The U.S. Open singles finals delivered some of the lowest numbers in years, though the men’s final managed a big year-over-year increase.
Sunday’s Novak Djokovic/Roger Federer U.S. Open men’s final drew a 1.8 final rating and 3.2 million viewers on ESPN, up 13% in ratings and 43% in viewership from Marin Cilic/Kei Nishikori last year (1.6, 2.2M) but down 25% and 8%, respectively, from Rafael Nadal/Djokovic in 2013 (2.4, 3.4M), both of which aired on Mondays on CBS.
Djokovic’s win, which was pushed back three hours due to rain, ranks as the fourth-lowest rated U.S. Open men’s final — ahead of only last year, Nadal/Djokovic in 2010 (1.8), and Federer/Andy Murray in 2008 (1.7).
The previous day, the Flavia Pennetta/Roberta Vinci women’s final drew a 1.1 and 1.6 million viewers on ESPN — down 62% in ratings and 64% in viewership from Serena Williams/Caroline Wozniacki last year (2.9, 4.5M) and down 73% and 74%, respectively, from S. Williams/Victoria Azarenka in 2013 (4.0, 6.2M).
The 1.1 rating is tied as the lowest ever for the U.S. Open women’s final, matching the 2010 final on ESPN2.
The low numbers are no surprise, given the absence of Williams — by far the biggest name in the tournament. Coverage of the rescheduled women’s semifinals, which included Williams’ upset loss to Vinci, drew a not-much-lower 1.0 rating and 1.4 million viewers despite a Friday afternoon timeslot.
(Wknd. numbers from ESPN)
