The 2024 US Open men’s and women’s finals experienced significant viewership declines compared to previous years, primarily due to competition from NFL games.
The men’s final between Jannik Sinner and Taylor Fritz averaged just 1.8 million viewers across ABC (1.67 million) and ESPN+, marking a 31% drop from last year’s final. This match was the least-watched men’s final since 2020. The timing of the match, airing two hours earlier than usual, put it head-to-head with NFL games that drew over 30 million viewers on FOX and CBS.
Similarly, the women’s final between Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula averaged 1.8 million viewers, a significant 53% drop from last year’s final between Coco Gauff and Sabalenka. This also represented a 10% decline from the 2022 final.
The US Open men’s Final between Jannik Sinner and Taylor Fritz was the least watched men’s Final since 2020.
It averaged 1.8 million viewers across ABC (1.67M) and ESPN+
This is down 31% from last year’s Final.
Important to note the Final aired 2 hours earlier and competed… pic.twitter.com/XYuIR8OddW
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 11, 2024
Despite the reduced numbers, the finals delivered thrilling performances, but the heavy NFL competition clearly impacted viewership.
Jannik Sinner in 2024
WWWWWWWLWW Ranked world no.1, the Italian played his last match on the 8th of September when he beat world no.7 Taylor Fritz 6-3 6-4 7-5 in the final of the U.S. Open to win his 17th career title.
This season the Italian achieved a composed 55-5 win-loss record. Sinner conquered 6 titles in 2024 at the Australian Open, Rotterdam, Miami, Halle, Cincinnati and U.S. Open.
Sinner will compete next in Beijing (China Open). He will start the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 23rd of September.
Taylor Fritz in 2024
WLLWWWWLLW Now ranked no.7, Taylor played his last encounter on the 8th of September when he lost to world no.1 Jannik Sinner 6-3 6-4 7-5 in the final of the U.S. Open (draw).
Until now, during this year Fritz has a compiled 44-17 record. Taylor has won 2 titles in 2024 in Delray Beach and Eastbourne. Taylor got to the final in Munich and U.S. Open.
Taylor Fritz will play the world no.9 Casper Ruud in the Round Robin. Their current record is 2-1 for Ruud.
Taylor clinched 2 titles in 2024 in Delray Beach and Eastbourne. Taylor got to the final in Munich (BMW Open) and at the U.S. Open.
The American won 9 titles in his career: 6 on hard courts and 3 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
Jannik Sinner and Taylor Fritz clashed against each other 3 times. The head to head is 2-1 for Sinner. Before, the last time they locked horns, Jannik Sinner won 6-3 6-4 7-5 in the final in New York (U.S. Open) on the 8th of September 2024.
Aryna Sabalenka in 2024
LLWWWWWWWL At the moment ranked no.2, Aryna played her last match on the 7th of September when she beat world no.3 Jessica Pegula 7-5 7-5 in the final in the U.S. Open to win her 16th career title.
This season Sabalenka has a 46-11 win-loss record. Sabalenka has won 3 titles in 2024 at the Australian Open, Cincinnati and U.S. Open. Aryna was the runner-up in Brisbane, in Madrid and in Rome.
Jessica Pegula in 2024
LLLWLWWLWW At the moment ranked no.3 (career-high), Jessica played her last match on the 7th of September when she was defeated by world no.2 Aryna Sabalenka 7-5 7-5 in the final in the U.S. Open (draw).
At present, during this year the American has a 36-12 win-loss record. Pegula conquered 2 titles in 2024 in Berlin and Toronto. The American was the finalist in Cincinnati and at the U.S. Open.
Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula played each other 8 times. The head to head is 6-2 for Sabalenka. Before, the last time they fought against each other, Aryna Sabalenka won 7-5 7-5 in the final in New York (U.S. Open) on the 7th of September 2024.
In the video below you can watch the highlights.
