Tennis broadcasters to expand practice of interviewing players between sets after US Open first round success

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Tennis broadcasters are to try and expand the practice of interviewing players between sets after the innovation was tried out in the US Open first round.

American Coco Vandeweghe consented to have a brief live conversation with ESPN's Pam Shriver after the first set of her opening match, becoming the first at a major event in the sport to do so.

The US network said yesterday they hoped to find more volunteers to be interviewed mid-match, having already done it in golf with Phil Mickelson and basketball with LeBron James.

ESPN's Pam Shriver interviewed Coco Vandeweghe (left) after the first set of her opening US Open match

Vandeweghe sat for a 35 second question and answer session during her Sloane Stephens match

The idea has had a mixed reaction from players, and Chris Evert said that of the 'twelve to fifteen' that had been formally approached around half had said they were open to it.

'We've had a lot of players express an interest,' said Evert. 'I love it. In these times it's thinking outside the box and will bring in those who are not hardcore tennis fans.'

Both players have to consent and Shriver was instructed not to impart any technical information that might help the interviewee.

At the moment it is at the experimental stage and there is no immediate prospect of it happening at Wimbledon, although ESPN are the American rights holders at SW19.

Vandeweghe went on to win the match in New York against her fellow American, 6-4, 6-3