While the tennis media and other apologists for the state of affairs at the WTA say things are better than ever let's take a look at the ratings for the WTA US Open semi finals and final this year.
U.S. Open women's final no ratings hit
Relegated to cable and lacking any recognizable stars beyond tennis circles, the women's final of the U.S. Open was a bust in the ratings.
The Clijsters/Wozniacki U.S. Open women's final drew a mere 1.1 U.S. rating and 1.8 million viewers on ESPN2 Sunday night, down 67% in ratings and 62% in viewers from a 3.3 and 4.9 million for last year's S. Williams/Jankovic final, which aired on CBS.
This marks the lowest rated U.S. Open women's final since at least 1996 -- 50% below the previous 13-year low of 2.2 for Kuznetsova/Dementieva in '04.
Sunday's women's final was far less of a draw than the Clijsters/S. Williams semifinal the previous night. That match, which aired on CBS, drew a 2.1/4 final rating and 3.2 million viewers.
Source: ESPN
If you want more proof of who the fans, casual and fanatic, want to watch scroll down and look at the chart featured in this article. US Open Ratings 1996-2009"
13 comments:
I see where you are going with the WTA.
I am shocked about the Fed/Murray rating. Poor monogram.
The men's ratings are not much better are they? It's just that the ATP is not trying to throw it's star players under a bus the way the WTA seems to want to do.
I think the talent pool is deeper in the ATP and that it's done a better job of promoting it's tour than the WTA has. Not even the face of the tour Maria Sharapova has the ratings Venus and Serena do. When they retire what is going to happen to women's tennis?
So you are telling me that in the US ratings are higher when Americans play? Wow that's a shocker! (that was sarcasm in case you didn't notice)
Of course people is gonna be more interested when countrymen are in the final stages of a competition (any competition), that's why Golf is bigger than Tennis in the US (and nowhere else). I'm pretty sure that in Belgium and Denmark the women final's rating was much higher than last year's final.
Dan what you say has come up quite a bit in discussing these figures.
If you, or anyone, has access to the ratings in Europe please post them here.
Thanks.
The ATP and WTA to me is like the NBA and WNBA. When I turn on a WNBA game, no one is in the stands and I don't think anyone cares. It's sad.
No I don't. but really Savannah, do you have any doubt in your mind that for this year's final the ratings in Denmark and Belgium were much higher than last year's final?
No I don't. but really Savannah, do you have any doubt in your mind that for this year's final the ratings in Denmark and Belgium were much higher than last year's final?
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I believe in ratings numbers. I've seen nothing to back that theory up.
I believe in ratings numbers. I've seen nothing to back that theory up.
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So in this case you need proof, but to speculate about the ATP favoring Roger Federer with its draws you don't? Wasn't you the one that wrote a post about double standards not too long ago?
Ah it always comes back to the Monogram doesn't it? The proof regarding his draws is there for all to see. It's not speculation.
It seems to me that some in tennis are dismayed that fans tuned in to watch the semi and then literally ignored the Final. The numbers bear this out. Since these ratings numbers have been out for sometime now I'd think someone, somewhere would have posted the ratings in Belgium, Denmark and Poland. I've checked all the traditional tennis media sources and found nothing. I've seen nothing on fan sites. So once again I ask readers with access to overseas television ratings to provide any information available.
Ah it always comes back to the Monogram doesn't it? The proof regarding his draws is there for all to see. It's not speculation.
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Proof according to your Biased opinion, if Rafa would have drawn Hewitt and Soderling on his part of the draw I'm pretty sure you'd have complained a lot more about the US open draw, I mean really give me your ideal draw for Roger (a factible one, you can't put Nadal in the first round) and you'll see that it will still look pretty easy for him.
Besides I remember one year (in 2006 or 2007) how much you whined about Rafa drawing Djokovic all the time(when it was still only the big 3) when actually that year Federer got Nole on his part of the draw in three of the four grand slams.
P/S: By the way, Even though it doesn't show in my comments I like you blog :)
ROTFL, the Federer/Murray final was the lowest rated men's final ever.
It's strange how tennis feels like it's becoming more popular in the US and yet the ratings show otherwise.
Tangerine said:
ROTFL, the Federer/Murray final was the lowest rated men's final ever.
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Didn't hear much about that one did we?
Dan we agree to disagree. If you notice I try to avoid commentary on the ATP draws especially at majors. I post them and then let the chips fall where they may.
Besides, if we all agreed what fun would that be? Please keep posting here.
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