INTERNATIONAL TENNIS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY LIVE ON TENNIS CHANNEL SATURDAY, JULY 20
Multiple Grand Slam Winners Li Na, Mary Pierce and Yevgeny
Kafelnikov to be Enshrined at 6 p.m. ET
LOS ANGELES, July 16, 2019 -Tennis Channel will offer live coverage of the 2019 International Tennis Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Newport, R.I., on Saturday July 20, at 6 p.m. ET. Two-time Grand Slam singles champion Li Na, four-time Grand Slam champion Mary Pierce, and former World No. 1 and six-time Grand Slam champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov will be enshrined among the greatest players of all-time. Following Tennis Channel’s telecast of the ceremony, fans will be able to watch on-demand on Tennis Channel Plus, the network’s digital subscription service.
Na was ranked as high as World No. 2 in singles and won nine titles during her career, including the 2011 French Open and the 2014 Australian Open. She also helped to popularize tennis in China as the country’s first global tennis star.
Pierce was an accomplished singles and doubles player, ranking World No. 3 in both disciplines. She won 18 singles titles and 10 doubles titles during her career. She won Grand Slam championships in singles, doubles and mixed doubles, winning the 1995 Australian Open and the 2000 French Open in singles, the 2000 French Open in doubles and the 2005 Wimbledon mixed-doubles crown.
Kafelnikov, along with his World No.1 ranking and six total Grand Slam championships, won an Olympic gold medal at the 2000 games and was a part of Russia’s title-winning Davis Cup team in 2002. Like his fellow enshrines, he won a singles title at the French Open (1996) and Australian Open (1999). He has three French Open doubles titles (1996-97, 2002) and the 1997 US Open doubles championship.
In addition to the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Tennis Channel has had live coverage of the Hall of Fame Open for the Van Alen Cup throughout the week and will feature complete coverage of the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals (schedule follows). This year’s field features several former champions, including three-time winner John Isner, defending champion Steve Johnson and 2016 titleholder Ivo Karlovic. Tennis Channel Plus will feature live action throughout the week and on-demand matches following their live conclusions.
Announcers Brett Haber (@BrettHaber) and Steve Weissman (@Steve_Weissman) will call the action along with analyst and Hall of Famer Mats Wilander, who won seven Grand Slam singles titles during his career. 1996 Australian Open doubles champion Chanda Rubin (@Chanda_Rubin) will also join as an analyst. Haber will serve as the master of ceremonies for the Hall of Fame induction.
Tennis Channel’s live coverage is as follows (all times ET. Singles unless noted otherwise):
Thursday, July18:
11a.m. -Hall Fame Open for the Van Alen Cup singles and doubles quarterfinals
Friday, July19:
1p.m. -Hall Fame Open for the Van Alen Cup quarterfinals
Saturday, July 21:
1p.m. -Hall Fame Open for the Van Alen Cup semifinals
4:30 p.m. – Tennis Channel Live
6p.m. -Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Sunday, July 22:
2 p.m. -Hall Fame Open for the Van Alen Cup singles and doubles finals
