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ESPN and ABC Report Record U.S. Viewership for US Open Men’s Final

Networks say the gains reflect strong interest in emerging American stars driven by a run of late-night, high-profile matches.

Overview

  • ABC averaged 3.2 million viewers for the men’s final between Alexander Zverev and Ben Shelton, the largest U.S. men’s-final audience since ESPN began televising the event in 2009.
  • The two finals combined averaged 3.0 million viewers, a 9 percent increase year-over-year, while the women’s final drew 2.7 million viewers, up 13 percent from 2025.
  • ESPN reported its two-week US Open average at 1.2 million viewers, which the network said is its most-watched US Open since 2022.
  • Broad spikes in audience came from several marquee moments that seasonwide coverage highlighted, including the Shelton–Tiafoe men’s semifinal, the marathon Shelton–Alcaraz quarterfinal that finished in the early morning hours, and a primetime doubles match featuring Serena and Venus Williams.
  • The viewership rebound shows renewed U.S. engagement with the tournament and could strengthen ESPN/ABC’s positioning for future years as rising American players continue to generate national interest.