(Joe Faraoni/ESPN)
Today, ESPN and the USTA announced that ESPN will be the exclusive home of the US Open starting in 2015. With this 11-year agreement, ESPN will televise the championships of three of tennis’ four majors.
Tennis has been part of ESPN since the network debuted Sept. 7, 1979. The first tennis telecast was exactly one week later, Sept. 14, a Davis Cup tie, Argentina vs. USA from Memphis, Tenn. Current ESPN tennis commentator Cliff Drysdale was on the call and John McEnroe was playing.
Today, the company’s commitment to the sport is as strong as it’s ever been with all four major events and top ATP and WTA events on ESPN platforms, including the US Open Series and the season-ending championship of both tours.