [ESPN, Live]
Tuesday Order of Play (All times USA EDT)
Ashe at 11 AM – Erakovic vs Halep
Ashe at 1 PM – Loeb vs Wozniacki followed by L Mayer vs Federer
Ashe at 7 PM – Kyrgios vs Murray followed by Kvitova vs Siegemund
Armstrong at 11 AM – Safarova vs Tsurenko followed by Isner vs Jaziri ending with Azarenka vs Hradecka
Armstrong at 5 PM – Wawrinka vs Ramos-Vinolas
Grandstand at 11 AM – Dulgheru vs Kerber followed by Berdych vs Fratangelo then comes Petkovic vs Garcia ending with Estrella Burgos vs Sock
Court 4 at 11 AM – Krajicek vs Giraldo followed by McHale vs Cetkovska then comes Sasnovich vs Lisicki ending with Ram vs Harrison
Court 5 at 11 AM – Lepchenko vs Flipkens followed by Kokkinakis vs Gasquet then comes Schiavone vs Wickmayer ending with Tomic vs Dzumhur
Court 6 at 11 AM – Sakkari vs Wang followed by Kohlschreiber vs A Zverev then comes Baghdatis vs Darcis ending with Rogers vs Vickery
Court 7 at 11 AM – Kudla vs Melzer followed by Bellucci vs Ward then comes Goerges vs Schmiedlova ending with Dominguez Lino vs Gibbs
Court 9 at 11 AM – Bacsinszky vs Strycova followed by Smith vs Youzhny then comes Krunic vs Kovinic ending with Kravchuk vs Mannarino
Court 10 at 11 AM – Delbonis vs Karlovic followed by Pironkova vs Barthel then comes Donaldson vs Rosol ending with Pennetta vs Gajdosova
Court 11 at 11 AM – Chirico vs Konta followed by Robson vs Vesnina then comes Nedovyesov vs Hewitt ending with Troicki vs Tiafoe
Court 12 at 11 AM – Vesely vs Lorenzi followed by Ostapenko vs Beck ending with Muller vs Bemelmans
Court 13 at 11 AM – Mathieu vs Nishioka followed by Anderson vs Rublev then comes Errani vs Hibi ending with Cornet vs Nara
Court 14 at 11 AM – Tomljanovic vs Knapp followed by Gulbis vs Bedene then comes Tipsarevic vs Garcia-Lopez ending with Rodina vs Mrdeza
Court 15 at 11 AM – Govortsova vs Begu followed by Giorgi vs Larsson then comes Gimeno-Traver vs Thiem ending with Chung vs Duckworth
Court 16 at 11 AM – Haase vs Brown followed by Putintseva vs K Bondarenko then comes Becker vs Istomin ending with Panova vs Niculescu
Court 17 at 11 AM – Young vs Simon followed by Witthoeft vs Muguruza then comes Querrey vs Mahut ending with Babos vs Stosur