@ESPNTennis: New Agreement with WTA @FamilyCircleCup Expands ESPN3 Coverage
ESPN and the WTA Family Circle Cup in Charleston, S.C. – the largest women’s-only tennis tournament in the world — have a new agreement that will extend their long-time relationship with continued TV coverage starting with the Round of 16 and an expanded weeklong schedule on ESPN3. The multi-year agreement takes effect with this year’s tournament, which begins Monday, March 31, with exclusive coverage daily on ESPN3, joined by ESPN2 on Thursday, April 3.
“Every Spring for many years, fans have enjoyed great women’s tennis action on the green clay in Charleston, and we’re thrilled to extend and expand our relationship with this terrific event,” said Jason Bernstein, ESPN senior director, programming & acquisitions. “With more hours of tennis than any other outlet, ESPN3 is the year-round essential companion for the tennis fan on the go.”
Bob Moran, General Manager and Tournament Director of the Family Circle Cup, said, “The 2014 Family Circle Cup’s expanded coverage via ESPN offers us a tremendous opportunity to showcase the tournament and Charleston region. With viewers and visitors from around the globe, our tournament continues to create media impressions worldwide, having lasting economic impacts on the Low country. Now with every match on stadium court available for fans, we have more than 100 hours of tennis coverage from the Family Circle Cup available for viewers around the world. ”
The 2014 WTA Family Circle Cup, Charleston, S.C.
· ESPN3: all main stadium matches daily March 31 – April 6.
· ESPN2: Starts Thursday, April 3, and continues through the championship Sunday, April 6 on ESPN2.
· Hall of Famer Cliff Drysdale will handle play-by-play duties, working with analyst Pam Shriver
· Defending Champion: Serena Williams (defeated Jelena Jankovic 3-6, 6-0, 6-2)
· 2014 Family Circle Cup Player field includes Williams, Jankovic, and many others currently ranked in the Top 30: Sara Errani, Sabine Lisicki, Sloane Stephens, Sam Stosur, Maria Kirilenko, Sorana Cirstea, Lucie Safarova and Svetlana Kuznetsova; plus all the other top Americans – Venus Williams, Madison Keys, Alison Riske, Varvara Lepchenko, Christina McHale, Lauren Davis and Vania King.
—A. Alpino, FCC
Tennis Atlantic 