US Open men's final draws 3.2 million viewers, largest since ESPN began broadcasting in 2009
Alexander Zverev defeated Ben Shelton in the US Open men's final, which averaged 3.2 million viewers on ABC, per ESPN. The viewership is the highest for that match since ESPN's family of networks took over tournament coverage in 2009. The women's final, won by Elena Rybakina over Aryna Sabalenka, averaged 2.7 million viewers.
Alexander Zverev's victory over Ben Shelton in the US Open men's final drew 3.2 million viewers on ABC, the largest audience for that match since ESPN's family of networks began televising the tournament in 2009, per ESPN.
The figure underscores the appetite for marquee tennis events in the United States. The women's final, won by Elena Rybakina over Aryna Sabalenka, averaged 2.7 million viewers and rose 13 percent from the prior year.
Other rounds of the 2026 tournament also pulled strong numbers. The semifinal between Americans Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton averaged 3.1 million viewers and was the largest men's semifinal audience in ESPN's coverage. The quarterfinals averaged 1.3 million viewers on ESPN. A late-finishing match between Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton, described by ESPN as the latest-finishing match in US Open history, averaged 1.6 million viewers, with 967,000 viewers tuned in during its final moments from 3:30 a.m. to 3:40 a.m. ET.
ESPN's full US Open coverage averaged 1.2 million viewers, the largest audience for that metric since 2022.
The US Open men's final between Alexander Zverev and Ben Shelton averaged 3.2 million viewers on ABC, the largest audience for that match in ESPN's 17-year tenure broadcasting the Grand Slam.
The tournament's ratings suggest sustained American interest in the sport at the highest level, particularly when homegrown players reach late rounds. Whether ESPN can sustain this viewership for the 2027 US Open or replicate it across other Grand Slams remains to be tested.
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Single-source report. As published, only ESPN had reported this development. No independent outlet had corroborated it.
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