Tennis Channel In Step With Seles ‘Stars’ Turn
Network To Chronicle Grand Slam Winner’s Experience On ABC 'Dancing' Series
By Mike Reynolds -- Multichannel News, 3/16/2008 11:04:00 AM
She had punishing two-handed forehand and backhands. Now, we’ll get to find out if Monica Seles can do the two-step.
The nine-time Grand Slam tennis champion is a contestant on the sixth season of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars and fans will be able to keep up with her experiences via weekly interviews and question-and-answer videos on Tennis Channel and its Web site, www.tennischannel.com.
The youngest French Open winner in history (16 years, six months in 1990) begins her quest to wear the Dancing with the Star crown on Tuesday March 18 at 9 p.m. (ET/PT). Seles will perform a second routine on March 24 at 8 p.m., before the first two couples are eliminated from the competition the following night at the same time.
Following each episode, Seles will recount her week in a News & Notes short-form segment that will air repeatedly on Tennis Channel, which on March 10 simulcast with MSG Plus the NetsJets Showdown between Roger Federer and Pete Sampras from New York's Madison Square Garden, and its Web site until the next edition of Dancing with the Stars.
The network will solicit online questions from fans as well, which the tennis star will answer in a Web video each week. Additionally, Tennis Channel will post video well wishes from fans on www.tennischannel.com.
Tennischannel.com fan blogger James La Rosa also will be on the Dancing with the Stars scene, serving his offbeat observations of Seles and the series. Tennis Channel will give one fan two tickets into the show’s Los Angeles studio audience, through a sweepstakes at the Web site.
“I’m excited to have this opportunity with Tennis Channel to tell fans about my experiences on Dancing With The Stars each week,” said Seles. “It’s great to have an outlet to stay in touch with the tennis community while I’m on the show, and I’m thankful for the network’s support during the competition.”
On Dancing with the Stars, Seles, partnered with instructor Jonathan Roberts, will compete against Priscilla Presley, Marlee Matlin, Jason Taylor, Kristi Yamaguchi, Adam Carolla (Comedy Central’s The Man Show) Cristian de la Fuente, Shannon Elizabeth, Steve Guttenberg, Mario, Penn Jillette and Marissa Jaret Winokur.
