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Raducanu, Fernandez US Open final recorded huge viewership on Channel 4 in the UK

The US Open final between Emma Raducanu and Leylah Fernandez was watched by an enormous amount of people in the UK thanks to Channel 4

Alex Boyden

14 September 2021

Emma Raducanu and Leylah Annie Fernandez had an incredible following in the UK, where the local fans were hoping to see a female British player winning the US Open after 44 years.

The US Open rights are held in the UK by Amazon, but the broadcaster agreed on a last-minute deal with Channel 4 to broadcast the match free-on-air in the UK.

After this move, Channel 4 recorded a peak of 9.2 million viewers, with 12.6 million viewers in total watching the match for at least 3 minutes. Channel 4 recorded an average audience of 7.4 million viewers.

Channel 4’s chief content officer, Ian Katz, was extremely pleased with the result to comment:

“We’re so delighted that Channel 4, in partnership with Prime Video, could enable more than nine million people to enjoy one of the most thrilling and historic nights of British sport in a generation.

Moments like this are what Channel 4 was made for – it’s a perfect example of the kind of nimble, uncommercial, but profoundly valuable public service broadcasting that a purpose-driven Channel 4 can deliver.”

Emma Raducanu in 2021

Ranked no.23 (career-high), Emma played her last match on the 11^th of September when she beat world no.28 Leylah Annie Fernandez 6-4 6-3 in the final in U.S. Open to win her 1^st career title.

At the moment, during this season Raducanu has achieved a compiled 23-6 win-loss record. The Brit has won 1 title at the U.S. Open. The Brit was the runner-up in Chicago.

U.S. Open

Raducanu's Record

Leylah Annie Fernandez in 2021

Ranked world no.28 (career-high), Fernandez played her last contest on the 11^th of September when she was overcome by world no.23 Emma Raducanu 6-4 6-3 in the final in U.S. Open (draw).

Currently, during this year Leylah Annie owns a compiled 23-16 match record. Fernandez conquered 1 title in Monterrey. Leylah Annie got to the final at the U.S. Open.

U.S. Open

Fernandez's Record

Emma Raducanu and Leylah Annie Fernandez played each other just on 1 occasion. Their current head to head is 1-0 for Raducanu. When they played, Emma Raducanu won 6-4 6-3 in the final in New York (U.S. Open) on the 11^th of September 2021.

In the video below you can watch the highlights.