#ESPN to borrow NBA coverage idea for US Open fan experience

The U.S. Open will be fan-less but won’t be without the traditional “player box.”

Virtually, that is.

As a highlight to ESPN’s coverage of the Open that starts Aug. 31, players have been asked to submit a list of 15 family/friends they would normally invite to their private box at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

ESPN often pans the player box, usually focusing on male player’s wife/girlfriend/celebrity acquaintance. Now ESPN will display the invitees in a make-believe box.

Along with the viewers, the players can see their player box on nine 8-by-14 LED screens that will be placed around the lower perimeter of Ashe Stadium.

It’s a nuanced upgrade to the NBA’s coverage, in which a cadre of season-ticket holders are shown digitally sitting in front-row seats.

“There was a lot of momentum from the players to invite 15 people, ESPN’s vice president of production Jamie Reynolds told The Post. “We’ll cycle through them. Some might drop off after a half-hour, others will be the whole match. And it’ll be a like a FaceTime call. They can hear the audio of their family and friends and talk to them.’’

The nine screens will have other uses as well. Instead of the players craning their necks to the upper-deck scoreboard to watch the Hawkeye replays on disputed line calls, the players can view it on the nine courtside screens.

“They won’t have to look up in the sky to challenge things,’’ Reynolds said.

In addition, fans — based on geography — will appear on screen. The concept is grabbing patrons from a player’s home country. ESPN is producing the live feed for 200-plus countries.

Also, ESPN’s sideline reporter Tom Rinaldi will get help. A superfan will be chosen to ask the player a question as part of the on-court post-match interview. Rinaldi also will perform an on-court interview, but he and the player will be in masks standing 6 feet apart in following the CDC’s social distancing protocols.

ESPN officials believe this sort of “fan engagement’’ will enhance coverage in challenging times — covering the two-week Open in an empty stadium. The larger hurdle is capturing the essence of the event with audio.

ESPN’s tennis strategy is to limit the fake crowd buzz the NBA, MLB and NHL have used effectively and try a new tact.

“It’s more comforting to hear that atmospheric white noise,’’ Reynolds said. “What we have done on the tennis side is we’ll have moments where we have traditional crowd noise like the walk on or end of the match or set. But we won’t have it during the actual action.

“We’re trying to optimize the player performance. We want to hear how physical they are, how hard they are hitting the ball. We want to catch the force and strength. We’re going to optimize that audio.’’

ESPN will employ 15 on-air personalities — including the broadcasting debut of recently retired Caroline Wozniacki, wife of former Knick David Lee.

According to Reynolds, ESPN broadcast personalities John and Patrick McEnoe and Chris Fowler, who sit in a 200-level booth, are analyzing how loud they can go without being heard by the players. Rehearsals will take place next week during the Western & Southern Open.

There’s also another hurdle.

“Social distancing means announcers have to follow the same rules,’’ Reynolds said. “They’re usually shoulder to shoulder. You have to have the talent in their own unique space. Will they have the body language and chemistry like they’re working side to side?’’

The telecast, however, will be enhanced by lower camera angles. With an empty stadium, the lenses can be situated in lower spaces where front-row patrons would have sat during non-COVID-19 times. Reynolds believes that will better “access the speed and versatility of players.”

The chief obstacle is rising to the crescendo moments of a big point without Flushing’s thundering crowd.

“A four-hour men’s match, you tip in and out, but whenever you hear the roar of the crowd or inflection of the announcers, you perk up and pay attention again,’’ Reynolds said. “Finding that rhythm and maintaining that experience is our biggest focus.

“But there’s something romantically interesting to me about having two players in the bottom of a 23,000-seat arena all by themselves. It’s the ultimate duel. The great Western — two guys in the Valley of Death.’’