Tennis’ first Major of 2012 – the Australian Open presented by Franklin Templeton Investments– is underway down under with late-night/overnight marathons on ESPN2 HD, ESPN3 and ESPN’s digital platforms. ESPN2 again will televise more than 100 live hours, plus afternoon highlights and replays from overnight action. The telecasts are also available through WatchESPN online at WatchESPN.com and on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app. Expanded digital coverage includes 600 hours on ESPN3, all live, with users choosing between action on seven courts with all matches available on-demand after completion.
Cliff Drysdale – who has been with ESPN since its first tennis telecast in 1979 – leads the ESPN2 team. Chris Evert, who joined ESPN last year for Wimbledon and the US Open, will make her Australian Open debut. Darren Cahill, Mary Joe Fernandez, Brad Gilbert, Patrick McEnroe and Pam Shriver return as analysts. Chris Fowler will again host and call select matches, with Chris McKendry also hosting. Tom Rinaldi will contribute features, news and interviews during event coverage and on SportsCenter.
This week’s schedule:
| Date | Time (ET) | Event | |
| Wed, Jan 18 | Noon – 3 p.m. | Early Round Action | Same-day |
| 11 p.m. – 3 a.m. | “ | LIVE | |
| 3 – 7 a.m. | “ | LIVE | |
| Thur, Jan 19 | Noon – 3 p.m. | “ | Same-day |
| 11 p.m. – 3 a.m. | “ | LIVE | |
| 3 – 7 a.m. | “ | LIVE | |
| Fri, Jan 20 | Noon – 3 p.m. | “ | Same-day |
| 9 p.m. – 3 a.m. | “ | LIVE | |
| 3 – 7 a.m. | “ | LIVE | |
| Sat, Jan 21 | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. | “ | Same-day |
| 9 p.m. – 2 a.m. | Round of 16 | LIVE | |
| 3 – 7 a.m. | “ | LIVE | |
| Sun, Jan 22 | 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. | “ | Same-day |
| 9 p.m. – 2 a.m. | “ | LIVE | |
| 3:30 – 6 a.m. | “ | LIVE |
Note: For these charts, all times are Eastern, and each day “begins” at 6 a.m. ET. Therefore, the listing for Sunday, Jan. 15 at 3 a.m. ET is very late on Sunday night.
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