FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, May 29th, 2014

FRENCH OPEN COVERAGE ON NBC CONTINUES THIS WEEKEND WITH THIRD- AND FOURTH-ROUND MATCHES

Ted Robinson Hosts 15th French Open on NBC & Looks Back at His Most Memorable Moments

NBC Sports Live Extra to Stream Coverage on NBC

STAMFORD, Conn. – May 29, 2014 – NBC Sports Group’s French Open coverage continues this weekend with third-round matches Saturday at Noon ET, and fourth-round coverage Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on NBC.

As NBC broadcasts its 32nd French Open, Ted Robinson celebrates a milestone, hosting his 15th French Open from Roland Garros.  Robinson joined NBC as anchor of the network’s tennis coverage in 2000 and has since called the French Open every year alongside John McEnroe and Mary Carillo, as well the Wimbledon Championships from 2000-11.

Milestones during Robinson’s French Open hosting career include:

  • 2013: Rafael Nadal wins his record eighth French Open (2005-08, 2010-13)
  • June 2, 2013: Roger Federer’s 900th career win (vs. Gilles Simon)
  • 2012: Federer ties Jimmy Connors’ record of 233 grand slam match wins (vs. Tobias Kamke)
  • 2009: Federer completes his career grand slam and ties the all-time grand slam title record (14, shared at the time with Pete Sampras)
  • 2007: Justine Henin ties the record with her third consecutive women’s singles crown at the French Open (Helen Wills-Moody, 1928-30; Hilde Sperling 1935-37; Monica Seles 1990-92)
  • 2002: Serena Williams defeats sister Venus to win her first French Open title
  • 2000: Mary Pierce becomes the first French female to win the French Open since Françoise Durr in 1967

A SAMPLING OF ROBINSON’S MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS

ROBINSON ON THE 2001 FRENCH OPEN: “2001 was the best overall year. Michael Russell, an American qualifier, had a match point against Gustavo Kuerten in the third round. Kuerten saved it and rallied to win match, and then his third French Open title. He memorably drew a giant heart in the red clay after winning, expressing his love of Roland Garros.”

“On the women’s side, Jennifer Capriati won the title, capping an emotional comeback in both her life and tennis.”

ROBINSON ON THE 2002 FRENCH OPEN: “Serena [Williams] won her first French Open title and only second Slam title. She beat her sister Venus in the final, and afterwards, Venus took pictures of Serena during the victory ceremony a memorable scene. Who would have thought it would be 11 years before Serena would win another French Open title?”

ROBINSON ON THE 2005 FRENCH OPEN: “I hosted the first Federer-Nadal meeting at a grand slam for NBC. It was the semifinals and Rafa won, resulting in his official baptism among the game’s best.”

ROBINSON ON THE 2009 FRENCH OPEN: “Federer faced a clear path to the only championship he lacked after Robin Soderling defeated Nadal in the only match Nadal had ever lost at Roland Garros. Federer was scuffling against Tommy Haas in the first round. Haas led by two sets and had a break point to serve for the match at 5-3 in the third set. Federer ended the point with a sharp angled forehand that brushed the sideline. He saved the game, won the match in five sets, and then went on to win the Championship. His forehand to save break point was the single most memorable shot of my French Open experience.”

For more information on Ted Robinson, click here http://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/bio/ted-robinson/ .

2014 FRENCH OPEN ON NBC

NBC presents 27 hours of the 2014 French Open culminating with the live Women’s Final on June 7 and the live Men’s Final on June 8.

FRENCH OPEN ON NBC: Following is the television schedule for the remainder of NBC’s coverage of the 2014 French Open:

Date Time Coverage
Saturday, May 31 Noon – 3:00 p.m. ET Third Round (LIVE)
Sunday, June 1 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. ET Fourth Round (LIVE)
Thursday, June 5 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (all time zones) Women’s Semifinal (LIVE ET)
Friday, June 6 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (all time zones) Men’s Semifinals (LIVE ET)
Saturday, June 7 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET Women’s Final (LIVE)
Sunday, June 8 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET Men’s Final(LIVE)


NBC SPORTS LIVE EXTRA
FRENCH OPEN COVERAGE

NBC Sports Live Extra — the NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets — will stream NBC’s French Open coverage. The vast majority of the content will be streamed live via “TV Everywhere,” the media industry’s effort to make quality content available to authenticated customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms.

For desktops, NBC Sports Live Extra can be accessed at NBCSports.com/liveextra. The NBC Sports Live Extra app for mobile devices and tablets is available at the App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, and on select Android handset and tablet devices within Google Play and on Windows 8 and Windows mobile devices.

French Open coverage airing NBC, including the Women’s (June 7) and Men’s (June 8) Finals, will be streamed to PCs, mobile devices and tablets through NBC Sports Live Extra.

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.

For more information about NBC Sports Group shows and properties, including press releases, photos, talent and executive bios and headshots, please visit NBCSportsGroupPressBox.com.

–NBC SPORTS GROUP–