Serena Williams' three-set win over Victoria Azarenka in the U.S. Open drew about 5.2 million viewers for CBS on Sunday afternoon against heavy NFL competition from Fox, which broadcast a highly anticipated match between the San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers.
The audience was a 5% improvement over the 2011 women's final, which drew 4.9 million viewers.
On Monday, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray will square off in the delayed men's finals. Originally, the men were supposed to do battle on Sunday, and the women on Saturday, but as has been the case for the last several years, weather got in the way and high winds forced the matches to be delayed.
Last year's men's final, also played on a Monday due to weather delays, averaged just 3.3 million viewers.
Follow Joe Flint on Twitter @JBFlint.
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