Last-minute C4 deal let nation cheer on teenager
THE nation came to a standstill last night after a last-minute deal between Amazon and Channel 4 enabled tennis fans to enjoy the final between Emma Raducanu and Leylah Fernandez for free.
The deal – rumoured to be worth more than £1million – meant millions of people in the UK were able to watch the match on terrestrial television and not on an internet subscription-based streaming channel.
Last week Raducanu became the first British female tennis player to reach a Grand Slam single final since Virginia Wade won Wimbledon in 1977.
But there were fears many would miss the momentous occasion – including her friends and family who have watched her meteoric rise this summer but are unable to fly to the US to see her play at Flushing Meadow due to Covid restrictions.
All fees from the Channel 4 agreement will be reinvested into British women’s tennis to support the next generation of female British talent, Amazon said.
Alex Green, managing director of Prime Video Sport Europe, said: ‘Emma’s journey from qualification through to the US Open final at the age of 18 is a truly magical story for British sport and we think it’s important that we extend our coverage to as many people as possible to support her in this historic moment for women’s tennis.
‘Young tennis talent such as Emma need the right support to become the stars we see today and we’re delighted to be able to commit even more investment to the next generation of women’s tennis in the UK.’
Amazon’s streaming service costs each customer £79 a year and it has an estimated 9.5 million subscribers, according to Ofcom, the media regulator.
It offers a free 30-day trial, which can be cancelled at any time. Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden had yesterday called for the game to be available for free to watch, saying it would be a ‘great gesture’.
Last night he praised the move, saying: ‘The whole country will be behind the British tennis sensation Emma Raducanu, so I am delighted that Amazon Prime and Channel Four have responded to our call to make this historic sporting moment free to watch so that as many of us as possible can cheer her on.’
Joe Salisbury last night became the first Briton to win two doubles titles at a Grand Slam in the Open era after claiming the mixed doubles title at the US Open a day after winning the men’s doubles.
Salisbury and American partner Desirae Krawczyk beat Mexico’s Giuliana Olmos and El Salvador’s Marcelo Arevalo 7-5 6-2 at Flushing Meadows.
On Friday, Salisbury and his US partner Rajeev Ram beat Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares in the men’s doubles.