ESPN, the major US sports network, attracted a record audience for the Wimbledon ladies’ singles final and delivered its second most-watched coverage of the prestigious two-week grass-court tennis grand slam.
Saturday’s ladies’ final, a three-set victory for young Czech star Linda Noskova over countrywoman Karolina Muchova, averaged 1.9 million viewers, up 48% from last year and is ESPN’s most-viewed women’s championship ever.
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The men’s final on Sunday averaged 2.4 million viewers as Italy’s Jannik Sinner secured a second successive title, and fifth grand slam overall, with a four-set win over Germany’s Alexander Zverev.
This was down 16% from 2025, when Sinner defeated Carlos Alcaraz in five sets, and up 10% from 2024.
The ladies’ semi-finals averaged 1 million viewers, up 15% from 2025, ranking as the most-viewed in 11 years. The second semi-final match featuring Coco Gauff and Muchova drew 1.3 million viewers (peaking at 1.9 million in its last quarter hour).
The men’s semi-finals averaged 1.2 million viewers, down 10% compared to 2025 and up 20% from 2024.
Novak Djokovic’s five-set quarter-final victory over Felix Auger-Aliassime, which lasted 5 hours and 15 minutes, delivered 1.1 million average viewers and a peak of 1.5 million.
Quarter-finals coverage averaged 599,000 viewers to stand as ESPN’s most-viewed since 2009, and up 23% from 2025.
In the early rounds, Serena Williams’ Wimbledon return on June 30 drew 1.8 million viewers with a peak of 2.1 million.
For the entire day, ESPN’s Wimbledon coverage averaged 937,000, up 55% over last year and marking ESPN’s most-viewed first round telecast of the tournament ever.
This year was also ESPN’s most-viewed first round ever (combined Monday and Tuesday), with an average of 734,000 viewers. The broadcaster’s first and second round coverage was the most-viewed, averaging 689,000 viewers, up 22%.
Overall, the two-week long tournament across ESPN networks (ABC, ESPN, ESPN2) saw an 18% year-over-year increase, averaging 853,000 viewers, marking ESPN’s second most-viewed tournament ever, only behind 2019.
ESPN began its coverage of Wimbledon in 2003 and has had exclusive rights since 2012.
