ESPN at Indian Wells: Serena’s Back, No. 1 Federer Defending the Title

Tennis

ESPN at Indian Wells: Serena’s Back, No. 1 Federer Defending the Title

  • First Ball to Last Ball across ESPN Networks, ESPN App
  • TV Coverage Starts March 15, includes Men’s and Women’s Semifinals, Championships

ESPN has extensive coverage on TV and on the ESPN app of the BNP Paribas Open from Indian Wells, Calif., and two of the sport’s legends are key storylines:

  • Serena Williams will return to WTA Tour action for the first time in over a year – since the 2017 Australian Open, where she won her 23rd Major championship. She gave birth last September.
  • Australian Open champion Roger Federer – who recently reclaimed the No. 1 ranking in the world, and at 36 is the oldest man ever to hold that distinction – is defending the champion’s points totals (also at the upcoming Miami Open, having successfully swept the “Sunshine Double” in 2017).

The ESPN app will offer first-ball-to-last-ball coverage beginning Thursday, March 8, with 23 hours on TV which include the women’s and men’s semifinals and championships of each tournament.

ESPN’s lead tennis host Chris Fowler will be joined by Chrissie Evert, Brad Gilbert, Patrick McEnroe and Pam Shriver.

BNP Paribas Open, Indian Wells, Calif.

  • ESPN3 / ESPN app: 520 total hours of daily coverage of ATP and WTA matches March 7 – 18, featuring multiple feed offerings and ATP matches from up to eight courts (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9).
  • TV and ESPN app:  23 live hours, begins Thursday, March 15, and concludes with the Women’s and Men’s Championships on ESPN on Sunday, March 18.
  • Talent: Chris Fowler, Chrissie Evert, Brad Gilbert, Patrick McEnroe and Pam Shriver
  • Defending Champions: Roger Federer, Elena Vesnina
Date Time (ET) Event Network(s)
Mar 8 – 18 2 p.m. – finish BNP Paribas Open –

ATP & WTA feeds, up to 8 courts

ESPN3
Thu, Mar 15 2 – 6 p.m. BNP Paribas Open – Quarterfinals ESPN2
  8 p.m. – 12 a.m. BNP Paribas Open – Quarterfinals ESPN2
Fri, Mar 16 3 – 5 p.m. BNP Paribas Open – Men’s Quarterfinal #3 ESPN
  5 – 7 p.m. BNP Paribas Open – Men’s Quarterfinal #4 ESPN3
  10 p.m. – 2 a.m. BNP Paribas Open – Women’s Semifinals ESPN2
Sat, Mar 17 2 – 7 p.m. BNP Paribas Open – Men’s Semifinals ESPN
Sun, Mar 18 2 – 6 p.m. BNP Paribas Open – Men’s & Women’s Championships ESPN

 

Next Tennis from ESPN

ESPN will have extensive coverage of the Miami Open presented by Itaú beginning Wednesday, March 21, including first-ball-to-last-ball coverage on ESPN3 and the ESPN app.  TV joins on Wednesday, March 28, and continues through the semifinals and championships.

 

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Dave Nagle

As I write this on 11-11-21, it's now 35 years for me at ESPN, the only real job I’ve ever had. I joined merely to help with the upcoming America’s Cup in Australia. I was told it would be for three months at all of $5.50 per hour. I like to say I simply kept showing up. I’ve worked on almost every sport, plus answered viewer calls and letters (people used to write!), given tours, written the company newsletter and once drove NASCAR’s Jeff Gordon to the local airport. My travels have been varied…I’ve been to Martinsville, Darlington, Indy and Super Bowls; the America’s Cup (all 3) in San Diego and College GameDay in the sport’s meccas such as Eugene, Auburn, Lubbock, Stillwater and more; the NBA Finals, Wimbledon (16 times and counting) and the “other Bristol,” the one with a race track in Tennessee. These days, my main areas are tennis, UFC, boxing, network-wide ratings (by month/quarter/year), and corporate communications documents, including fact sheets, chronologies, lists and nearly 35 of the Year in Review press releases. UPDATE EXACTLY ONE YEAR LATER: Today, November 11, 2022, I am retiring from ESPN -- 36 years to the day I began. As I ride off into the sunset – top down and E Street Radio blaring – I do so with so many wonderful memories, proud of my contributions and a heart full of gratitude for the opportunity. 
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