Serena Williams’ defeat in the final match of her glittering career at the US Open was the most-watched tennis telecast in ESPN’s 43-year history, glamsquad reports.
Williams’ third-round loss to Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York on Friday, September 2, averaged 4.8 million viewers from 7:15 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. ET and peaked with 6.9 million viewers in the 10:15 p.m. quarter-hour.
Williams’ three singles matches and one doubles match with Venus also contributed to an increase in viewership through the first five days of the tournament, with an average of 1.1 million viewers tuning in to ESPN networks, a 101 percent increase over 2021.
‘These are the most-watched first five days of the US Open on ESPN networks in history,’ ESPN said in a press release.
A network spokesman told Reuters last week that the network would be happy to discuss the possibility of bringing Williams into the broadcast booth in retirement if she desired.
Williams stated in an interview with Vogue last month that she intends to ‘evolve away’ from tennis, and her appearance in Flushing Meadows is expected to be her final tournament.
After her final match, the 40-year-old said, ‘I’m ready to be a mom and explore a different Serena.’
‘And technically in the world, I’m still very young, so I want to have a little bit of a life while I’m still walking,’ she added, laughing.
Williams appeared to hint at a comeback during her on-court interview. When asked if this was the case, she responded, ‘I think so, you never know,’ before exiting the courtroom.
Williams beat Danka Kovinic in the first round of the Grand Slam before shocking World No. 2 Anett Kontaveit on Wednesday.
Her victory, however, was cut short after three hours and four minutes of play against Tomljanovic at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
‘Oh my god, thank you so much, you guys were amazing today,’ she said in an emotional on-court interview. ‘I tried, but Ajla simply played better.’
‘Thank you, Daddy, I know you’re watching,’ she added, her eyes welling up. Thank you, Mom. I just want to thank everyone who has been by my side for so many years, decades. But it all started with my parents, who deserve everything, so I’m grateful to them.’
‘I guess these are happy tears,’ she explained. ‘And without Venus, I wouldn’t be Serena, so thank you Venus. Serena Williams exists solely because of her.
‘It’s been a wild ride, the most incredible ride and journey I’ve ever experienced in my life.’ And I’m eternally grateful to everyone who has ever told me to “go Serena.” I’m just thankful that it got me here.’