Perhaps the best final in Wimbledon history drew the best overnight rating for a men’s final at the event since 2000.
The classic, five set clash between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer drew a 4.6/14 overnight on NBC from 9 AM-4:45 PM Sunday, up 44% from a 3.2 for the same match-up last year. Ratings peaked with a stellar 6.5/15 from 4-4:30 PM ET.
The 4.6 is the highest for a Wimbledon men’s final since 2000, when the Pete Sampras/Patrick Rafter final drew a 5.0/14. Like this year’s final, the Sampras/Rafter match ran over its scheduled timeslot, ending at 4:15 PM ET. Additionally, the overnight is the best for a Wimbledon men’s final featuring two foreign players since 1991, when the Boris Becker/Michael Stich final drew 5.0/17.
Compared to another overseas Sunday morning sporting event, the 4.6 rating is 12% higher than the 4.1 for the final round of last year’s British Open on ABC.
Overall, the Wimbledon men’s final was the second highest rated sporting event of the weekend, behind only a 5.3 for the U.S. Olympic swimming trials Sunday night, which also aired on NBC.
Overnight ratings for Wimbledon men’s final.
since 2002
4.6/14: Nadal/Federer (Sun., 7/6/08, 9 AM NBC)
3.2/9: Federer/Nadal (Sun., 7/8/07, 9 AM NBC)
2.9/8: Federer/Nadal (Sun., 7/9/06, 9 AM NBC)
2.5/8: Federer/Roddick (Sun., 7/3/05, 9 AM NBC)
3.6/10: Federer/Roddick (Sun., 7/4/04, 9 AM NBC)
2.7/8: Federer/Philippoussis (Sun., 7/6/03, 9 AM NBC)
3.1/9: Hewitt/Nalbandian (Sun., 7/7/02, 9 AM NBC)
