A much-anticipated men’s final that lived up to the hype, Carlos Alcaraz’ defeat of Novak Djokovic delivered one of the largest Wimbledon audiences in the past decade.
Sunday’s Carlos Alcaraz-Novak Djokovic Wimbledon men’s final averaged a 1.7 rating and 3.20 million viewers on ESPN, trailing only Djokovic-Roger Federer in 2019 (3.83M) as the most-watched Wimbledon singles final in more than a decade — since Federer-Andy Murray in 2012 (3.93M).
Alcaraz’ five-set win increased 34% in ratings and 43% in viewership from Djokovic-Nick Kyrgios last year (1.3, 2.24M).
Encore coverage on ABC averaged a 0.6 and 948,000 later in the day.
On Saturday, Marketa Vondrousova’s win over Ons Jabeur in the women’s final averaged a 0.8 and 1.33 million — up 11% and 10% respectively from Elena Rybakina’s win over Jabeur last year (0.7, 1.21M) and the most-watched women’s final since Serena Williams’ last in 2019 (1.7, 2.44M). Encore coverage drew a 0.5 and 762,000 on ABC.
In other action, Friday’s men’s semifinals averaged a 0.6 and 891,000 on ESPN — up 34% in ratings and 38% in viewership from last year, when only one semifinal was played due to Rafael Nadal pulling out due to injury (0.41, 644K). The previous day’s women’s semifinals averaged a 0.43 (+22%) and 699,000 (+31%).
Quarterfinal action last Wednesday featuring losses by Americans Christopher Eubanks and Madison Keys averaged a 0.41 and 679,000 on ESPN, down 19 and 21 percent respectively from a year ago, when coverage featured Nadal eking out a five-set win over American Taylor Fritz (0.51, 863K). The previous day’s quarterfinal window, featuring Elena Svitolina’s three-set win over #1 Iga Swiatek, was actually higher at a 0.43 and 697,000 — up 5 and 3 percent respectively from last year.
The complete Wimbledon tournament averaged 691,000 viewers across ESPN, ABC and ESPN2, up 7% from last year (647K) and the largest audience for the event since 2019 (877K).
For additional Wimbledon ratings, plus numbers for other sporting events over the past week, see the SMW weekly ratings chart.
