UNDERSTANDING THE RESULTS OF A TENNIS MATCH

COMPETITIVE MATCH: The match is decided by a net of 2 service breaks or less. The match is engaging for both players and spectators.

ROUTINE MATCH: The match is decided by a net 3 service breaks. Most cases the outcome is not in serious doubt.

DECISIVE MATCH: The match is decided by a net 4 service breaks or more. Boring tennis match that may be humiliating for the loser.

Players with the same UTR level often have competitive matches. Players who are more than one UTR level apart often have routine and decisive matches.

How important is CBS and Serena Williams to ratings and viewership?

• 2010 Clijsters vs Zvonareva (CBS) 1.7 rating, 2.61 million viewers
• 2011 Stosur vs S. Williams (CBS) 3.3 rating, 4.93 million viewers
• 2012 S. Williams vs Azarenka (CBS) 3.4 rating, 5.17 million viewers
• 2013 S. Williams vs Azarenka (CBS) 4 rating, 6.17 million viewers
• 2014 S. Williams vs Wozniacki (CBS) 2.9 rating, 4.5 million viewers
• 2015 Pennetta vs Vinci (ESPN) 1 rating, 1.1 million viewers
• 2016 Kerber vs. Pliskova (ESPN) 1 rating 1 million viewers
• 2017 Stephens vs Keys (ESPN) 1.85 million viewers
• 2018 S. Williams vs Osaka (ESPN) 2.4 rating, 3.1 million viewers

Data supplied by statista