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$500 Million Misfire for Australian Open as Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka Fail to Save the Tournament From Massive Viewership Loss

Published 01/29/2023, 2:31 PM EST

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The Australian Open, despite securing a $500 million TV rights deal, has suffered a 40% drop in viewers. The tournament, which saw Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka lifting the prestigious trophies, failed to attract its usual viewership. Despite the star-studded lineup, the event failed to live up to its hype, resulting in a significant loss of viewers.

The multi million dollar deal with a renowned broadcaster was expected to bring in more viewers. However, it seems the tournament has fallen short of its promise.

The first Grand Slam event of the year suffers a decline in viewership despite Novak Djokovic and Sabalenka’s marvelous win

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The Australian Open, one of the biggest tennis tournaments in the world, has recently been in the news for all the wrong reasons. The tournament, which was expected to be a major success this year, has seen a significant drop in viewership. Channel 9, the tournament’s broadcaster, had signed a new $500 million TV rights deal, but it has now been hit with a 40 percent drop-off in viewers. This has sparked a lot of discussion and speculation about what might have gone wrong with the tournament and why viewers are tuning away in such large numbers.

via Reuters

The main reason for the drop in viewership is the absence of some of the biggest names in tennis. Players like Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka failed to save the tournament from the massive viewership loss. Many seasoned stars like Rafael Nadal and Iga Swiatek, exiting the tournament in the early stages, didn’t help either. Moreover, the unexpected withdrawal of other stars like Nick Kyrgios and Venus Williams could’ve also led to the drop in viewers. However, the lack of star power is not the only reason for the drop in viewership.

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Many fans have also been disappointed with the quality of the matches, which they have found to be uninspiring. This is partly because of the lack of drama and excitement on court.

‘A Mother’s Hug Is All He Needed’- Emotionally Stirring Moment Novak Djokovic Moment Fills Fans Hearts With Joy as He Scripts History at Australian Open

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Despite the challenges, there are some who believe that the future of the Australian Open is bright. What do you think? Will this trend continue for the other Grand Slam tournaments as well? Let us know in the comments.

WATCH THIS STORY – Australian Open: Novak Djokovic’s Epic Finals Against Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Dominic Thiem, and others

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Written by:

Dr Aditya Raveendran Menon

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Aditya Menon is a Tennis Author at EssentiallySports. He developed an unbridled love for tennis from the moment his father introduced him to the sport. Watching Roger Federer dominate the ATP tour with his unique and effortless style played a pivotal role in pushing Aditya to write about tennis for national publications.
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Edited by:

Tony Thomas