The countdown to the U.S. Open is on! Right now, there is plenty of tennis to enjoy as the Olympus U.S. Open Series is being played throughout North America. The goal of the Series is to create a “cohesive, six-week summer tennis season” that leads into the U.S. Open. What a great idea! Top-level players are supposedly interested in playing in the Series because, depending on how well they do at the U.S. Open, they can earn bonus money based on the points they accumulate during the Series. (I think. I started reading the rules but got bored with it. You can read them here: U.S. Open Series Bonus Challenge.)
Week 2 of the Series just finished. Currently, on the men's side, Mardy Fish and Sam Querry are tied in points for 1st place. On the women's side, Victoria Azarenka leads. But there are four more weeks of Series play before the U.S. Open so a lot could change between now and August 30, when the Open begins.
So, I'm sure you're saying, “well, this is all fine and good but what does it have to do with me? Where is the benefit to me and my tennis game in the U.S. Open Series?” The benefit to you and me is that, for the next several weeks, there will be lots of great tennis on TV! You just have to know when and what channel to watch. We're currently in Week 3 of the Series with the men playing the Legg Mason Tennis Classis in Washington, D.C. and the women playing the Mercury Insurance Open in San Diego, California. To assist you with your U.S. Open Series watching pleasure, here is the Week 3 TV schedule:
Thursday, 8/5:
4–8 pm, Men – Legg Mason Tennis Classic, Tennis Channel
Friday, 8/6:
12–2 pm, Men – Legg Mason Tennis Classic, ESPN2
3–5 pm, Women – Mercury Insurance Open, Tennis Channel
5–7 pm, Men – Legg Mason Tennis Classic, Tennis Channel
7–9 pm, Men – Legg Mason Tennis Classic, ESPN2
9–11 pm, Men – Legg Mason Tennis Classic, Tennis Channel
11 pm–3 am, Women – Mercury Insurance Open, ESPN2
Saturday, 8/7:
1–3 pm, Men – Legg Mason Tennis Classic, Tennis Channel
4–6 pm, Women – Mercury Insurance Open, Tennis Channel
7–9 pm, Men – Legg Mason Tennis Classic, ESPN2
10 pm–12 am, Women – Mercury Insurance Open, ESPN2
Sunday, 8/8:
3–5 pm, Men – Legg Mason Tennis Classic, ESPN2
5–7 pm, Women – Mercury Insurance Open, ESPN2
8–9:30 pm, Men – Legg Mason Tennis Classic, Tennis Channel
9:30–11 pm Women – Mercury Insurance Open, Tennis Channel
As long as you're willing to spend your day flipping back and forth between ESPN2 and the Tennis Channel, you'll get lots of great tennis viewing in!
© Kim Selzman 2010 All Rights Reserved