"Don’t buy rights if you’re going to blow it" - Tennis world lays heavy criticism on ESPN for Australian Open 2023 coverage

The tennis world has torn into broadcaster ESPN for its coverage of the 2023 Australian Open in the United States, heavily criticizing its unwillingness to bring the tournament to all fans in the country. American tennis is having a Slam to remember as many of their players are scoring big wins, but that has led to more frustration among fans over the lack of coverage.The 2023 Australian Open is being covered exclusively on ESPN+ in the USA. ESPN+ is a paid service but not on free-to-air TV, despite ESPN having multiple channels.In that context, fans and even some players have been highlighting how other sports are getting detailed coverage across multiple ESPN channels while tennis continues to be sidelined.Ajla Tomljanovic and former American player Jesse Levine are among those who have expressed their dissatisfaction. Levine stated that while the Australian Open is being covered on the paid service ESPN+, the lack of TV coverage did not sit well with him.&quot;How is tennis not on tv in the states right now? Yes espn + I get it, but one of the biggest tournaments in the world and can’t even watch!!&quot; Levine wrote on Twitter.Jesse Levine@jesselevine7How is tennis not on tv in the states right now? Yes espn + I get it, but one of the biggest tournaments in the world and can’t even watch!!53744How is tennis not on tv in the states right now? Yes espn + I get it, but one of the biggest tournaments in the world and can’t even watch!!&quot;How is there no coverage of this match in the States,&quot; Tomljanovic expressed on Twitter with a hint of anger during one of the matches on Thursday.Ajla Tomljanovic@AjlatomHow is there no coverage of this match in the States 🤯🤬240065How is there no coverage of this match in the States 🤯🤬Journalist Matt Zemek stressed that Sebastian Korda's win over Daniil Medvedev on Friday was a huge moment for American tennis but ESPN chose to ignore it, focusing instead on coverage of the NFL, hockey, and basketball. He urged those in positions of power in American tennis to take note of the issue.&quot;Korda d. Medvedev is a massive moment for American tennis, but ESPN and ESPN2 are currently talking about the NFL playoffs and showing basketball and hockey highlights,&quot; Zemek wrote.&quot;Do any American tennis executives, tourney directors, or tour officials think this is a serious problem?&quot;Matt Zemek@mzemekKorda d. Medvedev is a massive moment for American tennis, but ESPN and ESPN2 are currently talking about the NFL playoffs and showing basketball and hockey highlights.Do any American tennis executives, tourney directors, or tour officials think this is a serious problem? twitter.com/mzemek/status/…Matt Zemek@mzemekBitterly ironic that at a tournament where American tennis players are doing so well, ESPN has dramatically scaled back its coverage and, accordingly, any real attempt to make the Australian Open more visible and accessible to the American public.33133Bitterly ironic that at a tournament where American tennis players are doing so well, ESPN has dramatically scaled back its coverage and, accordingly, any real attempt to make the Australian Open more visible and accessible to the American public.Korda d. Medvedev is a massive moment for American tennis, but ESPN and ESPN2 are currently talking about the NFL playoffs and showing basketball and hockey highlights.Do any American tennis executives, tourney directors, or tour officials think this is a serious problem? twitter.com/mzemek/status/…Here are a few more reactions from tennis journalists, fans, and others in the tennis world to ESPN's 2023 Australian Open coverage:Jennifer Pattison Tuohy@jp2eSo disappointed with @espn’s coverage of the @AustralianOpen so far. Djokovic and Murray playing right now (not each other) and this is what’s currently live on ESPN. All the tennis is on the paywalled ESPN+ … ☹️121So disappointed with @espn’s coverage of the @AustralianOpen so far. Djokovic and Murray playing right now (not each other) and this is what’s currently live on ESPN. All the tennis is on the paywalled ESPN+ … 🎾☹️ https://t.co/JWbJjVgTGpCaitlin@caitlin_thomps@mzemek @mattracquet It’s an EMERGENCY. @espn don’t buy the rights if you’re going to blow it28@mzemek @mattracquet It’s an EMERGENCY. @espn don’t buy the rights if you’re going to blow itLindsay Gibbs@linzsportsDoes ESPN really need ABC, ESPN, *and* ESPN2 all to air the same Wild Card game? I was looking forward to channel surfing with the Australian Open. Couldn’t they at least put the tennis on ESPN News??37115Does ESPN really need ABC, ESPN, *and* ESPN2 all to air the same Wild Card game? I was looking forward to channel surfing with the Australian Open. Couldn’t they at least put the tennis on ESPN News??Matt Zemek@mzemekBitterly ironic that at a tournament where American tennis players are doing so well, ESPN has dramatically scaled back its coverage and, accordingly, any real attempt to make the Australian Open more visible and accessible to the American public.42949Bitterly ironic that at a tournament where American tennis players are doing so well, ESPN has dramatically scaled back its coverage and, accordingly, any real attempt to make the Australian Open more visible and accessible to the American public.Myles David@TunedIntoTennisNow how does the AUSTRALIAN OPEN get relegated to almost exclusively ESPN+ but Pickleball will be on the channel front and center? twitter.com/TennisPublishe…Randy Walker@TennisPublisherAndre Agassi, Michael Chang, John McEnroe and Andy Roddick will compete for a $1 million purse in... PICKLEBALL at the Inaugural Pickleball Slam, to be held 4/2/2023 at Hard Rock Hotel &amp; Casino in Hollywood, Fla. on Sunday, April 2 and will be televised live exclusively on ESPN.122Andre Agassi, Michael Chang, John McEnroe and Andy Roddick will compete for a $1 million purse in... PICKLEBALL at the Inaugural Pickleball Slam, to be held 4/2/2023 at Hard Rock Hotel &amp; Casino in Hollywood, Fla. on Sunday, April 2 and will be televised live exclusively on ESPN.Now how does the AUSTRALIAN OPEN get relegated to almost exclusively ESPN+ but Pickleball will be on the channel front and center? 😂 twitter.com/TennisPublishe…Bryce Christian@BryceChristianI hope Netflix or Amazon does pick up professional tennis bc @espn is a (money-hungry) joke. All sports can watch every living second of their sports on multiple channels and they put our sport behind pay walls and increasingly limited coverage.132I hope Netflix or Amazon does pick up professional tennis bc @espn is a (money-hungry) joke. All sports can watch every living second of their sports on multiple channels and they put our sport behind pay walls and increasingly limited coverage.Cheryl Cuartero@cheryl_cuartero@jesselevine7 That’s why I signed up for ESPN plus. I couldn’t find the match that I was looking for2@jesselevine7 That’s why I signed up for ESPN plus. I couldn’t find the match that I was looking forAmerican players Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, Ben Shelton &amp; Sebastian Korda shine at Australian Open 2023Ben Shelton in action at the 2023 Australian Open.American tennis players have had a memorable 2023 Australian Open, with established stars as well as underdogs performing quite well at the tournament. Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula, both of whom will play their fourth-round singles matches on Sunday, are among the biggest title contenders in the women's draw.On the men's side, there have been surprises aplently. While both Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe suffered early exits, Ben Shelton qualifying for the 4th round in his first Grand Slam tournament outside the US.Sebastian Korda, meanwhile, beat 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev in straight sets, and Michael Mmoh's win against Alexander Zverev was another big talking point.JJ Wolf and Tommy Paul, along with Korda and Shelton, have also made it through to the last-16.Doubles partners Gauff and Pegula, world No. 3 Rajeev Ram, and Desirae Krawczyk, are among the big title hopes in the doubles draws.

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