CBS Sees Ratings For U.S. Open's Monday Finish Up 41.2% Over '08

CBS Earns 2.4 Rating For Del Potro's Five-Set Upset Of Federer Monday

CBS Monday earned a 2.4 final Nielsen rating for Juan Martin del Potro's five-set upset of five-time defending champion Roger Federer in the men's U.S. Open final from 4:00-8:41pm ET. That rating is up 41.2% from a 1.7 for last year's men's final, which featured Federer defeating Andy Murray in straight sets on a Monday afternoon from 5:00-7:09pm. Meanwhile, USOpen.org drew 1.8 million activated streams on Monday for its coverage of del Potro-Federer and the women's doubles final. The site drew a total of 13.9 million activated streams for its U.S. Open coverage this year, as well as 3.8 million launches of its video console. Viewers spent an average of two hours, 45 minutes watching matches on the video console (THE DAILY). 

EYE FOR AN EYE: In N.Y., Lynn Zinser reports CBS defended announcer Dick Enberg's "awkward handling of the trophy presentation" after the match, when Enberg initially told del Potro that there was "not enough time for him to address the audience in Spanish." CBS Sports Senior VP/Communications LeslieAnne Wade: "Dick had a number of elements that he had to get through on a very tight schedule. It was Dick's job to get through those as quick as he could. And in the end, he did give him the opportunity to make his comments." Wade called the awkwardness "unfortunate." However, she noted that CBS was obligated by its contract with the USTA "to get the Lexus sponsor presentation on the national broadcast" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/16).

TENNIS NEEDS SERENA: In S.F., Bruce Jenkins writes there is "no chance" Serena Williams will be suspended from a future Grand Slam event for her profanity-laced outburst at a line judge during her U.S. Open semifinal match against Kim Clijsters. A ruling on the matter is "currently being pondered" by the ITF, but the TV networks "simply won't allow" a suspension. Williams is a "bigger story than ever, certain to cause a buzz wherever she goes," and it "won't necessarily be a negative buzz" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 9/16).

ATTENDANCE RECORD: The U.S. Open set an attendance record with 721,059 spectators for the two-week tournament, ahead of last year's mark of 720,227. The tournament also set a Week One attendance record of 423,427, including a single-day high of 61,554 for the combined day and night sessions on Friday, September 4 (AP, 9/15).