U.S. Open numbers game

Ratings for the men’s and women’s finals of the U.S. Open since 1996.

For the second straight year, rain pushed back the U.S. Open men’s and women’s finals to Sunday and Monday, respectively. Sunday night’s Clijsters/Wozniacki women’s final drew a 1.1 U.S. rating and 1.8 million viewers on ESPN2, down 67% in ratings from last year’s S. Williams/Jankovic final. Meanwhile, Monday’s Del Potro/Federer men’s final drew a 2.3/5 and 3.4 million — up 35% in ratings from last year’s 1.7/4 for Federer/Murray.

The two championship matches averaged a mere 1.7 rating, down 32% from a 2.5 last year, and the fourth straight year of declines. Since ’99, the average rating for the championship matches of the U.S. Open has declined by 73% (6.3 to 1.7).

Ratings for men’s and women’s finals of U.S. Open since ’96
Source: Sports Business Daily
^ In 2009, the women’s final took place on Sunday (ESPN2), and the men’s final took place on Monday (CBS)
* In 2008, the women’s final took place on Sunday, and the men’s final took place on Monday (both on CBS)