The U.S. Open singles finals did not do particularly well in year one on ESPN.
The Novak Djokovic/Roger Federer U.S. Open men’s final, which was delayed three hours due to rain, drew a 2.4 overnight rating on ESPN Sunday night — up 26% from Marin Cilic/Kei Nishikori last year (1.9) but down 14% from Rafael Nadal/Djokovic in 2013 (2.8). Those matches aired on Monday afternoons on CBS.
Despite the solid increase, the 2.4 overnight is the fourth-lowest for a men’s final since at least 1994 — ahead of only Cilic/Nishikori, Nadal/Djokovic in 2010 (2.2) and Andy Murray/Djokovic in 2013 (2.3). The last time the men’s final took place on a Sunday, Federer/Djokovic in 2007, it drew a 4.2 overnight on CBS after NFL football.
On Saturday, the Flavia Pennetta/Roberta Vinci U.S. Open women’s final drew a 1.5 overnight rating on ESPN — down 63% from Serena Williams/Caroline Wozniacki last year (4.0) and down 69% from Williams/Victoria Azarenka in 2013 (4.9). Those matches aired on CBS with an NFL lead-in.
Excluding the 2009 final, which aired on ESPN2 after rain delays, the 1.5 overnight is the lowest for the women’s final of the U.S. Open since at least 1995. The previous low was a 1.9 for Kim Clijsters/Vera Zvonareva in 2010.
(Wknd. numbers via ShowBuzz Daily)
