ESPN to serve ATP AND WTA tennis events

Sports broadcaster ESPN has secured the rights to televise 14 major tennis events during 2012, including three WTA International tournaments and a special exhibition event. The coverage will give viewers the chance to see some of the world’s top tennis stars s they battle for ranking points between Grand Slams and ESPN’s coverage of the ATP World Tour 250 will start on 13 April with the US Men’s Clay Court Championship in Houston, set to feature world number eight, Mardy Fish. It is one of the first clay court tournaments of the season, as players begin to prepare for the French Open at Roland Garros. Focus on the clay circuit continues in the first week of May with the Estoril Open in Portugal and the Serbia Open, which world number one Novak Djokovic won last year. The week before the French Open will see ESPN’s coverage from Open de Nice Côte D’Azur, which last year featured David Ferrer and Tomas Berdych. ESPN will also have coverage of three WTA International events and the season finale indoor Tournament of Champions, which was won in 2011 by Serbian star Ana Ivanovic. Said Jeroen Oerlemans, Vice-President TV Channels, ESPN EMEA: “As we continue to expand our content in the UK and Ireland, we’re delighted to add outstanding tennis tournaments from the ATP and WTA circuits. Through ESPN.co.uk and other media around the world, ESPN has a long and extensive association with tennis that we will look to expand in the UK and Ireland as we broaden our range and depth of sports programming.”