Coco Gauff, Novak Djokovic U.S. Open Final Wins Produce Historic Ratings, Despite ESPN, Charter Controversy

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Coco Gauff, Novak Djokovic U.S. Open Final Wins Produce Historic Ratings, Despite ESPN, Charter Controversy

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The 2023 U.S. Open women’s final between American rising star Coco Gauff and now new world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka was the most-viewed women’s final of any tennis major ever on ESPN. Gauff’s victory ranks as the second most-viewed telecast for the US Open overall, behind only Serena Williams’ final match in 2022, and the most-streamed telecast of the 2023 tournament on ESPN+.

The statistics are even more impressive when you consider that ESPN and and cable distributor Charter Communications were at an impasse and ESPN was not available in 15 million homes during this time.

The 2023 US Open men’s and women’s championship on ESPN averaged 2.8 million viewers, up +40% compared to 2022, making it the second most-viewed US Open of all time on ESPN, behind only 2019’s Championships. 

Women’s Championship: Coco Gauff vs. Aryna Sabalenka

  • Gauff’s win delivered 3.4 million viewers on ESPN, up +92% vs last year’s women’s championship making it the most-viewed major women’s championship ever.
  • The women’s championship was the most-streamed telecast of the tournament on ESPN+.
  • Gauff beat Sabalenka 2:6, 6:3 and 6:2 to win her first major title.

Men’s Championship: Daniil Medvedev vs. Novak Djokovic

  • Novak Djokovic’s victory over Daniil Medvedev, Djokovic’s record-setting 24th Grand Slam title, averaged 2.3 million viewers, up +8% year-over-year, becoming the most-viewed US Open men’s final since Rafael Nadal faced Medvedev in the 2019 final (2.8 million viewers).
  • Djokovic won in three sets 6:3, 7:6, 6:3.

Semifinals

  • The women’s and men’s semifinals combined were the most-viewed of all time on ESPN, averaging 1.9 million viewers, up 1 % from the previous record in 2022.

Women’s Semifinals

  • Thursday’s women’s semifinal matches between Gauff and Karolina Muchova and American Madison Keys vs. Aryna Sabalenka delivered 1.8 million viewers on ESPN.  That represents an increase of 56% over last year.
  • Gauff defeated Muchova 6:4, 7:5 and Sabalenka beat Madison Keys in three sets 0:6, 7:6, 7:6.

For the entire tournament, 2023 US Open coverage across ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 averaged 1 million viewers overall, up 25% from 2021, and down 17% year over year due in part to the impact of the significant interest around Serena Williams’ final US Open appearance in 2022.

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