If Roger Federer‘s upset loss is any indication, a Federer-Nadal semifinal would have delivered big numbers for ESPN.
Primetime coverage of the U.S. Open quarterfinals — featuring Federer’s four-set loss to Juan Martin Del Potro — earned 2.0 million viewers on ESPN Wednesday night, up 60% from last year (1.2M) and up 50% from 2015 (1.3M), both of which aired on ESPN2. Ratings were not immediately available.
The telecast, which also included Madison Keys‘ win over Kaia Kanepi, delivered the largest U.S. Open audience since the 2015 men’s final — topping both of last year’s finals.
Wednesday’s afternoon session had 689,000 viewers (-15%). Tuesday’s quarterfinal coverage delivered 1.3 million in primetime (+9%) and 738,000 in the afternoon (+2%).
Through the quarterfinals, the U.S. Open has averaged 895,000 viewers across ESPN and ESPN2 — up 9% from last year (822K) but down 25% from 2015, when Serena Williams‘ attempt at the calendar-year Grand Slam boosted the numbers (1.2M).
[Averages compiled by SMW; last night’s numbers via ShowBuzz Daily 9.7]
