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Updated at 6:35 a.m., Monday, May 12, 2008

ESPN takes U.S. Open tennis from USA Network

Associated Press

NEW YORK — The U.S. Open tennis tournament's cable TV coverage is leaving USA Network after 25 years and moving to ESPN and Tennis Channel starting in 2009.

The six-year deal through 2014 was announced by the U.S. Tennis Association on Monday. ESPN now owns TV rights to parts of all four tennis Grand Slam tournaments.

USA began broadcasting the U.S. Open in 1984 and will carry it for the last time in 2008. Starting the following year, ESPN2 will be the lead cable carrier for the U.S. Open and the U.S. Open Series, the circuit of hard-court tournaments leading to the major.

The broadcast network rights are still held by CBS, which has a contract with the USTA through 2011.