The Australian Open 2023 ended a few days ago, and the first Grand Slam of the year saw the great victories of Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka. The Serbian champion triumphed with a success, returning to the place that had excluded him only twelve months ago and winning by beating everything and everyone.
Despite the successes of Novak and Aryna, there have been several controversies regarding the ratings of this first and important tournament of 2023. As reported by many, Channel 9, the channel that broadcast the tournament in Australia, showed a drop in ratings of over 40%, impressive numbers that worried the insiders.
Channel 9 bought the rights for the Australian Open until 2030 a few months ago and many have pointed out the enormous drop. Illustrious absences before the tournament helped this, especially thanks to the forfeit of the Australian tennis player and home idol Nick Kyrgios.
Djokovic vs Tsitsipas was the least watched final of the decade
If before we had discussed only the ratings in Australia, now news is also arriving from the rest of Europe and here too the news is not the best. The final between Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas was seen on ESPN by an average of 439,000 viewers, a good 36% less than last year.
Not only this because the data from this final are nightmarish and Djokovic vs Tsitsipas was the least watched final of the last decade. Negative numbers also for the women’s final, seen only by an average of 379,000 spectators and with 21% of last year.
The negative numbers showed a sharp decline, yet another testimony of a clear decline in the world of tennis. The retirement of Roger Federer and Australian tennis player Ashleigh Barty has further complicated things and tennis is going through a moment of great difficulty.
In the last few hours, so, the new data has alarmed everyone. Nole dominated the tournament and tied his great rival Rafael Nadal with 22 Grand Slam titles. Now this year he is faced with a great possibility and may become the tennis player with the most Grand Slam titles in history.
Now the focus of the season will bring into the climax, which are Indian Wells and Miami events, in March. Then there will be the start of the clay-swing.
