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[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-microphone”] Match Recap from Announcer Andy Taylor, Voice of the US Open
Daniil Medvedev advances to the Round of 16
Last year’s Finalist has yet to lose a set at this year’s US Open. In the sport’s first ever “Pandemic Slam” without fans, Daniil Medvedev is off to a perfect start. Lest we forget, Mevedev made headlines last year after mocking fans in Louis Armstrong Stadium who heavily favored his Round of 16 opponent, Dominik Koepfer. In all honesty, those fans weren’t hardcore supporters of the German – they showed up specifically to bait Medvedev.
Two days prior, during Daniil’s 3rd-Round win over Feliciano Lopez, the Russian flipped-off the strongly biased Lopez crowd. Two things happened after the incident:
- Medvedev received a warning
- Daniil became the sensation of the 2019 US Open
In New York, nothing fuels interest more than controversy. Medvedev simply gave fans what they crave. Satisfied with the “villain” label, he played lights-out the rest of the fortnight and delivered a brilliant performance against beloved Rafael Nadal in the Championship match. Then, during the trophy presentation – with dignity, class and self-deprecating humor, he won-over New York fans.
This year, because of the coronavirus — there is no one to flip-off. Controversy is easier to avoid (or conceal) without butts in seats and fewer journalists. That said, this year — the Russian simply hasn’t needed to stir the pot for motivation.
He’s dominated all comers, including today’s opponent J.J. Wolf. By the way, tip of the hat to the Ohio State standout who turned pro just over a year ago. Wolf is the first player at this year’s Open to break Medvedev — not once, but twice.
Head to Head: First meeting between these two players
[3] Daniil Medvedev -05- (RUS) | Round-3 Announcer Introduction
Last Summer, he was unstoppable. He reached the Finals in Washington D.C., Montreal, won the title in Cincinnati, and played a 5-set thriller in the championship match here in New York. From Russia, 2019 US Open Finalist Daniil Medvedev.
- R3 — W | J.J. Wolf -138- (USA) | Score: 6-3, 6-3, 6-2
- R2 — W | Christopher O’Connell -116- (AUS) | Score: 6-3, 6-2, 6-4
- R1 — W | Federico Delbonis -79- (ARG) | Score: 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 | RECAP
J.J. Wolf -138- (USA) | Round-3 Announcer Introduction
This Ohio State All American turned pro last year, and has already amassed 4 ATP Challenger Tour Singles titles. Through to the 3rd-Round of the US Open in his Grand Slam main draw debut — From Cincinnati, J.J. Wolf.
- R3 — L | [3] Daniil Medvedev -05- (RUS) | Score: 3-6, 3-6, 2-6
- R2 — W | Roberto Carballes Baena -111- (ESP) | Score: 6-2, 6-4, 6-3
- R1 — W | [29] Guido Pella -36- (ARG) | Score: 6-2, 0-6, 6-3, 6-3
A New Reality | 2020 US Open Tennis Championships
In late February and early March, announcer Andy Taylor compèred two of the final professional tennis events before the global coronavirus pandemic put the skids on the 2020 season. In Doha, he hosted Aryna Sabalenka’s relentless run to the Qatar Total Open title. Then in Honolulu, he emceed Team USA’s Davis Cup Qualifier victory over Uzbekistan. Including Bob and Mike Bryan’s final professional match.
As U.S. coronavirus cases continued to mount, the day following Team USA’s 4-0 victory, all professional sports came to a grinding halt. Over the next five months, as Americans stayed home and “socially distanced,” nearly 6-million contracted the illness. Tragically, over 180-thousand perished. Worldwide, COVID-19 killed over 840-thousand and sickened 25-million (at the time of this writing).
New York hosts the resumption of the 2020 tennis season
Early on, New York City was the epicenter of COVID’s outbreak. The Billie Jean King National Tennis Center became prime real estate for New York’s coordinated pandemic response. Additionally, the state used Louis Armstrong Stadium as a warehouse to pack meals for patients, front-line workers and students dependent on the city’s school lunch program.
In late July, after New York “flattened the curve,” Governor Cuomo green-lighted the USTA’s plans to resume the 2020 tennis season in Flushing. Without fans. Without qualifying. Rather, the Western & Southern Open moved from Cincinnati to the grounds of the US Open. Furthermore, the USTA implemented strict COVID-19 testing policies. It limited the number in each player’s entourage. Additionally, it created a protective “Bubble” for all tournament participants at nearby hotels and on-site.
Announcer Andy Taylor | 19th US Open Tennis Championships
After a five month pause, with the coronavirus “politicized” and still spreading unchecked through portions of the population, Andy was hesitant when asked to be a part of the sport’s return. However, after carefully considering the USTA’s extensive health and safety protocols, he soon realized the US Open could in fact be one of the safest environments to avoid COVID’s spread.
Masks are mandatory. For crew, testing occurs every fourth day. To ensure best broadcast quality, the USTA understood that Arthur Ashe Stadium’s announcer would need to work without a mask. Therefore, they isolated Andy in his own booth. Thus, keeping production team members free from aerosols emitted during player introductions.
Rather than fly, Andy drove to Flushing. He uses his own vehicle to shuttle back and forth from the hotel to the venue, which limits his exposure to others. Additionally, this allowed Andy to bring his own hot plate and coffee machine, completely eliminating the need for others to bring him meals and supplies. Essentially, the Voice of the US Open is working from a bubble within “The Bubble.” Responsibly limiting contact with colleagues and players as much as humanly possible.
A new Grand Slam Global Pandemic Presentation
With the global emphasis on social distancing to avoid further outbreaks of COVID-19, the world of sport production is reinventing “the show” by harnessing new technologies that have emerged over the past decade. As always, the core goal is to meet fans where they are.
In other words, with fans exclusively watching on television – or on-the-go through mobile devices – the 2020 US Open “stadium show” is now geared toward the camera, rather than the ticket holder. This year, Andy and the stadium production team are working closely with ESPN to integrate the broadcast and stadium presentations. Instead of narrating player introductions exclusively for fans on site, intros and all aspects of the stadium show are now part of the broadcast product streamed to fans worldwide.
The true creator is necessity, who is the mother of our invention.
Jowett | English translation of Plato’s “Republic”
Live sport presentation is a brave new world. Through perseverance and bold experimentation, the US Open continues to innovate; determined to feed each tennis fan’s hunger after five months of the world’s new and humbling collective-reality.
