Ratings Roundup is a rundown of recent rating news and is derived from press releases and reports around the industry. In this week’s edition, Serena a Sensation: Average of 2.7 Million Viewers See Her Win First Round Match at US Open and Day Three of US Open: 5 Million Viewers Saw the Conclusion of Serena Williams Win Dramatic Three-Set Match.

Day Threee Of US Open: 5 Million Viewers Saw the Conclusion of Serena Williams Win Dramatic Three-Set Match

Wednesday night’s US Open match with the legendary Serena Williams – in what is expected to be her final event and defeating Anett Kontaveit of Estonia in a dramatic and well-played second-round contest 7-6, 2-6, 6-2 – peaked in the last quarter hour (9:30-9:45 p.m.) with 5 million viewers. The audience averaged 2.3 million viewers for PrimeTime at the US Open presented by IBM (7:00pm – 12:31am), an increase of +289% over last year, versus Day Three of last year’s primetime telecast.

Williams v. Kontaveit also helped ESPN win the night among all broadcast or cable networks among Men and Adults 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54 and placed it as the second most-viewed network among households and P2+.

Serena a Sensation: Average of 2.7 Million Viewers See Her Win First Round Match at US Open

Monday night’s US Open Opening Night match with the legendary Serena Williams – in what is expected to be her final event and defeating Danka Kovinic of Montenegro in a first-round contest 6-3, 6-3 – averaged 2.7 million viewers glued to the drama for the 1:45 match. The audience peaked in the last quarter-hour (9 – 9:15 p.m. ET) at 3.2 million.

The widespread anticipation for and attention across media to the near 41-year-old’s likely farewell appearance at tennis’ final Major tournament of the year – dating back to her debut in 1998 and including a record of six titles she shares with Chrissie Evert…