The US Open men’s final averaged 3.2 million viewers on ABC, making it the most-watched men’s final since ESPN began broadcasting the tournament in 2009.
Alexander Zverev’s four-set victory over American Ben Shelton on Sept. 13 was watched by 9% more viewers than last year’s final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, which averaged 3 million.
Shelton’s presence in the final also contributed to a strong run of audience figures for the tournament. His semifinal against fellow American Frances Tiafoe drew 3.1 million viewers on ESPN, setting a record for the most-watched men’s semifinal in US Open history.
Women’s final also posts year-on-year growth
The women’s final between Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka averaged 2.7 million viewers on ESPN, up 13% from last year’s final.
Across its two weeks of coverage, ESPN averaged 1.2 million viewers for the US Open, its strongest tournament audience since 2022, according to the network.
Not every high-profile match translated into higher viewership. The quarterfinal between Shelton and Carlos Alcaraz averaged 1.3 million viewers despite lasting nearly five hours and finishing at 3:33 a.m. ET, the latest finish for a US Open match.
The match peaked at 1.8 million viewers between 11 p.m. and 11:15 p.m. ET, around the start of the contest. Its scheduled 9 p.m. start was pushed back after the other three men’s quarterfinals at Arthur Ashe Stadium all went the distance.
The US Open’s latest audience figures highlight the value of live tennis inventory in the US market, while the performances of American players provided an additional driver of domestic viewing demand.