ABC Draws Record 3.2M Viewers for US Open Men’s Final
Alexander Zverev defeated Ben Shelton to claim his second Grand Slam title.
Ben Shelton's quest to end the US Open curse fell short as Alexander Zverev emerged victorious in the men's final, attracting a record 3.2 million viewers on ABC. This marks the highest-rated US Open men's final since ESPN began airing the tournament in 2009, with a 9% increase compared to last year's final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, which drew 3 million viewers.
Zverev triumphed in four sets, denying Shelton a chance to become the first American to win a Grand Slam since 2001. The last American to reach the final was Taylor Fritz in 2024, who lost to Sinner in straight sets, an event that garnered 1.8 million viewers. The US Open men's final typically falls on the same Sunday as the NFL's Week 1 slate, and this year was no exception.
On Friday, the men's semifinal match between Shelton and Frances Tiafoe drew 3.1 million viewers on ESPN, currently the highest-watched men's semifinal ever. The women's final featured Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka, who drew 2.7 million viewers on ESPN, a 13% increase from last year when Sabalenka defeated Amanda Anisimova in straight sets.
Only Chris Evert and Serena Williams have won three consecutive US Open titles. ESPN's comprehensive US Open coverage drew 1.2 million viewers over two weeks, the most since 2022 when Carlos Alcaraz won his first Grand Slam. Notably, the men's and women's quarterfinals saw significant viewership, with the Shelton–Alcaraz match lasting nearly five hours and peaking at 1.8 million viewers during the 11 to 11:15 p.m. ET window, despite its extended five-set finish.
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