ESPN’s exclusive coverage of the Emirates Airline US Open Series continues this week in Cincinnati where top-ranked Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic lead exceptionally strong fields at the WTA and ATP Western & Southern Open. Roger Federer returns to action to defend his 2014 championship, while last week’s winners – Andy Murray and 18-year old Belinda Bencic, who defeated Williams en route to the title in Toronto – are now atop the US Open Series points standings. ESPN3’s extensive daily offering totals 220 hours with 32 on television, including all four semifinals and the championships back-to-back Sunday, Aug. 23, at 1 p.m.

ESPN3 starts with action from three courts at 11 a.m. each weekday (ESPN Deportes+ has select ATP matches).   TV coverage starts Wednesday, August 19, with a four-hour telecast on ESPNEWS at 7 p.m., with ESPN2 adding 28 hours beginning Thursday, Aug. 20. Cliff Drysdale, the dean of the ESPN Tennis Team, will be there with Darren Cahill, Chrissie Evert, Mary Joe Fernandez, Brad Gilbert and Patrick McEnroe.

The US Open Series – seven hard-court events (three ATP, three WTA, one combined) across North America in five weeks – concludes next week with the ATP Winston-Salem Open and the WTA Connecticut Open in New Haven with action on ESPN3 and ESPN2.

A points system rewards the men and women who finish in the top three for the USOS with a bonus based on their performance in the US Open. If the USOS winner also is the US Open champion, they receive a bonus of $1,000,000. ESPN’s first-ever exclusive coverage of the US Open – including Williams’ historic quest for a calendar year Grand Slam – begins Monday, Aug. 31.

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