By McCarton Ackerman
The 12th season of the Emirates Airline US Open Series kicks off Monday, July 27, with new additions to the summer tennis circuit that will provide an even more memorable experience for fans watching both at home and on tournament grounds.
During the five-week calendar of the Series, 34 consecutive days of tournament coverage will be featured on ESPN2 and ESPN3. More than 500 hours of tennis will be shown on ESPN3, while ESPN2 has committed to showing nearly 70 hours of live match coverage.
Fans will also be able to access coverage for the first time on the Series website, www.emiratesusopenseries.com, as well as the individual tournament websites through the ESPN3 Media Player. ESPN3 is also accessible online at WatchESPN.com and on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app.
“With expanded ESPN viewing options for fans to consume our events, along with dedicated partners that provide on-site tournament offerings that are second to none, the Emirates Airline US Open Series continues to settle in as the place to be each and every summer,” said J. Wayne Richmond, General Manager of the Emirates Airline US Open Series.
The Series will offer more prize money this summer than ever before as well, Through the Emirates Airline US Open Series Bonus Challenge, the USTA will offer up to an additional $2.6 million in bonus prize money at the US Open to the top three men’s and top three women’s singles finishers in the Emirates Airline US Open Series. This year, the Series champions will compete for the chance to win a $4.3 million record paycheck at the US Open – $3.3 million for winning the US Open plus an additional $1 million bonus for also capturing the Series title.
Emirates Airline has also renewed its partnership with the USTA Foundation for the third year of its Emirates Returns program, which gives underserved youth chances to learn the sport and access other educational opportunities in markets where Series events are held. Emirates Airline will give more than $400,000 in charitable grants across all Series events and the US Open for educational and tennis programming.
Emirates Airline will also host kids from each event’s charitable organization for a day of tennis at the tournament and offer them a tennis clinic with a touring pro.
Several Series events will also host on-site Tennis Play Days and 10 and Under Tennis Workshops. These events are geared toward getting more kids to participate in tennis by using modified equipment and courts tailored to a child’s size and ability.
Current and former service members will also be recognized during military appreciation events at four Series events this summer: the BB&T Atlanta Open, Western & Southern Open, Winston-Salem Open and the Connecticut Open.
The Emirates Airline US Open Series runs from July 27, thorugh Aug. 29.