Opening Night US Open Rating up 43%, Best in a Decade

The opening night session at the US Open on ESPN2 – primarily six-time champ #8 Serena Williams routing 2006 winner Maria Sharapova and five-time winner #3 Roger Federer overcoming Sumit Nagal – earned a 1.0 overnight rating, according to Nielsen.  That represents a 43% increase over opening night a year ago and the best in a decade.  The first night in 2009 earned a 1.1 overnight rating.

Tonight’s Matches

The doubleheader on Ashe this evening will start at 7 p.m. on ESPN with Rafael Nadal facing John Millman followed by Sloane Stephens vs. Anna Kalinskaya.  Meanwhile on Armstrong, Victoria Azarenka plays Aryna Sabalenka with Nick Krygios and American Steve Johnson squaring off in the nightcap.

Looking Ahead to Wednesday

Monday’s winners will play second round matches on Wednesday, Aug. 28, including Serena Williams (vs. American Caty McNally) as the nightcap to the evening doubleheader on Ashe, following Novak Djokovic’s match.  At the same time, Ash Barty and Grigor Dimitrov will fill out the twinbill on Armstrong.  Action during the day will include Roger Federer, Venus Williams, Madison Keys, Stan Wawrinka and Americans Reilly Opelka, Sofia Kenin, Denis Kudla, Bradley Klahn, Lauren Davis and Jenson Brooksby.

ESPN & the US Open

ESPN has exclusive live action to the US Open with more than 160 hours on television and 1,300 more streaming live on the ESPN app via ESPN+ and ESPN3.  The daily action from the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center will culminate with the Women’s Championship on Saturday, Sept. 7, and the Men’s Championship on Sunday, Sept. 8, both at 4 p.m. ET.

Upcoming Schedule, Rounds 1 and 2

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