Tennis Hopes Buzz From Wimbledon Finals Helps Propel Sport

USTA Hoping Buzz From Wimbledon Finals Will Carry Over To U.S. Open

U.S. Open officials are "updating their 'It's Showtime' promotional campaign ... to reflect the effect of the Wimbledon finals," including preparing print ads "to run as early as this week congratulating the Wimbledon winners [Rafael Nadal and Venus Williams], with none-too-subtle reminders" of the upcoming U.S. Open that starts on August 25, according to Charles Elmore of the PALM BEACH POST. USTA Senior Dir of PR Chris Widmaier: "When you come off such a magical weekend, it's incumbent upon us to capture this excitement and keep it moving forward." Quinnipiac Univ. assistant professor Rich Hanley said the Rafael Nadal-Roger Federer men's final was a "huge victory for tennis. That's what sports radio in New York has been talking about today." But Hanley added tennis "has to maintain this momentum into the U.S. Open to make it stick." Elmore writes there is "no guarantee it will last. It's a busy summer, with the Olympics as well as the U.S. Open Series of run-up events along the way" (PALM BEACH POST, 7/8). 

WILL THE BUZZ CONTINUE? Denver Post columnist Woody Paige said of the Nadal-Federer final, “In the big picture, it brings back men’s tennis to the forefront” (“Around The Horn,” ESPN, 7/7). In DC, Michael Wilbon writes of the Nadal-Federer final, "Tennis, even if briefly, became the headliner again." However, he adds, "I fear it's going to take so much more [to keep it there]. After all, Nadal and Federer engaged in a great five-set final at Wimbledon last year and it's not like there was a great rush back to the game. Maybe if the Federer-Nadal rivalry continues on, say, through the U.S. Open in September and beyond, more people will come to the tent to watch. But even then it's probably a leap of faith to bet on it" (WASHINGTON POST, 7/8). In Detroit, Angelique Chengelis writes of the buzz around Nadal-Federer, "My guess is that this is a flash of interest. Some fans might stick, but most won't" (DETROIT NEWS, 7/8). In Pennsylvania, Keith Groller writes, "While Federer and Nadal are superb players, they're still probably too nice, too bland, to serve as a launching pad for their sport. Even the Williams sisters can't seem to elevate the sport to its 1970s heights here in the United States" (Allentown MORNING CALL, 7/8). In L.A., Steve Dilbeck: "Anyone who truly believes [Nadal[Federer] harkens the beginning of a new golden age for tennis needs to lay off the sauce" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 7/8).

TOO MUCH AMERICAN PRIDE: In Orlando, Iliana Limon writes, "What impact will [Nadal-Federer] have on the sport? ... Will Americans recognize this is the slow period in our crazy sports calendar and pull for an explosive Federer-Nadal rematch at the U.S. Open in September?" It "doesn't help that Federer and Nadal hail from Switzerland and Spain, two countries a little too distant to inspire your average American sports fan" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 7/8). Wilbon added, “We are so tied up in American stars that we can’t appreciate international stars as much as we should.” Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan: "We are horribly xenophobic" ("PTI," ESPN, 7/8).

Many Feel Nadal-Federer Wimbledon Final  Should Help Ticket Sales At Other Tournaments

EFFECT ON OTHER TOURNEYS: Meanwhile, former WTA Tour Acura Classic co-Owner Raquel Giscafre and two other L.A.-area tournament organizers said that Nadal-Federer "should drive ticket sales for all upcoming tournaments." AEG VP/Communications Michael Roth, whose company owns the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour East West Bank Classic, said that the "ripple effects of the match should help bring people" to the tournament, which is held at The Home Depot Center beginning July 21. Roth: "The men's final helps our women's tournament because a match like that makes tennis even more top-of-mind in this market and gets many more people watching and talking about tennis than there would usually be." Meanwhile, the ATP Tour Countrywide Classic begins August 4 and while neither Nadal nor Federer will not play in the event, Tournament Dir Bob Kramer said that "that isn't likely to stop larger crowds from showing up" (L.A. TIMES, 7/8). The GLOBE & MAIL's Beverley Smith reported Nadal and Federer have "helped drive ticket sales at the Rogers Cup in Toronto the past two weeks," as both players have "confirmed their appearance" at the tournament that begins July 19. Tournament Dir Karl Hale said that, "spurred by an aggressive marketing push that began in January, ticket sales are $1.5[M] ahead of where they were two years ago," when the tournament was last held in Toronto (GLOBE & MAIL, 7/4).