TSN Serves Up Rogers Cup Tourneys as Tennis’ Best Compete in Canada

Brian Williams makes TSN play-by-play debut; anchors two-week event coverage

August 2, 2006 - Toronto and Montreal set the scenic summer backdrops for two straight weeks of intense tennis action, as TSN presents the men’s and women’s Rogers Cup tournaments – the lone Canadian stops on the ATP and WTA Tours.  Coverage gets underway with the men’s event from August 7 to 11 and continues with the women’s event from August 14 to 18.  TSN’s coverage features both the day and evening sessions. (See complete broadcast schedules below.) 

This year, Brian Williams takes a seat in the broadcast booth where he makes his TSN play-by-play debut, calling the action for the men’s and women’s events.   Williams will be joined by analyst Peter Burwash for the men’s tourney and Tracy Austin for the women’s.  Robert Bettauer will act as courtside reporter for both events.

Toronto’s Rexall Centre hosts the men’s tourney this year, with five former champions confirmed to participate: Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Andy Roddick, Thomas Johansson and defending champion Rafael Nadal.  Agassi, a three-time Rogers Cup champion, is set to make his final professional appearance in Canada after the recent announcement of his upcoming retirement following the 2006 U.S. Open.

The women gather at Montreal’s Uniprix Stadium, with the top five players in the world confirmed to compete:  last year’s champ Kim Clijsters, Amelie Mauresmo, Justine Henin-Hardenne, Maria Sharapova and Nadia Petrova.  In fact, with 40 of the top 43 players confirmed to compete, the calibre of talent for this year’s women’s Rogers Cup is unprecedented.

TSN Broadcast Schedule – Rogers Cup: Men

• Monday, Aug. 7 – Day One Coverage at 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. ET
• Tuesday, Aug. 8 – Day Two Coverage at 11 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. ET
• Wednesday, Aug. 9 – Day Three Coverage at 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. ET
• Thursday, Aug. 10 – Day Four Coverage at 11 a.m. and 12 midnight ET
• Friday, Aug. 11 – Quarter-finals at 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. ET

TSN Broadcast Schedule –Rogers Cup: Women

• Monday, Aug. 14 – Day One Coverage at 1 p.m.  and 7 p.m. ET
• Tuesday, Aug. 15 – Day Two Coverage at 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. ET
• Wednesday, Aug. 16 – Day Three Coverage at 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. ET
• Thursday, Aug. 17 – Day Four Coverage at 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET
• Friday, Aug. 18 – Quarter-finals at 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET

Leading into the men's and women's Rogers Cup, ESPN Classic features classic tennis matches from our home and native land.  The action kicks off on Sunday, Aug. 6 with an Andre Agassi tribute, featuring some of his greatest matches in Canada.  The spotlight switches to the ladies on Sunday, Aug. 13, featuring some of the greatest women to take the court, including Monica Seles, Chris Evert and Serena Williams.  ESPN Classic’s broadcast schedules are as follows:

Andre Agassi Tribute – August 6

• Sunday, Aug. 6 – 1992 Final: Andre Agassi vs. Ivan Lendl at 12 noon ET
• Sunday, Aug. 6 – 1994 Semifinal: Andre Agassi vs. Wayne Ferreira at 2 p.m. ET
• Sunday, Aug. 6 – 1994  Final: Andre Agassi vs. Jason Stoltenberg  at 4 p.m. ET
• Sunday, Aug. 6 – 1995 Final: Andre Agassi vs. Pete Sampras at 5:30 p.m. ET

Classic Women's Tennis – August 13

• Sunday, Aug. 13 – 1987 Semifinal: Chris Evert vs. Pam Shriver at 6 p.m. ET
• Sunday, Aug. 13 – 1996 Final: Monica Seles vs. Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario at 8 p.m. ET
• Sunday, Aug. 13 – 1998 Semifinal: Monica Seles vs. Martina Hingis at 9:30 p.m. ET
• Sunday, Aug. 13 – 2001 Quarter-final: Serena Williams vs. Sandrine Testud at 11 p.m. ET

TSN is Canada's Sports Leader.  Setting the Canadian sports broadcasting standard, TSN's flagship news program, SportsCentre, was voted the number-one source for sports news by sports fans from across the country.*  TSN's comprehensive broadcast schedule also features the NHL and first three rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs; Toronto Maple Leafs hockey; International Hockey including the IIHF World Junior Championship; the Olympic Games through 2012; CFL including TSN Friday Night Football; NFL including Sunday and Monday Night Football; PGA TOUR and all four golf Majors; Season of Champions Curling; NASCAR including the Daytona 500; Formula One including the Canadian Grand Prix; IRL including the Indy 500; Blue Jays baseball; Raptors basketball and the NBA Finals; Tennis and all four Grand Slam events; 2006 FIFA World Cup; UEFA Champions League Soccer; HBO World Championship boxing; and Figure Skating including the national championships.  TSN HD offers more sports coverage, more hours and more events in High Definition than any other network in Canada, reinforcing TSN's position as Canada's Sports Leader in High Definition.  TSN is available in eight million households. TSN's programming and news content is also available online at TSN.ca.
*2004/2005 Roper Canada - Winter

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