U.S. Open: After Low Overnights, Singles Finals Finish With Multi-Year Highs

In a turnaround from the overnight ratings released earlier in the week, final numbers for the singles finals of the U.S. Open increased slightly from last year.

Sunday’s Serena Williams/Victoria Azarenka U.S. Open women’s final drew a 3.4 final rating and 5.165 million viewers on CBS, up a tick in ratings and 5% in viewership from last year (3.4, 4.927M), and up 100% and 98%, respectively, from 2010 (1.7, 2.609M).

The 2010 women’s final was the most recent to take place in the traditional Saturday night window, and the most recent to not feature Williams.

Sunday’s match ranks as the highest rated and most-viewed U.S. Open women’s final since Serena played her sister Venus Williams in 2002 (5.2, 7.892M). No other final over the past decade earned at least five million viewers.

The following day, the Andy Murray/Novak Djokovic men’s final drew a 2.4 and 3.552 million viewers — up a tick in ratings and 7% in viewership from last year (2.3, 3.336M), and up 33% and 44%, respectively, from CBS coverage of the 2010 final (1.8, 2.466M).

The match ranks as the highest rated and most-viewed U.S. Open men’s final since 2007, the last time the match was played in the traditional Sunday afternoon window (3.7, 5.363M).

The Monday finals have clearly taken a toll. Prior to 2008, the lowest rated men’s final was Federer/Lleyton Hewitt in 2004 (2.5). All five Monday afternoon finals (2008-2012) have earned a lower rating.

Of note, this was the third straight year ratings and viewership increased for the women’s final, and the second straight year the numbers increased for the men.

Ratings/Viewership For U.S. Open Singles Finals
Past decade
* The 2010 men’s final began on CBS and concluded on ESPN2.
The men’s final has been postponed to Monday due to rain for five consecutive years (2008-2012); the women’s final has been postponed to Sunday in four of five years (2008-09, 2011-12).

(Sunday/Monday numbers from Son of the Bronx)