Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.

US Open quarterfinal on ESPN –the much-anticipated 27th meeting between top-seeded Serena Williams and No. 23 Venus Williams –earned a 4.8 rating, peaking at a 5.6 from 10-10:15 p.m. ET.  The entire 5:15 telecast (including a second match, Novak Djokovic over Feliciano Lopez) scored a 2.7 from Nielsen’s metered markets, the second best for tennis in ESPN history (any ESPN network).  The only higher overnight rating for tennis was the 2012 Wimbledon Gentlemen’s Championship – Roger Federer over Andy Murray – with a 3.1. The 2.7 is 145% higher than the 1.1 earned by the same time slot last year.

Among the metered markets, West Palm Beach led the way with a 4.8 for the entire telecast, followed by New York (4.7), Atlanta (4.5), Richmond (4.1) and Washington DC (4.0)  Eleven markets set a new high for tennis on an ESPN network:  New Orleans, Raleigh-Durham, Miami, Louisville, Birmingham, Philadelphia, Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, Sacramento and Nashville.

The victory leaves Serena just two wins shy of a Grand Slam – not accomplished since Steffi Graf in 1988. 

Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.