The Tennis Channel’s lead analyst Jimmy Connors knows all about the New York crowds and the U.S Open and we talked about both as he was preparing for his assignment.
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Connors on playing at the U.S. Open:”I don’t think it is any surprise that New York was my favorite place to play. The crowds, especially the night crowds in New York…if you can’t get excited whether it’s a 5th set tie-breaker or first round, first point. I mean it’s just the most exciting place to play and from my standpoint and especially in the evenings, I don’t think there is any sport that brings that much drama, electricity, intensity, and when you add in the fans at a night match at the US Open it is very special event. If the tennis is good…I think that’s got to be key too. The tennis has to be good to get them into it, but there’s nothing like the crowds there.”
Connors on his role as analyst and interviewer:” I guess I would like to know more than just surface talk and to be able to bring that out of them and to go a little bit deeper and really make them think of an answer, as opposed to just something flipping off the top of their head. It’s something that not only interests me, but to find out more the player, but also for the fans who spend their good money to come and watch these guys play. To go out and watch them play tennis is one thing and they want to know how they play and what drives them and everything it takes for them to be successful on the court, but they also want to get not only into their mind, but also in their heart and figure out more about them than just the forehands and backhands. If I can bring that out in the players a little bit to the point where they want to say more than they originally wanted to, is really what I am looking for. “
Tennis fans will get all the action as both ESPN2 and the Tennis Channel provide round the clock coverage of the U.S. Open on both TV and broadband. Both networks together will offer in excess of 400 hours of coverage starting Monday.
Tennis Channel live action starts each day at 11am (Also online at Tennischannel.com)
ESPN2 – Live action starts at 1pm and goes to 10pm (Also on ESPN3 broadband)
