ESPN to televise entire Wimbledon from start to finish
According to a press release, a new era of television coverage for one of sport’s most prestigious and historic events will begin when ESPN presents The Championships, Wimbledon complete, live and exclusively across its networks from first ball Monday, June 25, with day-long marathon telecasts through to the Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s Finals, Saturday, July 7, and Sunday, July 8, respectively. ESPN’s 10th Wimbledon will expand to 140 live hours in high definition on ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD – including three days when the two networks offer all-day “cross court coverage” (airing matches simultaneously) – plus highlights and reairs of both Finals on ABC. All the action on ESPN and ESPN2 is also available through WatchESPN online at WatchESPN.com and on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app. In addition, ESPN3 will also increase its schedule to more than 800 hours of a multi-screen offering – all available TV courts (up to nine) presented from first ball to last ball each day – which will be available along with ESPN and ESPN2’s action via the WatchESPN app. The service will also offer matches on demand after they occur. As previously announced, ESPN 3D, which presented its first tennis at Wimbledon a year ago with one live match and others on delay, will televise five days of action live from Centre Court. ESPN 3D’s coverage will begin with the Gentlemen’s quarterfinals Wednesday, July 4, and continue through the Finals. Each day’s telecast will be reaired that night at 9 p.m. “This Wimbledon is the culmination of a dream we at ESPN have had for more than 10 years, to deliver every match and every key moment live as it happens to fans wherever they are,” said John Skipper, ESPN president. “The Club entrusted the care of their wonderful event to us and we intend to fulfill their trust and present a Wimbledon that uses modern technology to serve fans across all devices while being mindful of the great history and traditions of the fortnight.” Tennis legend John McEnroe will be a broadcaster for this year’s event. He will be joined by returnees Darren Cahill, Cliff Drysdale, Mary Joe Fernandez, Brad Gilbert, Patrick McEnroe and Pam Shriver. Chris Fowler will call matches and serve as studio host, sharing that role with Hannah Storm and Mike Tirico. The voice of ESPN’s Monday Night Football, Tirico has worked the US Open for ESPN as a host and calling matches and will fill those roles in his Wimbledon debut. Tom Rinaldi will provide essays and features.
ATP/WTA Tour Tennis Players among Forbes’ World’s Top 100 Highest-Paid Athletes
Several ATP and WTA Tour tennis players were included among the World’s Top 100 Highest-Paid Athletes in the world. Roger Federer, a 16-time Grand slam singles champion and winner of 74 career titles, ranked No. 5 on the list with total earnings of $52.7 million. Only $7.7 million were from tournament prize money, while $45 million was through endorsements. The Swiss legend has long-term endorsement deals from Nike, Rolex, Wilson and Credit Suisse. He also earns $1 million per exhibition match. Seven-time French Open champion and former world No. 1 Rafael Nadal came in at No. 16 on the list with total earnings of $33.2 million. He earned $8.2 million in tournament prize money and $25 million in endorsements. Two women made the Top 100, both were tennis players, Maria Sharapova and Li Na. Sharapova ranked No. 26 with earnings of $27.6 million, including $5.9 million in tournament prize money over the past 12 months. Li Na ranks No. 81 overall with earnings of $18.4 million. After winning the 2011 French Open, making her the first ever Asian-born player to win a Grand Slam singles title, she signed seven multimillion dollar endorsement deals including with Babolat, Haagan-Daaz, Samsung, Mercedes, as well as multiple Chinese companies.
ATP World Tour Announces Executive Promotions
ATP Executive Chairman and President Brad Drewett recently announced several promotions at the ATP executive level. The promotions are across a variety of departments and regions, and see existing staff members Mark Young, Laurent Delanney and Andre Silva assume significant additional responsibilities within the company. Alison Lee also expands her role within the International Group region. Mark Young (CEO ATP Americas and Chief Legal and Media Officer) continues as CEO ATP Americas and Chief Legal Officer, and also becomes the ATP’s Chief Media Officer, overseeing the ATP’s interests in the area of broadcast media rights, including television, live streaming, data, live scoring, and other associated rights. Young, who has been with the Tour since its formation in 1990, will work closely with relevant internal departments, as well as ATP Media CEO Steve Plasto, to oversee the ATP’s strategic direction in this area. Laurent Delanney (CEO ATP Europe & ATP Commercial Director) assumes the role of ATP Commercial Director, in addition to his existing role as CEO ATP Europe. Delanney, who runs the ATP’s Monte-Carlo office, has played an integral role in the ATP’s commercial efforts over the last decade, and now will lead the ATP sales, sponsorship and licensing team in managing all of the ATP’s commercial activities. Andre Silva (Chief Player Officer & Tournament Director, Barclays ATP World Tour Finals) takes over from Drewett as Tournament Director of the season-ending championships. Silva, who has been with the Tour for more than 12 years, continues in his role as Chief Player Officer and will work closely with Chris Kermode, Managing Director of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, on all aspects of the tournament. Alison Lee (Vice President, International Group) takes the interim position as head of the International Group region, which includes the Middle East, Asia and Pacific regions. Lee is based in the ATP’s Sydney office, and has worked across the region in the ATP’s tournament relations, communications and commercial divisions over the last decade.
John McEnroe Tennis Academy expanding to Long Island and Westchester in September 2012
Starting in September 2012, the prestigious John McEnroe Tennis Academy will expand to SPORTIME locations in Long Island and Westchester including SPORTIME Lake Isle, a beautiful, 8-court outdoor club that SPORTIME has just spent $5 million re-building into a state-of-the art year-round facility in Eastchester, New York in lower Westchester; SPORTIME Bethpage in central Long Island, a 6-court indoor facility that has long been SPORTIME’s high performance training mecca. Under the guidance of Lawrence Kleger, SPORTIME’s long-time Executive Director of Tennis, now the Director of the John McEnroe Tennis Academy, and inspired by the vision and presence of Johnny Mac, JMTA will expand its training programs and share its world-class staff of teaching professionals and Assistant Directors with these new JMTA annexes in Westchester and Long Island. Coaches, including Associate Academy Director and former ATP player, Fritz Buehning, and former WTA top 75 professionals, Hana Sromova and Martina Sucha, will join Assistant Academy Directors Karim Balagh and Bruce Haddad, to bring the Mac way to promising players from all over the Greater NY area.
Jensen Brothers to host tennis weekend at Sea Island in July
Sea Island’s newly appointed Director of Tennis, Murphy Jensen, and year-round touring pro, Luke Jensen, will host a Jensen Brothers Weekend at the five-star coastal resort in Georgia from July 27-29. Those looking to hone their tennis skills will have the opportunity to do so during drills, round robin match play, nutrition/fitness sessions and fast serve contests under the tutelage of the renowned dynamic tennis duo. The Jensen Brothers Weekend package includes the following and pricing starts at $1,600/single ($800 per night) or $2,400/double ($1,200 per night): 2 nights’ accommodations in one of the expansive, luxurious River View Rooms at the historic Forbes Five-Star Cloister hotel, Jensen Welcome Dinner with all of the weekend participants, Stretch & Warm Up session with Sea Island fitness instructors, Jensen Brother Pro Workout with drills, tactics, strategies and tricks for doubles play, Afternoon round robin match play to test and challenge skills, Wine & Cheese gathering on Center Court, Session with Sea Island’s in-house nutrition expert, Jensen “Grind, Groove and Doubles” games, Return of Serve/Fast Serve Contests, Concluding Awards Ceremony, Complimentary tennis court time throughout the weekend, $100 Sea Island Experience Credit and much more.
Nalbandian fined $12,560; could face suspension
The ATP World Tour will carry out a review of David Nalbandian actions during Sunday’s AEGON Championships at Queen’s Club in London, where he kicked an advertising board into the leg of linesmen Andrew McDougall and injured him. Nalbandian, who was winning the match, was immediately disqualified from the match, giving Marin Cilic the prestigious grass court title. Nalbandian was fined $12,560 and lost all of his $56,000 in tournament prize money as well as the ranking points he earned by reaching the finals. Nalbandian, who was fined $8,000 during this year’s Australian Open for throwing water at a tournament employee following his controversial five-set loss to American John Isner, will most likely not get suspended for Wimbledon because it is an ITF event not an ATP event. An ATP spokesperson told Matt Cronin of TENNIS.com that Nalbandian’s overall behavior in the past 12 months would likely be taken account when the ATP’s Executive Vice President of Rules and Competition reviews the case.
Jack Sock awarded Newport main draw wild card
American teenager Jack Sock, who has been sidelined with an injury since March, has accepted a main draw wild card to play in the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships on the historic grass courts at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I. This year’s tournament will be played from July 9-15. “We have a very strong group of players headed for Newport in just a few short weeks – John Isner, Kei Nishikori, The Bryans, and many more, and it will be great to see one of America’s most exciting young talents in the mix with that field,” said Mark Stenning, Tournament Director. “We look forward to welcoming Jack to Newport for his debut on the Hall of Fame grass courts.”
Browder McGill named Dunlop Southeast Territory Manager
Dunlop announced on June 18 that Browder McGill has been named its new Territory Manager for the Southeast. McGill will handle all racquet sport accounts throughout Georgia, South Carolina (excluding Charleston and Hilton Head), Alabama, Tennessee and North Carolina. McGill will be based in Atlanta and be responsible for managing sales and promotion of the Dunlop brand throughout the Southeast. He has been involved in the tennis industry for more than 20 years as a player and business professional. McGill comes to Dunlop from the real estate development industry.
“The Greatest Tennis Matches of All Time” book released by New Chapter Press
New Chapter Press today announced the release of the book “THE GREATEST TENNIS MATCHES OF ALL TIME” written by noted tennis journalist and historian Steve Flink. “THE GREATEST TENNIS MATCHES OF ALL TIME” features profiles and rankings of the greatest matches of all time dating from the 1920s featuring Bill Tilden and Suzanne Lenglen up through the modern era of tennis featuring contemporary stars Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova. Flink breaks down, analyzes and puts into historical context the sport’s most memorable matches, providing readers with a courtside seat at these most celebrated and significant duels. Flink also includes a fascinating “greatest strokes of all time” section where he ranks and describes the players who best executed all the important shots in the game through the years. Other champions featured in the book include Don Budge, Maureen Connolly, Rod Laver, Margaret Court, Billie Jean King, John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg, Jimmy Connors, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf among many others. “THE GREATEST TENNIS MATCHES OF ALL TIME,” a hard-cover book that retails for $28.95, can be purchased via this link http://m1e.net/c?96018505-AGsCyDp0iA3n6%407612075-V9KJJnhbhC.wU at www.NewChapterMedia.com and where ever books are sold. Flink, one of the most respected writers and observers in the game, is currently a columnist for TennisChannel.com. A resident of Katonah, N.Y., he is the former editor of World Tennis magazine and a former senior columnist at Tennis Week. The book has received high praise from some of the most respected names in the sport, including Chris Evert, a winner of 18 major singles titles, who wrote the foreword to the book. Said seven-time Wimbledon champion Pete Sampras, “Steve Flink was there reporting on almost every big match I played in my career. He has seen all of the great players for the last 45 years. I encourage you to read this book because Steve is one of the most insightful writers on the game that I have known and he really knows his tennis.” Said former U.S. Davis Cup captain and player Patrick McEnroe, “As a writer and a fan, Steve Flink’s knowledge of tennis history and his love of the sport are second to none, which is why you should read his new book.” Said ESPN’s Cliff Drysdale, “To see tennis through the eyes of Steve Flink is to wander through a wonderland. These are not fantasies because Steve captures the essence of tennis matches in graphic detail. There is no one more passionate or caring about his subject. In this absorbing book, I can relive matches that I have called on television.” Said CBS, NBC and Tennis Channel commentator Mary Carillo, “The GREATEST TENNIS MATCHES OF ALL TIME is a masterful tennis epic. Its pages are brimming with insight, hindsight. And as always with Steve Flink, the 20/20 vision of the subtleties and complexities of a match. From Budge to Nadal and “Little Mo” to Serena Williams, Steve will guide you through the greatest matches you ever saw, or never saw. The game’s finest players and brightest moments will come alive and play again, right before your eyes. This book is a tennis treasure.”