The Australian Open will remain on ESPN through 2021 after Tennis Australia and ESPN, Inc. agreed to a 10-year contract extension. The new agreement takes effect in 2012 and continues ESPN2 television coverage as well as expands digital rights for ESPN3.com and ESPN.com. "Tennis fans know to start the year with ESPN and the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam, a great event combining the best in tennis with the beauty of summer from Down Under," ESPN executive vice president John Skipper said in a statement Friday. "In January we expanded live coverage of the Australian Open to great success. We're happy to work with Tennis Australia across all platforms to reach fans wherever they are." http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/news/story?id=5555426
