The US Open men's final between Ben Shelton and Alexander Zverev may not have been a five-set thriller, but it delivered a historic punch in the ratings department. ESPN announced Tuesday that the match averaged 3.2 million viewers on ABC, making it the most-watched US Open men's final since the network began broadcasting the Grand Slam in 2009.
Shelton, who had electrified fans with upset wins over Carlos Alcaraz and Frances Tiafoe, was chasing history as the first American man to win a major since Andy Roddick in 2003. But Zverev, with his signature power and precision, proved too much, taking the match 6-3, 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2.
“I know today 99.9% of the people wanted Ben to win, so I’m very sorry first of all,” Zverev said. “But second, it was an incredible atmosphere to play in. Even though I know that the crowd was against me, the crowd was always incredibly fair.”
The Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd, though disappointed, showed up in full force to witness Shelton's breakthrough moment. Their enthusiasm translated into record-breaking viewership, a sign that American tennis is capturing the public's imagination once again.
The women's final also made waves, with Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka averaging 2.7 million viewers on Saturday — a 13% jump from last year and the largest audience for a women's final since 2023, when Sabalenka faced Coco Gauff. That match, which had its own ticket price surge for the all-American semifinal, set the stage for a week of intense interest.
ESPN's overall tournament coverage was a resounding success, with the opening day drawing its largest audience ever and the third round averaging 1.1 million viewers. The network's decision to air the men's final on broadcast TV clearly paid off, though some have called for moving the final off NFL's opening Sunday to maximize viewership further.
The buzz around this year's US Open extended beyond the court, with moments like Savannah Guthrie's reaction in the stands and post-match controversy keeping the tournament in headlines. But the real story is the numbers: tennis is on the rise in America, and ESPN is reaping the rewards.
As the tour moves on, the question is whether this momentum can sustain. With young American stars like Shelton and Tiafoe leading the charge, the future looks bright for the sport in the U.S. — and for the networks that cover it.
