The US Open. TV ESPN testing … interviews during matches – Sport.pl

The interview was conducted at the end of the first set in a duel of two Americans – Coco Vandeweghe with Sloane Stephens. When Vandeweghe won the first batch of 6: 4 and sat on a chair on the side of the court, to rest and to drink, she went to her journalist ESPN and great deblistka years ago, Pam Shriver. In his hand was a microphone equipped with a station logo and the intervals between sips of water trying to extract from Vandeweghe few comments about what exactly happened on the court. Live Streaming viewed the viewers of ESPN, the station, which this year is the main partner of TV tournament.

The interview was agreed upon in advance with Vandeweghe, who agreed to speak live with the journalist. The agreement was that if you will not want to talk, give a sign that he did not want her approached. But after winning set had nothing against it.

– At first I thought it might tear down my concentration, but on the other hand, after the WTA tennis sometimes include the coaches to talk to us, which is allowed, so the situation was not entirely new. I think it’s an interesting innovation – Vandeweghe told later that concentration has not lost and won the match 6: 4, 6: 3.

Experiment, however, provoked mixed feelings among the other competitors. Carolina Woźniacka criticized him on Twitter, writing that it is rather an attack on the concentration of the players. – It can be a fun thing, it gives fans more info, makes the game more interesting – Canadian Eugenie Bouchard said.

Serena Williams did not like the idea. – I understand that others may be attractive, but for me it has always been a tennis player’s game with an opponent and their own weaknesses. Without coaches, reporters – stressed the 34-year-old American.

The fans at the official site WTA opinion apparently shared by 21-fold Slam champion. Only 8 percent. in an online poll unconditionally supports the idea, 36 percent. It is of the opinion that it has meaning only if the competitor agrees to an interview, and 56 per cent. It is strongly opposed.