Two of the biggest names in tennis gave the Australian Open women’s final a ratings boost.
The Serena Williams/Maria Sharapova Australian Open women’s final drew a 0.7 overnight rating on ESPN early Saturday morning, up 40% from both Li Na/Dominika Cibulkova last year and Victoria Azarenka/Li Na in 2013 (0.5 both years).
The match topped Williams’ previous appearance in the final, a 2010 match against Justine Henin (0.6), and more than doubled Sharapova’s — a 2012 match against Azarenka that drew a 0.3.
On Sunday morning, the Novak Djokovic/Andy Murray men’s final drew a 0.5 overnight — down a tick from last year’s Stanislas Wawrinka/Rafael Nadal match (0.6) but even with Djokovic/Murray in 2013 (0.5).
(Wknd. overnights from ESPN)
