Beginning with the first match of the Volvo Car Open on Monday, April 3, Tennis Channel will offer live weeklong coverage of the Charleston, S.C., event. The network will give the tournament its greatest national exposure ever, supported by increased regional marketing efforts. Similar to its approach at the French Open and the Citi Open in Washington, D.C., Tennis Channel will have award-winning broadcasters and Hall of Fame analysts on the tournament grounds throughout the week, with 95 total hours of on-air coverage. The event takes place April 3-9, at the Family Circle Tennis Center.
This year marks the beginning of an eight-year pact between Tennis Channel and the Volvo Car Open. There will be close to 55 hours of live match play during the week on Tennis Channel. The network’s digital subscription service, Tennis Channel Plus, will also offer content throughout the event, with live matches and on-demand replays. Combined on-air and digital coverage gives fans more than 80 hours of live matches. Tennis Channel, the exclusive U.S. media home for the Volo Car Open, will have live matches each day of the tournament, from first ball through championship point. For the first five days of the event, the network will have at least seven straight hours of live, daily match play from Charleston.
Tennis Channel will also have an on-site studio desk throughout the week, just as it does at all four Grand Slams and larger tournaments like the BNP Paribas Open. Leading the network’s analysis are Hall of Famers Lindsay Davenport (@LDavenport76) and Tracy Austin (@thetracyaustin) along with renowned coach Paul Annacone (@paul_annacone). Mary Carillo, Ted Robinson (@tedjrobinson) and Steve Weissman (@Steve_Weissman) will announce Volvo Car Open matches for Tennis Channel. Additionally, injured star and defending Volvo Car Open champion Sloane Stephens (@SloaneStephens) will be a part of the broadcast team, as she was for the BNP Paribas Open and Miami Open. Stephens will report and provide special features for the network.
“It’s great to add Charleston to Tennis Channel’s lineup this year and visit one of the oldest tournaments on the tour,” said Davenport. “This event is full of history and it’s exciting that we’re able to give fans such a comprehensive look at tennis in this region.”
Among the top players scheduled to compete at this year’s Volvo Car Open are: World No. 9 Madison Keys, seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams, Former World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, 2017 BNP Paribas Open champion Elena Vesnina and 2016 Olympic gold medalist Monica Puig.
The Volvo Car Open (as it is currently referenced) was founded in 1973 and is the largest and second oldest women’s-only event.The tournament boasts a list of past champions that includes numerous Hall of Famers and Grand Slam winners, with Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, Tracy Austin, Steffi Graf, and both Venus and her sister Serena Williams all having claimed singles titles.
Tennis Channel Plus will have 30 hours of exclusive live match coverage from Stadium Court, Althea Gibson and courts 3 and 4 throughout the tournament and will feature doubles matches from Monday through Saturday. There will be no more than two courts per day on Tennis Channel Plus. Also, Tennis Channel’s website www.tennischannel.com will offer news, highlights and scores for fans at home and on the go. Network subscribers can also follow the action on the channel’s app Tennis Channel Everywhere, giving fans mobile access to all the live action.
Leave a Reply