ESPN Ups Its Tennis Coverage Behind Andy Roddick And RedZone

Coco Gauff of the United States attends a recording of Andy Roddick’s Served podcast during Media Day ahead of the US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 28, 2026 in New York City (Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images)

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As Andy Roddick and Chris Eubanks bounced around Arthur Ashe Stadium, Louis Armstrong Stadium, Grandstand and Stadium 17 (to mention only a few) late in the first week of ESPN’s U.S. Open coverage it marked a turning point for the company’s RedZone coverage, having made its way from the ESPN App to ESPN2 while ESPN aired traditional coverage.

In the first year of a new 12-year agreement between ESPN and the United States Tennis Association (USTA) that has the sports broadcaster airing the final major of each season through 2037, ESPN’s efforts on tennis coverage finds a new rhythm.

And credit may be to TNT.

ESPN has long held rights to major tennis events. Along with reupping with the USTA for the U.S. Open, the broadcaster sits in the midst of a deal with Tennis Australia to air the Australian Open each January from 2023 through 2031 and is early in a 12-year deal with the All England Lawn Tennis Club to air Wimbledon each summer from 2024 through 2035. It could be TNT Sports’ coverage of Roland Garros that has pushed ESPN, with the newcomer to tennis broadcasting two years through a 10-year deal to air the Paris-based major from 2025 through 2034.

TNT introduced tennis fans to the NFL-style RedZone wraparound coverage, bouncing around courts for key moments in its “whiparound” coverage on TruTV, sometimes within the Mac Zone featuring John McEnroe and Patrick McEnroe. With multiple channels carrying coverage and a fresh perspective on tennis from TNT (Jim Courier sets the standard for tennis analysis), ESPN’s U.S. Open coverage has stepped up.

The broadcaster introduced 2003 U.S. Open champion and Served podcast host Andy Roddick to the platform for Wimbledon, really putting him front and center with fans in New York, pairing him with veteran play-by-play commentator Chris Fowler on key matches and with Eubanks on RedZone. Roddick’s rise in the world of tennis commentary isn’t by accident. The former top-level player created a powerful platform on his podcast, thanks to his frank discussion of the sport backed by insightful knowledge earned playing at the highest level.

“I’m always just a massive fan of tennis,” Roddick said ahead of joining ESPN for Wimbledon coverage. “I’m very excited to join the ESPN tennis team and look forward to covering the two biggest tournaments in the world.”

Pairing Roddick with Fowler proved successful, but giving Eubanks a larger presence has also given fans a bonus. The former player offers some of the deepest insights into the game and he does so with polish and ease. Hearing tennis minds—Roddick and Eubanks—discuss strategy and mentality improves ESPN coverage.

ESPN maintains a generous lists of analysts and commentators, with Mary Joe Fernandez easily one of the top voices in the game. Former players James Blake, Genie Bouchard and CoCo Vandeweghe continue to grow their presence on broadcasts and Sam Querrey and John Isner provide another dose of former player insight. Of course, ESPN still has the likes of the McEnroe brothers and Caroline Wozniacki. Studio hosts Malika Andrews and Katie George, both relatively new to the sport, show a growing understanding of tennis.

ESPN’s U.S. Open coverage recently expanded in breadth too, with the second year of the mixed doubles championships the week before the main draw offering three more days of coverage options. ESPN is showing coverage from the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and in the ESPN App via an ESPN Unlimited plan. Select matches will also show on ABC. The U.S. Open runs through Sept. 13, wrapping with the women’s championship on Sept. 12 and the men’s championship on Sept. 13.

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