Emirates Airline U.S. Open Series Set to Launch
The 13th season of the Emirates Airline U.S. Open Series, the five-week North American summer tennis season that links seven WTA and ATP World Tour summer hard court tournaments to the U.S. Open, launches next week with the women’s Bank of the West Classic. Since its inception in 2004, the Emirates Airline U.S. Open Series has increased television viewership and event attendance, while generating new corporate partnerships for the sport.
In total, 70 hours of live, national coverage is scheduled to air on ESPN2/WatchESPN, nearly 140 hours on ESPN3 and more than 85 hours on Tennis Channel. This includes week-long coverage on ESPN2 and ESPN3 from the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, BB&T Atlanta Open, Winston-Salem Open and the Connecticut Open in New Haven, as well as Thursday through Sunday coverage on ESPN2/WatchESPN and Tennis Channel from the Rogers Cup in Montreal (women) and Toronto (men), and the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati. And, building off the success of last year, the Emirates Airline U.S. Open Series Web site (EmiratesUSOpenSeries.com) and the tournament sites in Stanford, Atlanta, New Haven and Winston-Salem will offer fans live streaming from their respective events through the integration of an ESPN3 media player.
This year, 34 days of coverage—every day of the Emirates Airline U.S. Open Series—will air across ESPN’s networks and Tennis Channel. The Series premieres on television on Saturday, July 23, from the Bank of the West Classic with the semifinals at 5:00 p.m. ET and 10:00 p.m. ET, followed by the final on Sunday, July 24 at 5:00 p.m. ET—all on ESPN2. Earlier in the week, ESPN3 will begin coverage from Stanford with four matches on Monday, July 18 beginning at 4:00 p.m. ET.
The roster of television talent covering the 2016 Emirates Airline U.S. Open Series season includes: ESPN’s Darren Cahill, Chris Evert, Mary Joe Fernandez, Chris Fowler, Brad Gilbert, Jason Goodall, Sam Gore, Patrick McEnroe, Tom Rinaldi, Pam Shriver, Rennae Stubbs and Adnan Virk; Tennis Channel’s Paul Annacone, Jimmy Arias, Tracy Austin, Lindsay Davenport, Justin Gimelstob, Brett Haber, Corina Morariu, Leif Shiras and Steve Weissman.
The game’s top players and future stars will compete during the Emirates Airline U.S. Open Series and U.S. Open for more than $64 million in prize money. Through the Emirates Airline U.S. Open Series Bonus Challenge, the USTA will offer up to an additional $2.6 million in bonus prize money at the U.S. Open to the top three men’s and top three women’s singles finishers in the Emirates Airline U.S. Open Series. The bonus challenge has resulted in the largest paychecks in tennis history, including a record payout of $4 million in 2014 to Serena Williams. This year, the Series champions will compete for the chance to win a $4.5 million record paycheck at the U.S. Open—$3.5 million for winning the U.S. Open plus an additional $1 million bonus for also capturing the Emirates Airline U.S. Open Series title.
“As we gear up for another summer tennis season filled with world-class champions and rising young talent taking to the court, it’s gratifying to know our broadcast partners aren’t letting a day go by without coverage through a multitude of viewing platforms,” said J. Wayne Richmond, general manager of the Emirates Airline U.S. Open Series. “Along with expanded community outreach events for both new and existing fans, we’re proud to say there is truly something for everyone at each of the WTA and ATP World Tour events on the Emirates Airline U.S. Open Series.”
