I don't often find myself so jivin' with Tennis-X.com ...

[miss_creant]

... but in such cases I am forced to agree:


Tennis Week attributing this year's overall Aussie Open ratings staying the same as last year (not counting ESPN's added early-morning coverage this year) in the U.S. to poor performances by the Americans: "One reason for the lack of ratings rise was the fact that Andy Roddick was the only American man to reach the fourth round this year, whereas four-time champion Andre Agassi was a quarterfinalist and Roddick reached the final four a year ago. Additionally, the Australian Open women's draw was devoid of an American in the final four this year compared to last year when Serena Williams defeated Lindsay Davenport in an all-American women's final that proved to be the network's highest-rated women's match in history. In contrast, Venus Williams was upset in the opening round and Serena succumbed to Daniela Hantuchova in the third round marking the earliest Grand Slam exit for the sisters at a major in their careers...the ratings for the final fell significantly...further supporting ESPN2's assertion that American viewers will tune into tennis in great numbers when American players, particularly the Williams sisters, Agassi and Roddick, are playing." -- Why write a story skewing U.S. viewership after removing the early-morning coverage, which approximately doubled that of last year? Why not just average the hours/coverage? But then you wouldn't be able to write a negative Americans-only-watch-Americans-and-ESPN-is-right story?-- TennisX.com
Le. Eye. Roll.