EUROSPORT BOSSES RUBBER-STAMP CHANGE NAME OF TENNIS SHOW TO GAME SCHETT & MATS

Following months of pressure from fans and media alike, the Commissioner of Tennis John McEnroe used his address on Sunday evening to launch a campaign lobbying Eurosport officials to rename the show and reflect the role played by Mats Wilander’s co-host Barbara Schett.

Commissioner McEnroe confirmed the change of name during tonight’s program.

With the name of the show remaining unchanged since it first aired on Eurosport screens a decade ago, tennis icon John McEnroe called on viewers to back his campaign using the #GameSchettMats hashtag on social media channels. Fans duly responded with hundreds of posts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram calling for the change.

A host of stars from the world of sport, including ski icon Lindsey Vonn, Roland Garros semi-finalist Dominic Thiem, and ladies tennis legends Kim Clijsters and Conchita Martinez also threw their support behind the Commissioner’s campaign with a series of posts online throughout this week.

Eurosport tennis commentator Barbara Schett said: “I can honestly say I wasn’t aware this campaign was even being launched but I’ve been overwhelmed by the response from tennis fans across Europe.

“The feedback we receive about the show has been so positive – Mats and I are talking to fans about a sport we care deeply about and I think fans can sense that passion.”

Senior Vice-President Sport Content, Events and Production Discovery Arnaud Simon said: “The calls for change were becoming irresistible. At Eurosport we are always listening to our fans and this is most certainly a victory for those fans who have demanded action.

“Barbara is an outstanding journalist and deserves this recognition. Barbara and Mats are a team that are synonymous with Eurosport’s tennis coverage and we always look forward to working with them across the Grand Slams.”

Hosted by Barbara Schett and three-time Roland Garros men’s single champion Mats Wilander, Game, Schett & Mats airs daily on Eurosport during each Grand Slam in 2017, analysing all of the latest action from the day’s play and previews the next day’s key match-ups.

Following Roland Garros, Eurosport - the Home of Grand Slam tennis – will broadcast The Championships from Wimbledon in 34 territories across Europe with exclusively live coverage in Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, Georgia, Hungary, Iceland, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Norway, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.

ENDS.