It was nice having the Wimbledon Ladies Semifinals all live on ESPN today. Had NBC and ESPN2 shared coverage as in the past, you know the Victoria Azarenka-Serena Williams match would have been held on tape delay by the Peacocks until noon in all time zones. Instead, ESPN aired that match live when it began and carried it through to its conclusion without having to fill time with a doubles contest or something taped from the day before.
And with the Gentlemen’s Semifinals on Friday, it will be the same scenario for ESPN. Both the Novak Djokovic-Roger Federer and Andy Murray-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga matches will be seen live starting at 8 a.m. ET. Now let’s play “what if?” Had NBC had the rights this year, it would have carried Djoko-Fed forcing ESPN to stall. And most likely with the Murray-Tsonga match running into NBC’s window, the Alleged Worldwide Leader would have had to carry that match on tape at 3 p.m. ET after NBC had finished its coverage. But in the Brave New World of entirely live tennis from SW19, ESPN carries both matches live preceded by Breakfast at Wimbledon at 7 a.m. and we’re all happy tennis fans.
So the Men’s semifinals will be all live on ESPN tomorrow. Djoker Nole-Federer kicks it off with Murray-Tsonga following. And it’s quite interesting to see a Djokovic-Federer semifinal being an opening act, but with the UK rooting for Murray, it’s understandable why that match is the “nightcap” in the tennis doubleheader on Centre Court tomorrow.
Here’s the ESPN press release.
Dream Matchup in Wimbledon Gentlemen’s Semifinals Live on ESPN
Federer-Djokovic to Meet for First Time at Wimbledon in Friday’s Semifinal
Four of Top Five Seeds Meet for Place in Sunday’s ChampionshipA dream matchup of two of tennis’ all-time best who have met 26 times but never at Wimbledon highlights the Gentlemen’s Semifinals live on ESPN on Friday, July 6, at 8 a.m. Novak Djokovic,– the world’s top ranked player and defending champion – will face six-time winner Roger Federer, seeded No. 3. Federer, with an unmatched 16 Grand Slam titles, owns a 14-12 career record against Djokovic, who owns six Major crowns and has won their last three meetings. The two have met in the semifinal round in six of the last eight Majors, but have never played on the grass courts of Wimbledon.
With No. 4 seed Andy Murray – carrying the weight of a 76-year drought for men from Great Britain at Wimbledon into his fourth straight appearance in the semifinals – playing No. 5 seed Jo Wilfried Tsonga, four of the top five seeds have reached the penultimate stage of tennis’ most storied event.
Those matches, plus the Ladies’ Championships on Saturday, July 7, and the Gentlemen’s Championship on Sunday, July 8, will be preceded by the one-hour Breakfast at Wimbledon, hosted by Hannah Storm (7 a.m. Friday, 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday). ABC will reair the finals on the day they take place, July 7 and 8, at 3 p.m.
All the action on ESPN is also available through WatchESPN online at WatchESPN.com and on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app. ESPN 3D is televising live the final five days of action from Centre Court beginning with the men’s quarterfinals Wednesday, July 4, through the Championships.
Patrick McEnroe on the Semifinals
“Federer and Djokovic is obviously the blockbuster matchup. Can Federer find the magic to get back to the final? This may be his best chance to win another Major. It’s his favorite surface and Nadal is out of his way. The clock is ticking.
“The clock is also ticking on the Brits…since 1936. Despite that pressure, this is Andy Murray’s best opportunity to win his first Major, also based on Nadal losing. Butit won’t be easy. Tsonga is a Big Spot Player. He’s at his best in the biggest matches, especially here. He’s going to bring a lot of exuberance and passion. It’s a very, very tough ask for Andy, but he can counterpunch Tsonga’s firepower with guile.”
Ladies Championship
The Ladies Championship will see No. 6 seed Serena Williams vying for her 14th Major title and fifth at Wimbledon play No. 3 Agnieszka Radwanska who is playing in her first Major final but will be the top-ranked player in the world with a win She is the first Pole to play for the Wimbledon Championship since Jadwiga Jedrzejowska in 1937.
ESPN and Wimbledon
The new schedule for ESPN’s 10th Wimbledon – exclusive and all-live – is the result of a 12-year agreement between ESPN and the All England Lawn Tennis Club announced just after the conclusion of the 2011 Championships. The remaining schedule:
Date Time (ET) Event Network Fri, July 6 7 – 8 a.m. Breakfast at Wimbledon ESPN / ESPN3 Live 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Gentlemen’s Semifinals No. 1 Djokovic vs. No. 3 Federer
No. 4 Murray vs. No. 5 TsongaESPN / ESPN3D / ESPN3 Live Sat, July 7 8 a.m. – 9 a.m. Breakfast at Wimbledon ESPN / ESPN3 Live 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Ladies’ Championship No. 3 Radwanska vs. No. 6 Williams
ESPN / ESPN3D / ESPN3 Live 3 – 6 p.m. Ladies’ Championship ABC Tape Sun, July 8 8 a.m. – 9 a.m. Breakfast at Wimbledon ESPN / ESPN3 Live 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Gentlemen’s Championship ESPN / ESPN3D / ESPN3 Live 3 – 6 p.m. Gentlemen’s Championship ABC Tape
That will do it.
