In the 2026 US Open men’s singles final, Alexander Zverev of Germany faced American Ben Shelton. This marked only the second time in two decades that a U.S. player reached the final at Flushing Meadows, drawing a significant audience of tennis fans.
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The matchup averaged 3.2 million viewers on ABC, the highest for a US Open men’s singles final since ESPN began broadcasting the event in 2009. Viewership peaked at approximately 4.0 million during the tense four-set conclusion.
Previously, the record was held by the 2025 final, where Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner, averaging 3.03 million viewers.
In addition to the final, the men's semifinal featuring Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe attracted 3.1 million viewers, making it the largest men’s semifinal audience on ESPN. This match peaked at 3.7 million viewers and was historic as it was the first Grand Slam semifinal between two Black men. Shelton's victory made him the first Black American man to reach the US Open men’s singles final since Arthur Ashe in 1972.
The women’s singles final also saw increased viewership, averaging 2.7 million viewers, a 13% rise from the previous year. The popularity may have been influenced by Aryna Sabalenka's pursuit of a third consecutive title and Elena Rybakina's ascent to the No. 1 WTA ranking.
However, the record for the most-viewed US Open women’s final remains with the 2023 match between Sabalenka and Coco Gauff, where Gauff claimed her first Grand Slam title.
Overall, the 2026 US Open was the fourth-most-watched since ESPN began its coverage, averaging 1.2 million viewers across ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2, reflecting a 4% increase from the previous year. The highest viewership remains from the 2019 tournament, which averaged 1.28 million, largely due to Serena Williams’ farewell appearance.