Friday, Aug. 29, 1997 | 10:55 a.m.
Prime time ratings of USA Network's coverage of this year's U.S. Open are up 30 percent over 1996 figures through the first three nights of play.
Through Wednesday, USA's night coverage has generated a 1.3 rating vs. a 1.0 for an identical stretch in 1996.
USA registered its most significant jump during Tuesday's coverage when Agassi's first-round match against Steve Campbell increased the ratings from 0.8 to 1.4, an improvement of 75 percent.
Overall, USA's ratings are up 29 percent over last year.
* WOMEN DRAW FANS: A record number of people are attending women's tennis these days. Through Wimbledon, 20 of the 29 events on the Corel WTA Tour have seen increased or record attendance. For the first five U.S. events this year, attendance rose 7 percent over 1996. Overall, the women's tour has averaged 78,112 fans per event so far in 1997, up more than 4,000 per week over 1996.
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