The revamped mixed doubles competition at the U.S. Open, which takes place Tuesday and Wednesday, is “a perfect appetizer” for ESPN before the tournament begins in full next week, according to Richard Deitsch at THE ATHLETIC. The mixed doubles is “oozing with boldfaced names and singles stars” like Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek and Venus Williams. Though full-time doubles players have already criticized the USTA for revamping the event, the “reality from the broadcaster perspective” is that “this is a television show.” A mixed doubles tournament packed with stars and a $1M prize for the winning team has the “makings of great television.” ESPN during the competition will conduct “end-of-set interviews with the stars to take the temperature of each match.” If the interviews get good feedback, ESPN VP/Production Linda Schulz said that she could “see it extending to other tournaments.” Deitsch notes ESPN also will debut new technology, including a camera system “similar to a railcam camera without the rail.” The 4K cameras will be on three sides of the net and should “help give viewers a better sense of the speed of players.” The Mindfly camera, used previously in the NHL and Frozen Four, is a wearable camera that enables fans to “experience the game from the point of view of any player” (THE ATHLETIC, 8/18).
Read more on sportsbusinessjournal.com
