ESPN’s broadcast of the 2026 Australian Open across its ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN App platforms achieved significant year-over-year growth, ranking as the most-watched Australian Open on ESPN since 2020.
The 15-day tournament saw an impressive 29% increase in total viewership compared to the previous year across all ESPN channels.
All key demographic groups contributed to this growth, with women viewers increasing by 23% and young adults aged 18-34 showing a remarkable 61% rise.
Championship Weekend Highlights
The men’s and women’s championship matches on ESPN collectively recorded a 34% year-over-year boost, marking them as the most-viewed Australian Open championships since 2017.
The men’s final, where No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz triumphed over No. 4 Novak Djokovic in four sets, attracted 730,000 viewers. This represented a substantial 57% year-over-year increase and made it the most-watched men’s final since 2017.
The women’s final, featuring No. 5 Elena Rybakina’s victory against No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, drew 487,000 viewers. This was an 8% rise year-over-year, establishing it as the most-viewed women’s final since 2020.
Semifinals Deliver Strong Growth
The semifinal matches across ESPN, ESPN2, and the ESPN App experienced a 53% year-over-year surge, becoming the most-viewed Australian Open semifinals since 2017. Notably, the thrilling five-set encounter between Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev averaged 743,000 viewers, establishing itself as the second most-watched men’s semifinal since 2014.
