ESPN Adds First-Ever Televised Wimbledon Qualifying

Tennis

ESPN Adds First-Ever Televised Wimbledon Qualifying

Photo of Dave Nagle Dave Nagle Follow on Twitter May 22, 2017
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 28, 2010: Maria Sharapova of Russia in action during her women's singles fourth round match of the 124th staging of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon. Sharapova loses 7-6(9), 6-4
  • Four Days of Action from One Court Being Produced for Distribution for First Time
  • Sharapova to Compete for Slot in Main Draw
  • 16 Gentlemen, 12 Ladies to Earn Way into Wimbledon Field

In June, ESPN will cover all four days of Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s qualifying for The Championships, Wimbledon for the first time, with all-day action from one of the grass courts at the Bank of England Sports Centre in Roehampton, not far from Wimbledon and the All England Lawn Tennis Club.  Qualifying will take place Monday, June 26 – Thursday, June 29, beginning each day at 6 a.m. ET with four matches scheduled per day on ESPN3 on WatchESPN and the ESPN App.  Depending on scheduling and other circumstances, there is the possibility of adding matches to one of ESPN’s linear television networks.

“If you look at our history with Wimbledon and our unprecedented scheduling approach to The Championships, it should be no surprise we were very interested when The Club approached us with this opportunity to expand our relationship with their brand,” said Burke Magnus, ESPN executive vice president, programming and scheduling.  “For players, the opportunity to make the field of 128 is paramount and for qualifiers it may be the chance of a lifetime.  We look forward to presenting all the compelling storylines from the qualifiers, leading into our comprehensive coverage of The Championships beginning July 3.”

Last Friday, May 19, Maria Sharapova announced she would enter the qualifying for Wimbledon, in lieu of a ranking sufficient for the main draw.  The 2004 Wimbledon champion recently returned from a 15-month suspension.

Qualifying for Wimbledon has never before been a ticketed event, nor produced for distribution.  AELTC will produce the coverage for a global audience with its graphics and commentators.

Wimbledon Qualifying Basics

  • There are Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ Singles competitions where players (128 and 96, respectively) must win through three rounds to win one of the 16 Main Draw places for men, or 12 Main Draw places for women. There are also qualifying draws for Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ Doubles with four places available in the Main Draw of each event.
  • All players receive ranking points and prize money and there is more money and ranking points on offer the more matches that they win.
  • If a Main Draw player withdraws after the qualifying competition has started, his/her place in the Main Draw will be taken by a lucky loser – this is a player that lost in the final round of qualifying. These players are drawn by lot against other losers in this round.

ESPN & Wimbledon

ESPN has televised Wimbledon since 2003, with exclusivity in the U.S. since 2012.  ESPN’s blanket coverage – all day, every day, Monday, July 3 – Sunday, July 16 – will once again include 140 hours on ESPN and ESPN2 and 1,500 on WatchESPN with action on all 15 televised courts.  The schedule is highlighted by the unprecedented “Cross Court Coverage” the second Monday-Wednesday with all matches from the Round of 16 and the Quarterfinals on ESPN and ESPN2.  The fortnight culminates with five championships on ESPN:  the Ladies’ Singles Championship along with the Ladies’ and Gentlemens’ Doubles Championship on Saturday, July 15 and the Gentlemen’s Championship and Mixed Doubles Championship on Sunday, July 16.

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Photo of Dave Nagle Dave Nagle Follow on Twitter May 22, 2017
Photo of Dave Nagle

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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