The 2026 US Open has delivered a record before the first week is complete. ESPN's opening-day coverage averaged 914,000 viewers across ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC, the largest opening-day audience the network has recorded for the tournament.
The combined audience was 13 percent higher than the comparable day in 2025 and peaked at 1.3 million. ABC's window averaged 1.25 million viewers, up seven percent year over year. Those figures provide an early indication that the New York major is connecting with both committed tennis fans and a larger general audience.
The central television event was also the tournament's biggest sporting shock: unseeded Mariano Navone defeated fourth seed and four-time US Open champion Novak Djokovic in a match lasting four hours and 36 minutes.
The ratings at a glance
- Average audience across ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC: 914,000
- Increase from last year's opening day: 13 percent
- Peak audience: 1.3 million
- ABC average: 1.25 million
- Djokovic–Navone match average: 958,000
- Match peak: 1.3 million between 9:45 and 10 p.m. Eastern Time
Sports ratings are often shaped by the simple question of whether a broadcast creates a reason to stay. Djokovic's match did exactly that. A leading seed was in danger, the contest remained close for hours and the outcome carried historical weight. Viewers who arrived for a star name were given an upset worth following until the end.
Why Djokovic's defeat mattered to the broadcast
Djokovic entered the tournament as one of its most recognizable figures, even as questions grew around the final stage of his career. A first-round loss was his earliest Grand Slam exit in two decades. That made the contest relevant beyond a single night's result.
Navone, meanwhile, supplied the unpredictability that live sport sells better than any promotional campaign. The unseeded Argentine did not merely benefit from a poor performance; he stayed physically and tactically committed through a match that extended deep into primetime.
The broadcast averaged 958,000 viewers during the match, ten percent above the comparable window a year earlier. Its late peak showed how a developing upset can build an audience instead of losing one as the evening continues.
A strong sign for tennis in the United States
The record comes at an important time for American tennis coverage. Grand Slams must compete with a crowded sports calendar, fragmented streaming habits and viewers who increasingly discover highlights through social platforms before deciding whether to watch live.
The US Open has several advantages. It occupies a recognizable place at the end of the American summer, offers day and night sessions, and regularly creates dramatic matches in front of a loud New York crowd. It also benefits from stars with international followings, including Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff.
Gauff's presence is especially valuable for the domestic audience. The American began her campaign with a straight-sets win and remains part of the race for the women's world No. 1 ranking. A deep run would give ESPN a powerful home-market story alongside the international draw.
What the number does—and does not—tell us
One record day is not the same as a record tournament. Ratings will depend on which players survive, the competitiveness of later matches and how schedules align with other major events. Djokovic's early exit also removes one of the most dependable television draws from the men's bracket.
At the same time, the upset may create new narratives. Navone now carries the attention that comes with eliminating a legend, while the men's title path has changed for every contender in Djokovic's section. The audience may return to see whether the result becomes the beginning of a breakthrough or a single unforgettable night.
The strongest measurement will arrive during the second week, when quarterfinals and semifinals move into high-value television windows. If Gauff, Alcaraz, Sabalenka or another widely recognized star reaches the closing weekend, the opening-day momentum could translate into broader tournament growth.
Why global audiences are watching
The rating itself measures US television, but the underlying match was global. Djokovic has supporters across Europe, Asia and the Americas; Navone's victory immediately became a major story in Argentina and across the tennis world. This is precisely the kind of event that crosses national markets without needing additional context.
For ESPN, the record validates a multi-network strategy that gives the tournament visibility on both cable and broadcast television. For the US Open, it confirms that the product can still generate appointment viewing in an on-demand era.
The opening day produced the ideal combination for a broadcaster: recognizable stars, a long primetime contest and an outcome nobody could confidently predict. The next challenge is turning one record-setting Sunday into sustained attention across two weeks.
