FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 7th, 2012

NBC SPORTS GROUP PRESENTS CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND AT THE FRENCH OPEN ON NBC

Live Coverage of the Woman’s Final on Saturday at 9 a.m. ET featuring New No. 1 Maria Sharapova, and the Men’s Final on Sunday at 9 a.m. ET This Marks NBC’s 30th Consecutive Year as the Broadcast Home of the French Open Men’s Semifinal between No. 1 Novak Djokovic and No. 3 Roger Federer tomorrow at 11 a.m. (All Time Zones) and Streamed Live Across the Country on NBCSports.com “I can't wait to see if we move one step closer to seeing history being written on Friday.” – John McEnroe on Djokovic-Federer “Maria has never looked this comfortable and confident on clay.” – Mary Carillo on Sharapova’s play

NEW YORK – June 7, 2012 – NBC’s coverage of the 2012 French Open continues tomorrow with the men’s semifinal match between No. 1 ranked Novak Djokovic and 16-time Grand Slam singles champion Roger Federer tomorrow at 11 a.m. (all time zones) and streamed live on NBCSports.com across the country. This weekend, NBC will air live coverage of the women’s final on Saturday at 9 a.m. ET featuring the new No.1 seed Maria Sharapova, against 21st seed Sara Errani of Italy. Sharapova will have her chance to complete a career Grand Slam should she win the final. The men’s final which will pit the winner of the Federer-Djokovic match against the winner of the Rafael Nadal-David Ferrer match will air live on NBC on Sunday at 9 a.m. ET.

 

In the first semifinal tomorrow, defending champion Rafael Nadal will face fellow Spaniard and Davis Cup teammate David Ferrer on Tennis Channel. In the event that this match runs until 11 a.m. ET, NBC will air the end of the first match and will then air the Federer-Djokovic match. Nadal will go for a record seventh title at Roland Garros, having won in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2011. With a win this year, he will surpass Bjorn Borg for the most men’s French Open championships in the Open era.  With a win at this year’s French Open, Djokovic will have won four consecutive Grand Slam titles dating back to last year’s Wimbledon.

 

FRENCH OPEN ON NBCSPORTS.COM: Tennis fans can go to NBCSports.com to watch a live simulcast of Men’s and Women’s Finals, and live streaming coverage, across the country, of the Federer-Djokovic match tomorrow. NBCSports.com will also provide daily video highlights online-only analysis for NBC’s tennis commentators. If the Nadal-Ferrer match runs past 11 a.m. ET, NBCSports.com will stream the conclusion of that match and continue coverage with the Djokovic-Federer match.

 

COMMENTATORS: Host Ted Robinson anchors NBC’s coverage, joined by analysts John McEnroe and Mary Carillo. McEnroe and Carillo teamed to win the mixed doubles title at the 1977 French Open.  This is NBC’s 30th consecutive year televising the event.

 

MCENROE ON THE FINAL AND FEDERER: “I can’t wait to see if we move one step closer to seeing history being written on Friday. Only in this extraordinary situation would Roger Federer be such a big underdog and potential spoiler. A situation he may relish if he can get his a game going.”

 

CARILLO ON THE ERRANI’S FRENCH OPEN PERFORMANCE: “All credit to Sara Errani for making her way through a draw loaded with Grand Slam champions; knocking off past French Open titlists Ana Ivanovic, Svetlana Kuznetsova and, in the semis, the reigning US Open champion, Sam Stosur. But the 5’4 inch Italian will have to climb new heights to beat Maria Sharapova, who’s win in the semis makes her the new world’s No. 1, and who is now one match away from a career Grand Slam.”

 

CARILLO ON SHARAPOVA’S DOMINANCE: “The 6’2” Russian has overpowered everyone in her path, and it’s hard to imagine a letdown from someone who’s broken serve 40 times in six matches and is winning 70% of her first serve points. Maria has never looked this comfortable and confident on clay.”

 

FRENCH OPEN ON NBC

Friday, June 8 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. (all time zones) Men’s Semifinals (Live ET)
Saturday, June 9 9 a.m. – Noon ET Women’s Final (Live)
Sunday, June 10 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. ET Men’s Final (Live)

 

 

NBC AND THE FRENCH OPEN: In 1975, NBC became the first American television network to provide coverage of the French Open when the network signed a three-year deal with the French Tennis Federation.  The tournament was covered by CBS from 1980-82 and returned to NBC in 1983, where it has remained since.